In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 fundamental strategies employed. You need to be agile enough to switch strategies quickly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you are able to manage, to barricade in your competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable tactic at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This is composed of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your opponent tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is now in serious dire straits due to the fact that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at least 2 of your pieces.) It needs to be played when you are decidedly behind as this strategy greatly improves your opportunities. The strongest areas for anchors are towards your competitor’s lower points and also on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is essential for an effectual backgame: after all, there is no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break apart this right away, while your challenger is moving their checkers home, taking into account that you don’t have any other extra checkers to move! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position until your opponent gives you a chance to hit, so it can be a good idea to attempt and get your opposer to get them in this situation!
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