In astonishingly general terms, there are 3 chief tactics employed. You want to be able to switch tactics instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to achieve, to lock in your competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable course of action at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This is composed of locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your competitor tosses 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 8/3. Your opposer is then in serious difficulty because they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or more pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a point filled by at least two of your pieces.) It must be played when you are extremely behind as it much improves your circumstances. The best areas for anchor spots are near your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to dismantle this straight away, while your opponent is moving their pieces home, because you do not have other extra checkers to move! In this case, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your opponent gives you a chance to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this case!
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