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

The Blockade

This is composed of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to achieve, to block in your competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable course of action at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your competitor tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is then in big-time trouble taking into account 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 anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at least two of your pieces.) It should be played when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your chances. The better locations for anchor spots are near your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is important for an effectual backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break apart this right away, while your challenger is shifting their pieces home, because you don’t have any other additional checkers to shift! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your opponent provides you a chance to hit, so it will be a good idea to attempt and get your opposer to get them in this case!