In very general terms, there are three chief plans employed. You need to be agile enough to hop between tactics instantly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to manage, to block in the competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate tactic at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This involves locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your challenger tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is then in serious difficulty taking into account that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have 2 or more checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It must be played when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your chances. The strongest areas for anchors are near your opponent’s lower points and either on abutting points or with one point separating them. Timing is essential for an effective backgame: after all, there’s no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to dismantle this straight away, while your opponent is moving their pieces home, considering that you do not have any other spare checkers to move! In this situation, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position up till your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your opposer to get them in this situation!