In very simple terms, there are 3 chief techniques used. You must be able to hop between techniques quickly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you are able to achieve, to barricade in your opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable course of action at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This is comprised of locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your competitor rolls 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 six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is now in serious calamity because they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have 2 or more anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at least two of your checkers.) It would be employed when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The strongest areas for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is essential for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to dismantle this right away, while your challenger is shifting their checkers home, considering that you do not have other additional checkers to shift! In this situation, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position up until your opponent provides you a chance to hit, so it will be a great idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this case!
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