In astonishingly general terms, there are 3 basic tactics employed. You need to be able to switch strategies quickly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you might achieve, to lock in the competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate course of action at the start of the match. You can create the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match advances.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your challenger rolls an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your challenger is now in big-time difficulty due to the fact that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or higher anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It should be employed when you are extremely behind as this plan much improves your chances. The best locations for anchors are close to your competitor’s lower points and either on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is important for an effectual backgame: after all, there’s no point having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this straight away, while your competitor is shifting their checkers home, because you do not have other extra checkers to move! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position up till your opponent gives you a chance to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!