In very simple terms, there are 3 chief plans employed. You need to be able to hop between strategies almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you can manage, to block in the competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable strategy at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This is comprised of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your opposer tosses an early 2 and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is now in serious trouble since they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a point filled by at least two of your checkers.) It needs to be employed when you are significantly behind as it much improves your opportunities. The strongest places for anchors are near your competitor’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is critical for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break down this straight away, while your opposer is moving their pieces home, owing to the fact that you do not have other extra pieces to move! In this case, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your competitor provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a good idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this case!