In very simple terms, there are three main strategies employed. You must be agile enough to hop between techniques quickly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you can manage, to lock in your opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable course of action at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This consists of closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your opposer rolls an early two and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play six/one six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your challenger is then in big-time trouble considering that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or more anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor 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 opportunities. The best areas for anchor spots are close to your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break up this straight away, while your opposer is shifting their pieces home, considering that you don’t have any other spare pieces to move! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position up until your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to try and get your opponent to get them in this situation!