In very general terms, there are 3 general techniques employed. You must be agile enough to hop between game plans quickly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you might achieve, to lock in your opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable tactic at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your challenger rolls an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is now in serious calamity seeing that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It would be used when you are decidedly behind as this action greatly improves your opportunities. The better areas for anchors are close to your competitor’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is important for an effectual backgame: after all, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break apart this right away, while your opponent is shifting their pieces home, taking into account that you do not have other spare pieces to move! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position up till your competitor provides you a chance to hit, so it can be a great idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this case!
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