In astonishingly general terms, there are three basic strategies used. You must be agile enough to hop between strategies instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you might manage, to barricade in your competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable tactic at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This involves locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your challenger rolls an early 2 and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three 8/3. Your competitor is then in big-time difficulty due to the fact that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or more checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at least 2 of your pieces.) It would be employed when you are extremely behind as this action much improves your chances. The better areas for anchors are close to your opponent’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is critical for a powerful backgame: after all, there’s no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break apart this right away, while your opposer is shifting their checkers home, owing to the fact that you do not have other additional checkers to move! In this case, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position up until your competitor gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a wonderful idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this case!