In extraordinarily general terms, there are three fundamental strategies employed. You want to be agile enough to switch techniques instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you can achieve, to lock in the opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate course of action at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match advances.
The Blitz
This involves closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your opposer tosses an early two and moves one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 8/3. Your opposer is now in serious difficulty because they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or higher checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It must be used when you are extremely behind as this action much improves your opportunities. The strongest areas for anchors are towards your opponent’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is essential for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this straight away, while your opposer is moving their pieces home, considering that you don’t have any other extra pieces to move! In this case, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up till your challenger gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a great idea to try and get your opponent to get them in this case!