In very simple terms, there are three main techniques employed. You need to be agile enough to switch strategies almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you can manage, to block in your competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable procedure at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your competitor tosses an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opposer is now in serious trouble since they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or higher anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at a minimum two of your checkers.) It would be employed when you are extremely behind as this plan greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest areas for anchors are close to your opponent’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is integral for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this right away, while your opponent is shifting their checkers home, owing to the fact that you do not have any other spare pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position up until your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to attempt and get your competitor to hit them in this case!