In exceptionally simple terms, there are three basic plans employed. You want to be agile enough to hop between techniques instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you might manage, to lock in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate course of action at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match advances.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your opponent tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is then in serious difficulty taking into account that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or more anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum two of your checkers.) It should be played when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest places for anchor spots are near your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is critical for a powerful backgame: after all, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break apart this straight away, while your opposer is getting their checkers home, considering that you don’t have any other extra pieces to move! In this case, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up till your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a good idea to try and get your opponent to get them in this case!
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