In astonishingly general terms, there are three chief tactics employed. You must be agile enough to switch game plans almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you might achieve, to lock in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable procedure at the start of the game. You can create the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This involves closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your challenger tosses an early two and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play six/one six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your challenger is now in big-time dire straits because they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or more pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at least 2 of your pieces.) It would be played when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The strongest locations for anchors are close to your opponent’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is essential for a competent backgame: after all, there is no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break apart this right away, while your competitor is getting their checkers home, considering that you do not have any other additional pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up until your challenger provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a good idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this case!