In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 main game plans used. You need to be able to switch strategies instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you can manage, to lock in the opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable strategy at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your challenger tosses an early 2 and moves one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play 6/1 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your competitor is then in big-time difficulty since they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or more checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position filled by at a minimum two of your checkers.) It should be played when you are extremely behind as this plan much improves your circumstances. The best locations for anchor spots are near your opponent’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is essential for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to dismantle this right away, while your opposer is getting their checkers home, seeing that you don’t have any other extra pieces to move! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position until your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it will be a good idea to attempt and get your competitor to get them in this situation!
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