In astonishingly general terms, there are 3 main techniques employed. You need to be able to switch techniques quickly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you might achieve, to block in your opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable tactic at the start of the match. You can build 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 quick as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your competitor tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is then in big-time dire straits because 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 two or higher pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at a minimum two of your checkers.) It should be played when you are significantly behind as this strategy much improves your chances. The better areas for anchors are towards your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is essential for a competent backgame: after all, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this right away, while your competitor is getting their pieces home, taking into account that you do not have other extra pieces to move! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position until your challenger provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to try and get your opponent to get them in this situation!
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