In extraordinarily simple terms, there are three fundamental tactics employed. You need to be able to switch techniques almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you can manage, to barricade in the opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable strategy at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This is comprised of closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your opponent tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your competitor is then in big-time dire straits taking into account that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point filled by at least two of your pieces.) It would be employed when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest places for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s lower points and also on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is crucial for a powerful backgame: after all, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break apart this right away, while your competitor is shifting their pieces home, considering that you do not have any other extra checkers to shift! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position up till your challenger provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this case!