In astonishingly general terms, there are 3 basic tactics employed. You must be able to switch game plans instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you can achieve, to barricade in your opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable strategy at the start of the game. You can create the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This is comprised of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your challenger tosses an early 2 and moves one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play six/one six/one eight/three 8/3. Your opposer is now in big-time calamity considering that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have 2 or more pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It should be played when you are extremely behind as it much improves your circumstances. The best areas for anchor spots are near your opponent’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is critical for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this right away, while your competitor is shifting their pieces home, seeing that you don’t have any other extra pieces to shift! In this case, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position up till your competitor gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this case!