In very simple terms, there are 3 main game plans used. You must be able to hop between techniques almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you can achieve, to lock in your competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable strategy at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your competitor rolls an early two and shifts one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your competitor is then in big-time trouble due to the fact that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have 2 or more checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It should be used when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your chances. The strongest locations for anchor spots are near your competitor’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with one point separating them. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your competitor is moving their pieces home, considering that you don’t have any other additional checkers to move! In this situation, it’s 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 will be a wonderful idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this case!