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In very simple terms, there are 3 fundamental game plans employed. You need to be able to switch tactics almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to achieve, to lock in your competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable course of action at the start of the game. You can build the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This consists of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your competitor rolls an early two and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play 6/1 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your challenger is now in big-time difficulty since they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or higher anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point occupied by at least two of your checkers.) It needs to be employed when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your opportunities. The strongest places for anchors are towards your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is essential for an effectual backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break apart this straight away, while your competitor is shifting their pieces home, seeing that you don’t have any other extra pieces to move! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position up until your competitor gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a great idea to try and get your opponent to get them in this situation!