In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 general strategies used. You must be able to switch strategies almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you can manage, to lock in your opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate tactic at the start of the game. You can build the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your competitor tosses an early two and moves one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play 6/1 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your competitor is then in serious trouble seeing that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or higher checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at least 2 of your pieces.) It must be used when you are decidedly behind as this action much improves your chances. The better locations for anchors are towards your competitor’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is integral for an effective backgame: besides, there’s no reason 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 opposer is getting their pieces home, taking into account that you don’t have any other additional pieces to move! In this case, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position up till your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a great idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!