In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 main strategies employed. You need to be able to switch game plans quickly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you might achieve, to barricade in the competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable tactic at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your opponent rolls an early 2 and shifts one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opposer is then in serious calamity since 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 higher anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at least 2 of your pieces.) It would be used when you are extremely behind as this plan much improves your chances. The best places for anchors are towards your competitor’s lower points and either on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is crucial for a powerful backgame: after all, there’s no reason having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break up this right away, while your competitor is moving their checkers home, owing to the fact that you don’t have any other extra pieces to move! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position up till your opposer gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your opponent to get them in this situation!