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In astonishingly general terms, there are 3 fundamental strategies used. You want to be agile enough to hop between game plans instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you can manage, to barricade in the competitor's pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable strategy at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This is comprised of closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your opposer tosses an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your competitor is now in big-time dire straits since they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have two or more anchors in your opponent's home board. (An anchor spot is a point filled by at least 2 of your checkers.) It should be employed when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The best places for anchors are near your opponent's lower points and also on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is essential for a competent backgame: besides, there is no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your opponent is moving their pieces home, because you don't have any other spare checkers to move! In this situation, it's more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your competitor gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a good idea to try and get your opponent to get them in this case!