In very simple terms, there are three fundamental strategies employed. You must be able to hop between techniques instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you can achieve, to lock in the opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate course of action at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This consists of closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your opponent tosses an early 2 and shifts 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 eight/three 8/3. Your challenger is then in big-time trouble since they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at least two of your checkers.) It should be played when you are significantly behind as this plan much improves your opportunities. The best locations for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is integral 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 required to break apart this right away, while your competitor is moving their checkers home, seeing that you don’t have any other additional checkers to shift! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up till your challenger provides you a chance to hit, so it can be a great idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!