In exceptionally simple terms, there are three main strategies used. You need to be agile enough to switch game plans quickly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you can manage, to lock in the competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable course of action at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This is composed of locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your opposer rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play 6/1 six/one 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is then in serious calamity since they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked 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 position consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It needs to be employed when you are significantly behind as this plan greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest locations for anchors are close to your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is essential for an effectual backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break apart this right away, while your challenger is getting their pieces home, considering that you don’t have any other spare pieces to shift! In this case, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position until your challenger gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a good idea to try and get your opponent to get them in this situation!