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In extraordinarily simple terms, there are 3 general strategies used. You must be agile enough to hop between strategies quickly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you are able to achieve, to lock in your opponent's pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate strategy at the start of the game. You can build the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., 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 are able to play six/one six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is then in big-time trouble due to the fact that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have 2 or more pieces in your opponent's inner board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at least 2 of your checkers.) It must be employed when you are decidedly behind as this action greatly improves your circumstances. The better locations for anchors are near your opponent's lower points and either on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for an effective backgame: besides, there's no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to dismantle this right away, while your opponent is moving their checkers home, considering that you don't have other additional pieces to move! In this situation, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position up until your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a great idea to attempt and get your challenger to get them in this situation!