In exceptionally general terms, there are three fundamental game plans employed. You must be agile enough to switch strategies instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to manage, to block in the competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable strategy at the start of the game. You can create the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your competitor tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play six/one six/one eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is then in big-time difficulty taking into account that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have 2 or more anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It should be employed when you are significantly behind as this action greatly improves your chances. The best places for anchor spots are near your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is crucial for a powerful backgame: after all, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break up this right away, while your competitor is getting their pieces home, seeing that you do not have any other extra checkers to shift! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your competitor gives you a chance to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this situation!