In very simple terms, there are 3 main plans employed. You want to be agile enough to switch tactics almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you are able to manage, to barricade in your competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate course of action at the start of the game. You can create the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This involves closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your opposer rolls an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your challenger is then in serious calamity seeing that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It must be played when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest places for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is important for an effective backgame: besides, there is no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to dismantle this straight away, while your opposer is getting their checkers home, seeing that you don’t have any other spare checkers to move! In this situation, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position up till your opposer gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a good idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this case!
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