In very general terms, there are three main game plans used. You must be agile enough to hop between strategies quickly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to lock in your opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable strategy at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, 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 will be able to play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is then in serious difficulty taking into account that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or higher checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It would be used when you are significantly behind as this plan much improves your circumstances. The best locations for anchor spots are near your competitor’s lower points and either on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is integral for a competent backgame: after all, there is no point having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break apart this right away, while your challenger is getting their checkers home, taking into account that you do not have other additional pieces to shift! In this situation, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position until your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it will be a wonderful idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this case!