In extraordinarily simple terms, there are three fundamental strategies employed. You want to be able to switch techniques quickly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to achieve, to block in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable procedure at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This is composed of locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your opponent rolls an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is now in serious dire straits seeing that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or more pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least 2 of your pieces.) It should be employed when you are significantly behind as this action much improves your circumstances. The better places for anchor spots are near your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is critical for a competent backgame: besides, there’s no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this straight away, while your opposer is shifting their pieces home, seeing that you do not have any other additional checkers to shift! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position up till your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this situation!