In very simple terms, there are 3 general plans used. You want to be agile enough to switch techniques almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to achieve, to lock in your opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable course of action at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your challenger rolls an early 2 and shifts one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your opposer is then in big-time calamity considering that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It would be used when you are extremely behind as it much improves your chances. The strongest locations for anchors are towards your competitor’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is important for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this right away, while your competitor is getting their checkers home, because you do not have any other extra checkers to move! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position up until your challenger provides you a chance to hit, so it will be a wonderful idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this case!
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