In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 general strategies used. You must be able to hop between tactics instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you might manage, to lock in your competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate tactic at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your competitor rolls an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three 8/3. Your challenger is now in serious trouble seeing that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have two or higher checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point occupied by at least two of your checkers.) It should be played when you are extremely behind as this action greatly improves your opportunities. The strongest locations for anchors are near your competitor’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is crucial for a competent backgame: besides, there’s no point having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break apart this straight away, while your opposer is getting their checkers home, because you don’t have other additional pieces to move! In this case, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up until your competitor provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a great idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this case!
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