In very simple terms, there are three chief strategies employed. You want to be agile enough to hop between tactics quickly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you might manage, to barricade in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate tactic at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your challenger rolls an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is now in serious dire straits considering that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have 2 or more anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at least 2 of your pieces.) It should be used when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest places for anchor spots are near your competitor’s lower points and either on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is important for a competent backgame: besides, there is no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break apart this straight away, while your opponent is getting their pieces home, taking into account that you don’t have any other additional pieces to move! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up until your opponent gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a good idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this case!