In exceptionally general terms, there are 3 main tactics used. You want to be able to hop between strategies almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you might manage, to barricade in your competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate procedure at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This consists of closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your opposer tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play 6/1 six/one eight/three 8/3. Your opposer is then in big-time trouble due to the fact that 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 higher anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point occupied by at least 2 of your pieces.) It would be used when you are significantly behind as this plan greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest locations for anchor spots are near your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is critical for an effectual backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no point having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to dismantle this right away, while your challenger is shifting their checkers home, taking into account that you don’t have other additional checkers to move! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position up till your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a good idea to attempt and get your opposer to get them in this situation!
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