In astonishingly general terms, there are three general plans used. You want to be agile enough to switch strategies almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you might achieve, to block in the competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable procedure at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your opposer tosses an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is now in big-time trouble because they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have two or higher checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It needs to be used when you are extremely behind as this action much improves your chances. The best locations for anchors are towards your opponent’s lower points and either on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for an effectual backgame: after all, there is no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to dismantle this straight away, while your competitor is moving their checkers home, because you don’t have any other extra pieces to shift! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position until your opponent gives you a chance to hit, so it may be a good idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!