In extraordinarily simple terms, there are 3 chief plans employed. You need to be able to hop between tactics quickly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you might achieve, to block in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable course of action at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This is comprised of locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your challenger rolls an early two and shifts one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is now in serious difficulty seeing that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at least 2 of your checkers.) It should be played when you are extremely behind as it much improves your chances. The strongest areas for anchor spots are near your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is crucial 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 forced to dismantle this straight away, while your competitor is shifting their pieces home, considering that you don’t have other spare checkers to move! In this case, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position until your competitor provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a good idea to attempt and get your opponent to hit them in this case!