In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 chief techniques employed. You need to be agile enough to hop between game plans almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you can achieve, to block in your opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate course of action at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This involves closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your competitor tosses an early 2 and moves one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your competitor is then in serious dire straits considering that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least 2 of your pieces.) It would be used when you are extremely behind as this strategy much improves your chances. The strongest locations for anchor spots are near your opponent’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is essential for a competent backgame: besides, there’s no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this right away, while your opponent is shifting their checkers home, seeing that you do not have other spare pieces to shift! In this case, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position until your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a good idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this case!