In very general terms, there are 3 fundamental strategies used. You want to be agile enough to hop between tactics quickly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you are able to manage, to block in your competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate strategy at the start of the match. You can build the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your challenger tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play six/one six/one 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is then in big-time difficulty considering that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or higher pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a position filled by at least 2 of your pieces.) It needs to be used when you are decidedly behind as this action much improves your circumstances. The better areas for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s lower points and either on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is critical 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 required to break apart this right away, while your competitor is shifting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you do not have other spare pieces to shift! In this case, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up until your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a good idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this case!