In very general terms, there are 3 chief strategies used. You want to be agile enough to hop between techniques instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you are able to achieve, to block in the competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable course of action at the start of the game. You can create the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your opponent rolls an early two and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is now in serious trouble seeing that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have two or higher pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at a minimum two of your checkers.) It needs to be employed when you are significantly behind as this plan much improves your chances. The strongest locations for anchor spots are close to your opponent’s lower points and also on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is critical for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to dismantle this straight away, while your challenger is getting their pieces home, taking into account that you don’t have any other extra pieces to shift! In this case, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position up until your challenger provides you a chance to hit, so it can be a good idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this situation!
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