In very general terms, there are 3 chief plans used. You must be agile enough to switch strategies almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to barricade in your opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable strategy at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This involves closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your opponent tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your challenger is now in serious dire straits since they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or more pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It needs to be used when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your circumstances. The better places for anchors are towards your opponent’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with one point separating them. Timing is crucial for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no point having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this right away, while your challenger is getting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you don’t have other additional checkers to shift! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to attempt and get your opponent to hit them in this case!