In exceptionally simple terms, there are 3 general techniques used. You want to be able to hop between tactics almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to manage, to lock in the competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable tactic at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This is composed of locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your opponent tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opposer is now in big-time dire straits due to the fact that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or higher checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It should be played when you are extremely behind as this action greatly improves your chances. The better locations for anchor spots are near your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is critical for an effective backgame: after all, there is no point having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to dismantle this straight away, while your opponent is moving their checkers home, seeing that you do not have any other spare pieces to move! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position up till your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to attempt and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!