In extraordinarily simple terms, there are three chief strategies used. You need to be agile enough to hop between tactics instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you can manage, to block in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable tactic at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This is composed of locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your challenger rolls an early two and shifts one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is now in serious difficulty since they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or more pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It would be played when you are significantly behind as this action much improves your opportunities. The best places for anchor spots are close to your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is integral for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break up this right away, while your challenger is getting their pieces home, taking into account that you do not have other additional pieces to move! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position until your challenger provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a great idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this case!