In astonishingly simple terms, there are three basic tactics employed. You want to be agile enough to hop between techniques instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to manage, to lock in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable strategy at the start of the match. You can create the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This is comprised of locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your opponent tosses an early 2 and moves one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play six/one six/one 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is now in big-time trouble considering that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or more pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at least 2 of your checkers.) It must be employed when you are extremely behind as this action much improves your chances. The strongest places for anchors are towards your opponent’s lower points and either on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is essential for a powerful backgame: after all, there’s no reason having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break down this straight away, while your challenger is shifting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you don’t have any other additional pieces to move! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position up till your challenger gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to attempt and get your competitor to get them in this case!