In very simple terms, there are three fundamental strategies employed. You want to be able to switch tactics instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to lock in the opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate tactic at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game advances.

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 opposer tosses an early 2 and moves one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is then in serious dire straits seeing that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or higher checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point occupied by at a minimum two of your pieces.) It needs to be employed when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The best areas for anchor spots are near your opponent’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is critical for a competent backgame: besides, there’s no point having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this right away, while your challenger is getting their pieces home, because you don’t have other additional pieces to shift! In this case, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up until your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it can be a great idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!