In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 general plans used. You must be agile enough to switch techniques almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you might achieve, to lock in your opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable course of action at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your opponent rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play six/one six/one 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is now in big-time calamity because they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a position filled by at a minimum two of your pieces.) It needs to be played when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest locations for anchor spots are close to your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is crucial for a powerful backgame: besides, there is no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your opposer is moving their pieces home, taking into account that you don’t have any other extra pieces to shift! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position up till your opponent gives you a chance to hit, so it can be a great idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!