In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 main strategies used. You need to be able to hop between techniques instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you might achieve, to block in the competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable procedure at the start of the game. You can build the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your opponent tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play 6/1 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is then in big-time calamity because they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at a minimum two of your checkers.) It should be used when you are decidedly behind as this action greatly improves your opportunities. The strongest locations for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s lower points and also on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for a competent backgame: after all, there’s no point having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your challenger is getting their checkers home, considering that you do not have any other additional checkers to move! In this case, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up until your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to try and get your opponent to get them in this situation!