In extraordinarily simple terms, there are three general strategies used. You must be agile enough to hop between game plans almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you might manage, to barricade in the competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable strategy at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This is comprised of closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your competitor rolls an early two and moves one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opposer is now in serious trouble because they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or more anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a point filled by at least 2 of your pieces.) It should be employed when you are extremely behind as this strategy greatly improves your chances. The best locations for anchor spots are close to your opponent’s lower points and also on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is critical for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this right away, while your competitor is moving their pieces home, owing to the fact that you don’t have any other spare checkers to move! In this case, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a great idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this situation!