In extraordinarily general terms, there are three basic tactics used. You need to be agile enough to switch strategies almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you are able to manage, to block in your competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable course of action at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match advances.
The Blitz
This is comprised of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your challenger rolls an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is now in big-time calamity taking into account that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have two or higher pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point occupied by at a minimum two of your pieces.) It needs to be used when you are extremely behind as this strategy greatly improves your chances. The strongest locations for anchor spots are towards your competitor’s lower points and either on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is integral for a competent backgame: after all, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to dismantle this straight away, while your challenger is shifting their pieces home, seeing that you don’t have any other extra checkers to move! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position up until your challenger gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a great idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this case!