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In astonishingly simple terms, there are three chief techniques employed. You want to be agile enough to hop between tactics instantly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you might achieve, to block in your opponent's checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate procedure at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This is comprised of locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your opponent rolls an early 2 and moves one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is then in big-time difficulty due to the fact that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your opponent's inner board. (An anchor spot is a point occupied by at least 2 of your pieces.) It would be used when you are extremely behind as it much improves your opportunities. The strongest areas for anchor spots are near your opponent's smaller points and either on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is crucial for a competent backgame: besides, there's no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this right away, while your opposer is getting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you don't have any other additional checkers to shift! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position until your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a good idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!