In exceptionally general terms, there are three basic game plans used. You need to be able to hop between tactics quickly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you are able to achieve, to barricade in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable strategy at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your opposer rolls an early 2 and moves one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is now in serious difficulty seeing that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at least two of your pieces.) It must be employed when you are significantly behind as this strategy greatly improves your chances. The best places for anchor spots are towards your competitor’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is crucial for an effective backgame: after all, there’s no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break down this straight away, while your opponent is moving their pieces home, taking into account that you do not have other extra checkers to shift! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position up till your challenger provides you a chance to hit, so it will be a good idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this situation!