In exceptionally general terms, there are 3 main plans employed. You want to be agile enough to switch game plans instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you are able to manage, to block in the competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable course of action at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your opponent rolls an early 2 and moves one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your challenger is now in big-time trouble because they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or higher pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It would be played when you are extremely behind as this plan much improves your opportunities. The strongest places for anchor spots are towards your competitor’s lower points and either on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is important for a competent backgame: besides, there is no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your competitor is getting their pieces home, seeing that you do not have other additional pieces to shift! In this case, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position up till your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this case!
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