In very general terms, there are three chief techniques used. You want to be agile enough to hop between techniques instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you might achieve, to block in your opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate strategy at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, 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 8/3. Your opponent is now in big-time difficulty taking into account that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or more anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It would be used when you are decidedly behind as this action greatly improves your opportunities. The better locations for anchor spots are towards your competitor’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with one point separating them. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: after all, there’s no point having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break apart this right away, while your competitor is shifting their checkers home, taking into account that you do not have any other additional pieces to move! In this case, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position up until your challenger gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to attempt and get your competitor to hit them in this case!