In exceptionally general terms, there are three main strategies employed. You need to be agile enough to hop between techniques almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you might manage, to lock in your opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate tactic at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your competitor rolls an early 2 and shifts one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is then in big-time calamity taking into account that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have two or more anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It should be employed when you are extremely behind as this strategy much improves your opportunities. The strongest areas 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 crucial for an effective backgame: after all, there’s no point having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break up this right away, while your opposer is shifting their checkers home, owing to the fact that you do not have any other extra pieces to move! In this case, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position up till your competitor provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a great idea to attempt and get your opponent to get them in this case!
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