In astonishingly general terms, there are 3 main game plans employed. You must be agile enough to hop between game plans almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you can achieve, to lock in the competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable strategy at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your competitor rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play six/one six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is now in big-time difficulty seeing that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or more checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least 2 of your checkers.) It would be used when you are extremely behind as it much improves your circumstances. The strongest areas for anchors are towards your competitor’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is crucial for a powerful backgame: besides, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this straight away, while your opposer is getting their pieces home, taking into account that you do not have any other spare pieces to shift! In this case, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up until your competitor gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a good idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!
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