In astonishingly general terms, there are three basic plans used. You want to be able to switch tactics instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you are able to manage, to lock in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate procedure at the begining of the match. You can create the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your opposer tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play 6/1 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is then in big-time dire straits seeing that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have two or more anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It needs to be used when you are extremely behind as it much improves your chances. The better areas for anchors are close to your competitor’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is essential for an effectual backgame: after all, there’s no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break up this straight away, while your opposer is moving their pieces home, because you don’t have any other extra checkers to shift! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up until your competitor gives you a chance to hit, so it may be a great idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!
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