In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 general techniques used. You need to be agile enough to switch game plans instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you can manage, to block in your opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable tactic at the start of the game. You can build the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your opposer rolls an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your competitor is now in serious difficulty because they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have two or more checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point filled by at a minimum two of your checkers.) It would be employed when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your chances. The strongest areas for anchor spots are close to your opponent’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is important for an effective backgame: after all, there’s no point having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this right away, while your competitor is shifting their pieces home, considering that you don’t have any other spare checkers to shift! In this case, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a good idea to attempt and get your competitor to get them in this situation!