In extraordinarily simple terms, there are 3 main strategies employed. You want to be agile enough to hop between game plans quickly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you might manage, to lock in your opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable course of action at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This is composed of locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your opponent tosses an early 2 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 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is then in big-time trouble due to the fact that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or more checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at least 2 of your pieces.) It needs to be used when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The best places for anchors are near your competitor’s lower points and also on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is essential for a powerful backgame: after all, there is no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to dismantle this right away, while your opposer is shifting their pieces home, taking into account that you do not have other additional pieces to shift! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position until your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to attempt and get your competitor to hit them in this case!