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In exceptionally simple terms, there are 3 general techniques used. You want to be agile enough to hop between game plans quickly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you can manage, to block in your opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate tactic at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This involves locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your competitor tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is now in serious dire straits taking into account that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at least two of your checkers.) It must be employed when you are significantly behind as this strategy much improves your opportunities. The better places for anchors are towards your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is crucial for an effective backgame: after all, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this straight away, while your opposer is shifting their checkers home, taking into account that you don’t have other additional pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up till your competitor gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a wonderful idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this case!