In astonishingly general terms, there are 3 fundamental techniques used. You want to be able to hop between tactics almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you might achieve, to lock in the competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate course of action at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This involves locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your competitor tosses an early 2 and shifts one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play six/one six/one 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is now in big-time difficulty taking into account that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have 2 or more pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It must be employed when you are decidedly behind as this strategy greatly improves your opportunities. The strongest places for anchors are close to your opponent’s lower points and either on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is integral for an effectual backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no point having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break down this straight away, while your challenger is shifting their checkers home, owing to the fact that you don’t have other additional checkers to shift! In this case, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up till your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a good idea to attempt and get your challenger to get them in this situation!