In exceptionally general terms, there are 3 basic strategies employed. You need to be able to hop between tactics almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to achieve, to block in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable strategy at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This is composed of locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your challenger tosses an early 2 and shifts one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your challenger is now in serious trouble seeing that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have 2 or more checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It must be used when you are significantly behind as this plan greatly improves your opportunities. The strongest areas for anchors are near your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is integral for an effectual backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no point having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break apart this right away, while your opposer is getting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you do not have any other spare pieces to shift! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position until your challenger provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a good idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!