In exceptionally general terms, there are 3 fundamental tactics employed. You want to be able to hop between techniques instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to manage, to block in your opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable procedure at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your challenger rolls an early two and shifts one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play 6/1 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is now in serious dire straits since they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or more checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at a minimum two of your pieces.) It must be employed when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest areas for anchor spots are near your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is critical for a competent backgame: besides, there’s no point having two nice anchor spots and a complete 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, owing to the fact that you don’t have any other spare checkers to move! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position up till your opposer gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a good idea to attempt and get your opponent to get them in this case!
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