In extraordinarily simple terms, there are 3 main plans employed. You need to be able to hop between techniques quickly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you can achieve, to block in your opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable tactic at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your competitor tosses an early 2 and moves one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your competitor is then in serious dire straits since they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have two or more pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It should be employed when you are extremely behind as this action much improves your opportunities. The better locations for anchors are towards your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is crucial for a competent backgame: besides, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this straight away, while your opponent is getting their pieces home, because you don’t have any other spare checkers to shift! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position until your challenger provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to attempt and get your competitor to get them in this case!
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