In extraordinarily simple terms, there are three chief plans used. You need to be agile enough to switch strategies quickly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you might manage, to barricade in your competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable course of action at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match advances.
The Blitz
This consists of closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your opposer tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is then in big-time trouble since they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or more pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point filled by at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It must be played when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your chances. The best places for anchors are towards your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to dismantle this straight away, while your opposer is moving their checkers home, seeing that you do not have any other extra checkers to shift! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position up till your competitor gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a good idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this case!
November 10th, 2020
Makenzie
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