In astonishingly simple terms, there are three fundamental strategies employed. You need to be agile enough to hop between tactics quickly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to block in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable procedure at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This is comprised of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your competitor rolls an early two and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play six/one six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your opposer is then in big-time dire straits due to the fact that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or higher checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least 2 of your checkers.) It must be played when you are extremely behind as this action greatly improves your circumstances. The better places for anchor spots are near your competitor’s lower points and also on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for an effectual backgame: besides, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break apart this right away, while your competitor is getting their pieces home, taking into account that you do not have other spare pieces to shift! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your opponent provides you a chance to hit, so it can be a good idea to attempt and get your challenger to hit them in this case!