In very simple terms, there are 3 basic techniques employed. You want to be able to hop between game plans quickly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you can manage, to block in the opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable course of action at the start of the match. You can create the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match advances.
The Blitz
This is composed of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your challenger rolls an early two and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your competitor is now in big-time trouble taking into account that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or higher pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a position filled by at a minimum two of your checkers.) It would be used when you are decidedly behind as this action greatly improves your circumstances. The better locations for anchors are near your competitor’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is essential for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break up this straight away, while your opponent is shifting their pieces home, taking into account that you do not have any other additional checkers to shift! In this case, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position until your competitor provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a good idea to try and get your opponent to get them in this case!