In very simple terms, there are 3 main game plans employed. You need to be agile enough to hop between tactics quickly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you might manage, to barricade in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable tactic at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your opponent rolls an early 2 and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play six/one six/one 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is now in serious calamity taking into account that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have 2 or more pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It would be played when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your chances. The strongest areas for anchor spots are near your opponent’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is integral for an effective backgame: after all, there’s no point having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to dismantle this right away, while your challenger is getting their checkers home, owing to the fact that you do not have any other additional checkers to move! In this case, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position up until your opposer gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!
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