In very simple terms, there are three main plans used. You want to be agile enough to hop between tactics almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to block in the competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate course of action at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This is comprised of locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your challenger rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is now in big-time 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 pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It must be played when you are extremely behind as this strategy much improves your opportunities. The better places for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is crucial for an effectual backgame: after all, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this straight away, while your opposer is moving their pieces home, owing to the fact that you don’t have any other additional checkers to move! In this case, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position up till your challenger gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a good idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this case!