In extraordinarily simple terms, there are 3 fundamental techniques employed. You must be able to switch tactics instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you can manage, to block in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable tactic at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your opponent rolls an early 2 and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play 6/1 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is now in serious calamity seeing that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have two or more pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It would be played when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The best places for anchor spots are near your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is crucial for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your opponent is moving their checkers home, seeing that you don’t have other spare checkers to shift! In this case, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position until your competitor gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!