In astonishingly simple terms, there are three fundamental strategies employed. You need to be able to hop between techniques quickly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you might achieve, to lock in your competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate strategy at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This consists of locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your competitor tosses an early two and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opposer is now in serious calamity due to the fact that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have 2 or more pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It must be played when you are extremely behind as it much improves your circumstances. The better areas for anchors are close to your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is essential for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your opposer is shifting their checkers home, taking into account that you do not have any other extra checkers to move! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up until your competitor provides you a chance to hit, so it will be a great idea to attempt and get your opponent to hit them in this case!