In astonishingly general terms, there are three main strategies used. You must be able to hop between game plans almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you are able to manage, to barricade in the competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate strategy at the begining 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 continues.

The Blitz

This involves locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your opposer rolls an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play 6/1 six/one 8/3 8/3. Your opposer is then in big-time calamity taking into account that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or more anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It must be played when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The best locations for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s lower points and also on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: after all, there’s no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break down this right away, while your competitor is shifting their checkers home, considering that you do not have any other spare checkers to shift! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position up until your opposer gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to try and get your opponent to get them in this case!