In astonishingly simple terms, there are three basic techniques used. You want to be agile enough to hop between strategies instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you are able to achieve, to block in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable course of action at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your competitor rolls an early 2 and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is then in serious difficulty because they have 2 checkers 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 home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It needs to be employed when you are extremely behind as it much improves your chances. The strongest areas for anchor spots are near your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is crucial for a competent backgame: besides, there is no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to dismantle this right away, while your opponent is getting their checkers home, taking into account that you do not have any other additional checkers to move! In this situation, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position up till your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!