In very general terms, there are three chief game plans used. You need to be agile enough to switch tactics instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you can achieve, to barricade in your competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable strategy at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your challenger tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is then in big-time dire straits due to the fact that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It must be employed when you are decidedly behind as this plan greatly improves your opportunities. The better places for anchor spots are towards your competitor’s lower points and also on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is important for a competent backgame: besides, there is no reason having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this straight away, while your challenger is shifting their checkers home, because you don’t have any other spare checkers to shift! In this case, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position up until your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a good idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this situation!
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