In extraordinarily simple terms, there are three fundamental strategies used. You need to be agile enough to hop between tactics quickly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you might manage, to block in your opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable course of action at the start of the game. You can build the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This consists of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your opponent rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is now in serious dire straits due to the fact that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or more checkers in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It needs to be used when you are decidedly behind as this strategy much improves your chances. The better places for anchors are towards your competitor’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is integral for an effective backgame: after all, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your opponent is shifting their checkers home, because you don’t have any other additional pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up until your challenger gives you a chance to hit, so it may be a good idea to attempt and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!
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