In very simple terms, there are three basic techniques used. You must be agile enough to hop between techniques almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you can manage, to barricade in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate strategy at the start of the game. You can build the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This involves locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your challenger tosses an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is then in serious dire straits because they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or higher pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least 2 of your pieces.) It must be employed when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest locations for anchors are close to your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is integral for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break apart this right away, while your opponent is moving their checkers home, seeing that you do not have any other additional checkers to shift! In this case, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up till your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to attempt and get your competitor to get them in this situation!