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In extraordinarily general terms, there are three general strategies employed. You need to be able to switch strategies almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you are able to achieve, to block in your opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable course of action at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match advances.
The Blitz
This consists of closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your competitor rolls an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your challenger is now in big-time dire straits since they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or more pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at least 2 of your checkers.) It must be employed when you are significantly behind as this plan greatly improves your opportunities. The better places for anchors are close to your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: besides, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this right away, while your challenger is shifting their checkers home, taking into account that you don’t have any other extra checkers to shift! In this case, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up until your challenger provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!
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