In extraordinarily simple terms, there are 3 chief tactics employed. You need to be agile enough to switch strategies almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you can manage, to block in your competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable strategy at the begining of the match. You can create the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This involves locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your opponent tosses an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play 6/1 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opposer is then in serious difficulty because they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It should be used when you are extremely behind as it much improves your chances. The better areas for anchors are near your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is important for an effectual backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your competitor is getting their pieces home, because you do not have any other spare pieces to shift! In this case, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your competitor provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a great idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this situation!