In very simple terms, there are 3 chief plans employed. You must be able to hop between tactics almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to manage, to block in your competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable tactic at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match advances.
The Blitz
This is comprised of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your challenger tosses an early two and shifts one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your challenger is then in big-time trouble taking into account that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have 2 or more checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at least 2 of your checkers.) It needs to be used when you are extremely behind as this action greatly improves your chances. The best areas for anchors are near your opponent’s lower points and either on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is critical for an effective backgame: besides, there’s no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your competitor is shifting their pieces home, taking into account that you don’t have any other additional pieces to shift! In this case, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position until your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a good idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this case!
March 7th, 2016
Lee
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