In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 fundamental strategies employed. You want to be agile enough to switch tactics instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you might achieve, to lock in the competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable strategy at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This consists of closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your opponent tosses an early two and moves one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your challenger is then in serious calamity taking into account that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have two or higher pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It would be employed when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The better locations for anchors are close to your opponent’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is crucial for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to dismantle this straight away, while your competitor is shifting their pieces home, because you don’t have other spare pieces to shift! In this case, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position until your opponent provides you a chance to hit, so it can be a good idea to attempt and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!