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In astonishingly simple terms, there are three fundamental techniques used. You want to be agile enough to hop between tactics instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you can achieve, to barricade in your opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate tactic at the start of the match. You can build the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your opponent tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play six/one six/one 8/3 8/3. Your opposer is then in serious dire straits considering that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It would be used when you are significantly behind as this plan greatly improves your chances. The better areas for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your opponent is moving their checkers home, taking into account that you do not have any other additional pieces to move! In this case, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position until your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this case!
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