In very general terms, there are 3 main game plans employed. You must be able to switch techniques quickly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to lock in the opponent’s checkers that are 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 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match advances.
The Blitz
This consists of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your opposer rolls an early 2 and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your competitor is now in serious calamity due to the fact that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or more checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It needs to be employed when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The better places for anchor spots are near your opponent’s lower points and either on abutting points or with one point separating them. Timing is critical for an effective backgame: besides, there’s no point having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break up this right away, while your challenger is moving their checkers home, seeing that you don’t have any other spare checkers to shift! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up until your challenger provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a great idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this case!
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