In very simple terms, there are 3 general strategies employed. You need to be agile enough to hop between game plans quickly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to achieve, to block in the competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate course of action at the start of the match. You can build the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your opponent rolls an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play six/one 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opposer is now in serious difficulty since they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or higher checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It must be played when you are decidedly behind as this action much improves your chances. The strongest places for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is essential for an effectual backgame: after all, there’s no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this right away, while your opposer is moving their checkers home, considering that you don’t have other spare checkers to move! In this case, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position up till your challenger gives you a chance to hit, so it may be a great idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this case!