In very general terms, there are 3 main techniques employed. You must be able to hop between game plans quickly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you are able to achieve, to barricade in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable course of action at the start of the match. You can build the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This consists of closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your challenger tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play 6/1 six/one 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is then in big-time trouble seeing that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or more checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at a minimum two of your checkers.) It needs to be used when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your chances. The better areas for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s lower points and also on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is crucial for an effective backgame: besides, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this right away, while your challenger is getting their pieces home, considering that you don’t have other extra checkers to move! In this case, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position up until your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this case!