In astonishingly general terms, there are 3 basic plans employed. You want to be able to switch techniques quickly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you might manage, to barricade in your competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable tactic at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your competitor tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your competitor is now in serious calamity because they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have 2 or more anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at least 2 of your pieces.) It needs to be used when you are significantly behind as it much improves your chances. The strongest areas for anchor spots are near your opponent’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is important for an effective backgame: after all, there is no point having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to dismantle this straight away, while your opponent is moving their pieces home, considering that you do not have other additional checkers to move! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position up until your opponent gives you a chance to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this case!
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