In astonishingly simple terms, there are three fundamental strategies employed. You must be able to hop between game plans instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you are able to manage, to block in your competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable procedure at the start of the match. You can create the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This consists of closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your opposer rolls an early two and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play six/one six/one 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is then in big-time difficulty seeing that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It would be played when you are decidedly behind as this plan much improves your circumstances. The strongest places for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s lower points and also on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is integral for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no point having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this straight away, while your opponent is moving their checkers home, because you don’t have any other spare checkers to move! In this case, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position up until your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!