In astonishingly general terms, there are 3 fundamental plans employed. You want to be able to switch game plans quickly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you can manage, to block in your opponent’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 anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This consists of locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your competitor rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is then in big-time trouble considering that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It should be played when you are significantly behind as this action greatly improves your chances. The better locations for anchor spots are towards your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is integral for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your competitor is moving their pieces home, taking into account that you don’t have other extra pieces to shift! In this case, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position up until your competitor provides you a chance to hit, so it will be a great idea to try and get your opponent to get them in this case!