In astonishingly general terms, there are three fundamental tactics used. You must be agile enough to switch techniques quickly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you might manage, to block in your competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable tactic at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This involves closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your competitor tosses an early two and moves one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play 6/1 six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is then in big-time difficulty due to the fact that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or more checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point filled by at least 2 of your checkers.) It would be used when you are decidedly behind as this strategy much improves your circumstances. The best places for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is integral for an effectual backgame: after all, there’s no point having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to dismantle this straight away, while your opposer is getting their checkers home, owing to the fact that you do not have any other additional checkers to move! In this situation, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position until your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your opposer to get them in this case!