In very general terms, there are three main tactics employed. You must be able to switch strategies quickly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you might manage, to block in the competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate procedure at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This involves locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your opposer tosses an early 2 and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is now in big-time calamity due to the fact that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or higher checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position filled by at a minimum two of your pieces.) It must be used when you are decidedly behind as this plan much improves your chances. The better places for anchors are close to your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is integral for a powerful backgame: after all, there is no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your opposer is moving their checkers home, owing to the fact that you don’t have other extra checkers to move! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position up until your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a great idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this case!