In very general terms, there are 3 main game plans employed. You want to be agile enough to switch strategies quickly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you can manage, to block in the competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate strategy at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This involves closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your competitor rolls an early 2 and moves one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is then in big-time dire straits taking into account that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or more pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It must be employed when you are extremely behind as this action greatly improves your circumstances. The better locations for anchor spots are near your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is critical for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no point having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break apart this right away, while your challenger is moving their pieces home, considering that you do not have any other additional pieces to move! In this situation, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up till your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to attempt and get your competitor to get them in this case!