In astonishingly simple terms, there are three main plans employed. You want to be agile enough to hop between game plans almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you might manage, to block in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable tactic at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This consists of closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your competitor tosses an early two and moves one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is now in serious trouble considering that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have two or higher anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at least 2 of your checkers.) It should be employed when you are significantly behind as it much improves your circumstances. The better places for anchor spots are close to your opponent’s lower points and either 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 two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break up this straight away, while your opposer is moving their pieces home, seeing that you don’t have any other additional checkers to shift! In this situation, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up until your challenger provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to attempt and get your challenger to get them in this case!