In extraordinarily general terms, there are three fundamental game plans employed. You want to be agile enough to hop between game plans quickly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to manage, to lock in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate strategy at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your opponent tosses an early two and moves one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is now in big-time dire straits because they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least 2 of your checkers.) It would be employed when you are significantly behind as this strategy greatly improves your chances. The better locations for anchors are towards your competitor’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is essential for an effectual backgame: besides, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break apart this right away, while your opponent is moving their checkers home, considering that you do not have any other extra pieces to move! In this situation, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position until your competitor gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a great idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this situation!
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