In astonishingly general terms, there are 3 fundamental game plans used. You need to be agile enough to hop between techniques quickly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to manage, to lock in the competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable strategy at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your opposer tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play 6/1 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your challenger is now in big-time difficulty since they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It would be used when you are significantly behind as this action much improves your opportunities. The better locations for anchor spots are near your opponent’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is essential for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your opposer is getting their checkers home, taking into account that you do not have other additional checkers to move! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up until your opposer gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a good idea to attempt and get your competitor to get them in this case!