In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 general strategies used. You must be agile enough to switch techniques quickly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you are able to manage, to block in the competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate tactic at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This involves closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your opponent rolls an early 2 and moves one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is then in serious calamity since they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or higher checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at least 2 of your checkers.) It would be used when you are decidedly behind as this strategy greatly improves your chances. The better areas for anchor spots are towards your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break up this right away, while your opponent is moving their checkers home, because you don’t have any other spare pieces to move! In this case, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position up until your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it may be a good idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this situation!