In exceptionally general terms, there are three basic tactics employed. You want to be able to hop between game plans almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you are able to achieve, to lock in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable procedure at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your competitor rolls an early two and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your competitor is now in big-time calamity considering that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have two or higher anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It must be used when you are significantly behind as this action much improves your opportunities. The better locations for anchors are towards your opponent’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with one point separating them. Timing is crucial for a competent backgame: after all, there is no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to dismantle this straight away, while your opposer is moving their checkers home, taking into account that you do not have any other additional checkers to shift! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position up till your challenger gives you a chance to hit, so it can be a great idea to attempt and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!