In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 chief plans used. You must be able to switch strategies almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to manage, to lock in the opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable course of action at the start of the match. You can build the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your competitor rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is now in serious trouble considering that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a position filled by at a minimum two of your checkers.) It must be used when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The best areas for anchors are near your competitor’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your opposer is moving their checkers home, owing to the fact that you do not have any other extra checkers to move! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your opponent gives you a chance to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this situation!