In exceptionally simple terms, there are three basic strategies used. You want to be agile enough to switch techniques quickly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you might achieve, to barricade in the competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable strategy at the start of the match. You can build the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This is composed of locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your opponent tosses an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is then in serious difficulty because they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have two or more anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least 2 of your pieces.) It must be played when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The best locations for anchors are towards your opponent’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: besides, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your challenger is getting their pieces home, considering that you do not have any other extra pieces to move! In this situation, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a good idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!