In exceptionally general terms, there are 3 fundamental tactics employed. You must be agile enough to switch strategies instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you can achieve, to barricade in the opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate course of action at the start of the match. You can create the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This involves closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your challenger tosses an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opposer is then in serious difficulty since they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or more anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least two of your pieces.) It needs to be used when you are extremely behind as this plan greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest locations for anchor spots are near your opponent’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is essential for an effectual backgame: besides, there’s no reason 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 opposer is moving their checkers home, because you don’t have any other spare checkers to shift! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position until your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!