In exceptionally general terms, there are three fundamental tactics used. You need to be able to switch game plans quickly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you can achieve, to block in your opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable tactic at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your opponent rolls an early 2 and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play 6/1 six/one 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is now in big-time dire straits because they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have two or higher checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at least 2 of your pieces.) It would be employed when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your circumstances. The strongest locations for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is essential for a competent backgame: besides, there is no reason having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your opponent is shifting their checkers home, seeing that you don’t have any other extra pieces to move! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up until your challenger provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a good idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this case!