In astonishingly general terms, there are three chief strategies employed. You must be able to hop between tactics quickly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you are able to achieve, to barricade in your competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate strategy at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your opposer tosses an early two and moves one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play 6/1 six/one 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is then in big-time calamity due to the fact that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or more checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at a minimum two of your pieces.) It needs to be played when you are significantly behind as this action greatly improves your circumstances. The best locations for anchor spots are near your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is crucial for a competent backgame: after all, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your opponent is getting their checkers home, because you don’t have any other spare checkers to shift! In this case, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position up until your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to attempt and get your challenger to hit them in this case!