In exceptionally general terms, there are 3 fundamental strategies used. You want to be agile enough to switch game plans almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you might manage, to barricade in the competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable tactic at the start of the match. You can build the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your opposer rolls an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play six/one six/one 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is then in serious calamity considering that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It needs to be used when you are significantly behind as this strategy much improves your circumstances. The best areas for anchors are close to your competitor’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is crucial for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break apart this straight away, while your challenger is moving their pieces home, owing to the fact that you don’t have other spare pieces to shift! In this case, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up until your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this situation!