In exceptionally general terms, there are three basic tactics used. You want to be agile enough to hop between game plans almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you are able to achieve, to lock in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable course of action at the start of the match. You can create the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your competitor tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your competitor is now in serious difficulty seeing that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or more pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least 2 of your pieces.) It must be played when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The best locations for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s lower 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 reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your competitor is shifting their pieces home, considering that you do not have other additional pieces to shift! In this case, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your competitor gives you a chance to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this situation!
