In extraordinarily general terms, there are three basic techniques employed. You must be able to switch tactics instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you are able to achieve, to barricade in the competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable strategy at the start of the game. You can build the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match advances.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your opponent tosses an early two and moves one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your competitor is now in serious calamity because they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or higher pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It needs to be employed when you are significantly behind as this action greatly improves your chances. The better areas for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is critical for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break up this straight away, while your challenger is shifting their pieces home, considering that you don’t have any other spare checkers to move! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a good idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!