In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 fundamental game plans employed. You want to be agile enough to switch strategies almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you can manage, to block in the competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate strategy at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your challenger rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play six/one six/one 8/3 8/3. Your opposer is then in serious trouble considering that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or more anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It needs to be employed when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest locations for anchors are close to your opponent’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with one point separating them. Timing is essential for a powerful backgame: after all, there’s no point having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your opposer is moving their pieces home, taking into account that you don’t have other spare checkers to shift! In this situation, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up until your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to try and get your opponent to get them in this situation!