In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 basic strategies employed. You want to be agile enough to hop between tactics instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to achieve, to lock in the opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable strategy at the start of the match. You can create the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your opposer tosses an early two and moves one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is then in serious calamity considering that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or more pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a point filled by at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It would be played when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your chances. The best areas for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is integral for a competent backgame: after all, there is no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to dismantle this straight away, while your challenger is shifting their pieces home, because you do not have any other extra pieces to shift! In this case, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!