In astonishingly general terms, there are three fundamental strategies used. You must be able to switch game plans quickly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you might achieve, to barricade in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable course of action at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This consists of closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your challenger rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is now in big-time difficulty because they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or more anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point filled by at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It must be played when you are significantly behind as it much improves your chances. The better areas for anchors are close to your competitor’s lower points and also on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to dismantle this right away, while your competitor is shifting their pieces home, considering that you do not have any other additional checkers to move! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your challenger provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!