In extraordinarily simple terms, there are 3 main game plans employed. You want to be agile enough to switch game plans quickly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you might achieve, to block in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable tactic at the start of the match. You can create the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your competitor rolls an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your opposer is now in serious dire straits due to the fact that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have 2 or more anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point occupied by at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It would be used when you are significantly behind as this strategy greatly improves your opportunities. The better places for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for an effectual backgame: after all, there is no point having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break apart this straight away, while your competitor is moving their pieces home, considering that you do not have any other spare checkers to move! In this situation, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your opposer gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a great idea to try and get your opponent to get them in this case!