In very general terms, there are three basic strategies used. You want to be able to hop between tactics almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to barricade in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable tactic at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This is composed of locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your challenger tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opposer is then in big-time difficulty considering that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a position filled by at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It would be employed when you are decidedly behind as this plan greatly improves your chances. The strongest locations for anchors are towards your competitor’s lower points and also on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is critical for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this right away, while your opposer is moving their checkers home, taking into account that you do not have any other additional checkers to shift! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up until your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a great idea to attempt and get your competitor to hit them in this case!
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