In very general terms, there are 3 main plans used. You want to be able to hop between game plans quickly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you might manage, to block in the competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable strategy at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your competitor tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play 6/1 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is now in serious difficulty because they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or more pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It must be employed when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The better places for anchor spots are towards your competitor’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this right away, while your opponent is getting their pieces home, seeing that you do not have other extra pieces to move! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position up till your challenger gives you a chance to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to attempt and get your opposer to get them in this situation!
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