In very general terms, there are three chief tactics employed. You need to be agile enough to switch game plans instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to block in your competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable course of action at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This consists of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your competitor tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play 6/1 six/one 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is then in serious trouble because they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point filled by at a minimum two of your pieces.) It should be played when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The best places for anchors are close to your competitor’s lower points and also on abutting points or with one point separating them. Timing is important for a competent backgame: after all, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break up this straight away, while your challenger is moving their pieces home, seeing that you do not have any other extra checkers to move! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up until your challenger gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to try and get your opponent to get them in this case!