In extraordinarily general terms, there are three basic game plans employed. You need to be agile enough to switch game plans almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you might manage, to barricade in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable strategy at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This consists of closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your opposer rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is then in serious trouble due to the fact that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point filled by at least 2 of your pieces.) It must be employed when you are significantly behind as this strategy much improves your opportunities. The best locations for anchor spots are close to your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is integral for an effective backgame: after all, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break up this straight away, while your opponent is moving their checkers home, owing to the fact that you do not have any other additional pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your challenger gives you a chance to hit, so it may be a great idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!