In extraordinarily general terms, there are three chief tactics used. You must be agile enough to switch game plans quickly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you can achieve, to block in your competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable course of action at the begining of the match. You can create the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your competitor tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is now in serious calamity due to the fact that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a position filled by at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It needs to be used when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your chances. The strongest places for anchors are near your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is crucial for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your challenger is shifting their checkers home, taking into account that you don’t have any other additional pieces to move! In this case, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up till your competitor provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this situation!