In very general terms, there are three basic tactics used. You must be able to hop between tactics almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you can achieve, to barricade in your opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate course of action at the start of the match. You can build the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This involves closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your opponent tosses an early two and moves one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opposer is then in serious trouble because 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 pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at a minimum two of your checkers.) It must be played when you are significantly behind as it much improves your opportunities. The better locations for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is essential for an effective backgame: besides, there’s no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this right away, while your challenger is getting their pieces home, considering that you do not have any other additional checkers to shift! In this case, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position up till your competitor provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a good idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this case!