In very simple terms, there are 3 general strategies employed. You must be agile enough to switch tactics almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to achieve, to lock in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable strategy at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your opposer rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is now in big-time dire straits because they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or more anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It must be played when you are significantly behind as it much improves your circumstances. The best locations for anchors are towards your opponent’s lower points and also on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is important for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break apart this straight away, while your opponent is moving their pieces home, owing to the fact that you don’t have any other additional pieces to move! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your challenger gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a good idea to try and get your opponent to get them in this case!