In extraordinarily general terms, there are three main techniques used. You want to be agile enough to hop between tactics quickly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you might manage, to barricade in your opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable tactic at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your opposer rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your competitor is now in big-time calamity due to the fact that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have two or higher pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It needs to be played when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your chances. The best locations for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is integral for an effectual backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break up this straight away, while your opponent is getting their pieces home, seeing that you do not have any other extra checkers to move! In this situation, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position until your challenger gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a good idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this situation!