The Blitz
This involves closing your home board as quick as possible while
keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your opponent
rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your
3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play 6/1 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your
opponent is now in serious trouble because they have 2 checkers on
the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Priming Game
This involves building a 6-long wall of checkers, or at least as long as you can manage, to block in the opponent's checkers that are behind the blockade. You can build the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Holding Game
The player keeps a point, high in his opponent's board or on his opponent's bar point, while he builds his board. The player may win by hitting an opponent's blot from the held point, or by rolling large doubles that allow the player to break the point and take the racing lead.
The Running Game'
The most direct, and
frequently the best strategy is simply to avoid being hit, trapped,
or getting into mutually blocked stand-offs. Obviously, the running
game is most desirable when the player is ahead in the race.