In very simple terms, there are three general techniques employed. You want to be able to hop between techniques almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to manage, to lock in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate course of action at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your opponent tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your competitor is then in big-time dire straits considering that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have 2 or more checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point filled by at least two of your checkers.) It needs to be employed when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your chances. The strongest locations for anchors are towards your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is crucial for an effective backgame: besides, there is no reason having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break up this straight away, while your challenger is moving their checkers home, seeing that you don’t have any other spare pieces to move! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position up till your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it can be a great idea to attempt and get your competitor to hit them in this situation!
August 27th, 2015
Lee
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