In exceptionally general terms, there are three fundamental strategies used. You need to be agile enough to switch techniques quickly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you might manage, to barricade in your opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable procedure at the start of the game. You can create the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This involves locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your competitor rolls an early two and moves one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your competitor is now in serious trouble seeing that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at least two of your pieces.) It must be played when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your chances. The strongest locations for anchors are close to your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is essential for an effective backgame: besides, there is no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break up this straight away, while your challenger is moving their checkers home, because you don’t have any other spare checkers to move! In this case, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up until your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it will be a great idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!