In astonishingly simple terms, there are three basic strategies used. You must be agile enough to switch techniques quickly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you might manage, to barricade in the opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable procedure at the start of the game. You can build the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This is composed of locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your opposer tosses an early two and shifts one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your opposer is then in serious calamity considering that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least 2 of your checkers.) It must be played when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your chances. The strongest locations for anchors are near your opponent’s lower points and also on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is important for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your opponent is moving their checkers home, seeing that you do not have other extra checkers to move! In this case, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position up till your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this case!