In exceptionally general terms, there are 3 chief plans employed. You need to be agile enough to switch game plans almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to manage, to barricade in the opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate tactic at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This is composed of locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your opposer tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play 6/1 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opposer is then in serious difficulty seeing that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or more anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least 2 of your checkers.) It should be employed when you are decidedly behind as this strategy greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest places for anchors are towards your competitor’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is integral for an effectual backgame: after all, there is no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break apart this right away, while your competitor is getting their checkers home, because you do not have any other additional checkers to move! In this case, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position until your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it can be a good idea to attempt and get your opponent to get them in this case!