In extraordinarily simple terms, there are three fundamental strategies used. You need to be able to hop between techniques almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you might manage, to lock in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable tactic at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This is composed of locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your opposer tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play 6/1 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your competitor is now in big-time trouble because they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have two or higher pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at least two of your checkers.) It needs to be employed when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest locations for anchors are near your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for a competent backgame: besides, there’s no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break up this straight away, while your competitor is moving their checkers home, seeing that you do not have other spare pieces to move! In this case, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your challenger provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a great idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!