In exceptionally general terms, there are three chief strategies employed. You need to be able to hop between strategies quickly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to manage, to block in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable tactic at the start of the game. You can build the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This is comprised of locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your competitor rolls an early 2 and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is now in serious difficulty because they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or more checkers in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It needs to be played when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your opportunities. The strongest areas for anchor spots are near your opponent’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with one point separating them. Timing is essential for a competent backgame: besides, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to dismantle this straight away, while your opponent is getting their pieces home, considering that you don’t have any other additional checkers to move! In this situation, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a great idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this situation!