In astonishingly simple terms, there are three basic strategies employed. You want to be able to switch techniques instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you can manage, to barricade in your opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable course of action at the start 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 game continues.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your challenger tosses an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play six/one six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your challenger is then in big-time dire straits considering that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at least 2 of your pieces.) It needs to be played when you are extremely behind as it much improves your opportunities. The better areas for anchors are near your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for an effectual backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your opponent is shifting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you do not have any other spare pieces to shift! In this case, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this case!
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