In astonishingly general terms, there are three fundamental tactics used. You want to be agile enough to hop between strategies instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you might achieve, to block in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable strategy at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This involves closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your opposer rolls an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play six/one six/one eight/three 8/3. Your challenger is then in serious calamity taking into account that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point filled by at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It should be used when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your chances. The strongest areas for anchor spots are near your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is essential for a competent backgame: after all, there’s no point having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to dismantle this right away, while your opponent is shifting their checkers home, because you don’t have other additional pieces to shift! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position up till your opponent gives you a chance to hit, so it can be a great idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this case!