In very general terms, there are 3 chief plans used. You need to be agile enough to hop between tactics instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you might manage, to lock in the opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate procedure at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your competitor rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is now in big-time difficulty seeing that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or more anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It should be used when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The best locations for anchors are near your competitor’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with one point separating them. Timing is important for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this straight away, while your opposer is getting their checkers home, considering that you do not have other extra pieces to shift! In this situation, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position until your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to attempt and get your opposer to get them in this case!