In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 main tactics used. You want to be able to hop between strategies quickly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you might manage, to lock in your opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate procedure at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This is comprised of locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your competitor tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your competitor is then in serious difficulty seeing that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have two or more anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It must be employed when you are decidedly behind as this plan greatly improves your chances. The best places for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s lower points and either on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is important for an effective backgame: besides, there is no point having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break apart this straight away, while your challenger is shifting their pieces home, considering that you do not have any other additional pieces to shift! In this case, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position up until your competitor gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a great idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this case!
October 2nd, 2019
Lee
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