In extraordinarily general terms, there are three main plans used. You must be agile enough to switch tactics instantly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you can manage, to lock in your opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable procedure at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your competitor tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opposer is then in big-time trouble seeing that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or more checkers in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a position filled by at a minimum two of your pieces.) It must be used when you are extremely behind as it much improves your opportunities. The best areas for anchors are towards your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is crucial for a competent backgame: after all, there’s no point having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this straight away, while your competitor is moving their checkers home, owing to the fact that you don’t have any other extra checkers to move! In this situation, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position up until your opponent provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a great idea to attempt and get your opposer to get them in this case!