In extraordinarily general terms, there are three general strategies employed. You need to be able to switch game plans almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to achieve, to block in your opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable course of action at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match advances.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your challenger tosses an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is then in serious calamity since 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 higher anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position filled by at a minimum two of your checkers.) It needs to be employed when you are extremely behind as this plan greatly improves your opportunities. The best locations for anchor spots are towards your competitor’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is critical for a powerful backgame: after all, there’s no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this right away, while your opposer is moving their checkers home, owing to the fact that you don’t have any other additional pieces to shift! In this case, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position until your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it can be a great idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!