In exceptionally simple terms, there are three fundamental strategies used. You need to be able to hop between techniques instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you can manage, to lock in your competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate strategy at the start of the match. You can build the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your competitor rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play 6/1 six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your opposer is now in big-time difficulty seeing that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or more anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It should be used when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The better areas for anchor spots are close to your opponent’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with one point separating them. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no point having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to dismantle this straight away, while your opponent is getting their pieces home, taking into account that you do not have any other additional pieces to shift! In this case, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position up until your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to try and get your opponent to get them in this situation!