In very general terms, there are 3 fundamental strategies employed. You must be able to hop between strategies almost instantly 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 thick as you might manage, to lock in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate course of action at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your competitor tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is now in serious difficulty because they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have two or higher checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It should be used when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest areas for anchor spots are near your competitor’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is important for an effectual backgame: after all, there is no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your opposer is shifting their pieces home, considering that you don’t have other spare pieces to move! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position until your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a great idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this case!