In exceptionally simple terms, there are three general techniques employed. You must be able to hop between strategies almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you might manage, to block in your opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable tactic at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your competitor rolls an early two and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play 6/1 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is then in serious calamity considering that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or more pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at a minimum two of your checkers.) It must be employed when you are significantly behind as this strategy greatly improves your opportunities. The strongest areas for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is integral for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this straight away, while your opposer is moving their checkers home, because you don’t have any other spare checkers to shift! In this case, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position until your challenger gives you a chance to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your opposer to get them in this situation!