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In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 chief techniques employed. You want to be able to hop between game plans almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to achieve, to barricade in your opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate strategy at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This involves locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your opponent rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play six/one six/one 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is now in serious calamity because they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have 2 or more anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least two of your pieces.) It would be used when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The best places for anchor spots are near your opponent’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is essential for an effective backgame: after all, there’s no reason having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your challenger is moving their checkers home, taking into account that you do not have any other extra checkers to move! In this case, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position until your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a good idea to attempt and get your challenger to hit them in this case!