In extraordinarily general terms, there are three chief strategies employed. You need to be agile enough to switch strategies quickly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you can manage, to barricade in the competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate course of action at the start of the match. You can build the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-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 challenger tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play six/one six/one eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is then in serious dire straits due to the fact that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or more checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at least 2 of your checkers.) It should be employed when you are significantly behind as this strategy much improves your opportunities. The better locations for anchor spots are near your opponent’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is integral for an effective backgame: besides, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your competitor is shifting their checkers home, taking into account that you do not have any other additional checkers to move! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it can be a good idea to attempt and get your opposer to get them in this case!