In extraordinarily simple terms, there are 3 general techniques employed. You want to be able to hop between strategies almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you are able to manage, to lock in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate course of action at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This is comprised of locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your competitor rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is now in serious difficulty seeing that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have two or higher pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It must be used when you are extremely 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 one point separating them. Timing is integral for a powerful backgame: after all, there is no point having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this right away, while your competitor is moving their checkers home, seeing that you don’t have any other extra pieces to shift! In this case, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position up until your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your challenger to hit them in this case!