In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 fundamental game plans employed. You must be able to hop between strategies instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you might manage, to block in the competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable course of action at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your opposer tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play six/one six/one 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is then in big-time difficulty considering that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at least two of your checkers.) It would be used when you are extremely behind as it much improves your circumstances. The strongest locations for anchors are close to your opponent’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is integral for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your competitor is getting their pieces home, seeing that you do not have any other additional pieces to move! In this case, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position until your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your competitor to get them in this case!
