In exceptionally simple terms, there are three fundamental strategies used. You need to be agile enough to hop between tactics instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you can manage, to barricade in your opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable procedure at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your opponent rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opposer is then in big-time dire straits taking into account 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 two or higher checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least 2 of your checkers.) It would be used when you are extremely behind as this strategy greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest locations for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is integral for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this straight away, while your competitor is shifting their checkers home, considering that you do not have other additional checkers to move! In this case, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up until your competitor gives you a chance to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this case!