In very simple terms, there are three general game plans employed. You need to be agile enough to hop between game plans quickly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you are able to manage, to lock in your competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable tactic at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This is comprised of locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your opposer rolls an early 2 and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play 6/1 six/one eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is now in serious difficulty since they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have two or higher anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point filled by at least two of your pieces.) It needs to be employed when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your opportunities. The best areas for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for an effectual backgame: after all, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your opponent is getting their checkers home, taking into account that you do not have any other spare pieces to move! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a wonderful idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this situation!