In very simple terms, there are 3 general strategies employed. You want to be agile enough to switch tactics almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you can achieve, to barricade in your opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate tactic at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This consists of locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your opponent rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is now in big-time dire straits considering that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or more anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at least 2 of your checkers.) It should be played when you are significantly behind as this action greatly improves your chances. The better places for anchor spots are near your competitor’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: besides, there’s no reason having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your competitor is shifting their checkers home, seeing that you don’t have any other spare checkers to move! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up until your challenger gives you a chance to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this situation!