In extraordinarily general terms, there are three chief tactics employed. You want to be able to hop between tactics instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you can achieve, to block in the competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable strategy at the start of the game. You can create the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This involves closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your competitor tosses an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three 8/3. Your competitor is then in serious dire straits considering that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have two or higher pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at least 2 of your pieces.) It would be employed when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The better areas for anchor spots are near your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is important for an effectual backgame: after all, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your competitor is getting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you don’t have other additional checkers to shift! In this case, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a good idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this situation!
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