In extraordinarily simple terms, there are three general techniques used. You want to be agile enough to hop between strategies instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you might manage, to lock in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate tactic at the start 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 match continues.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your opponent rolls an early two and moves one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is then in big-time difficulty since they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or more anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at least 2 of your pieces.) It needs to be played when you are extremely behind as it much improves your circumstances. The best locations for anchor spots are near your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is essential for an effectual backgame: after all, there’s no point having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this right away, while your competitor is shifting their checkers home, considering that you don’t have other spare pieces to move! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position up till your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a good idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this case!