In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 main plans employed. You must be agile enough to hop between techniques almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you might manage, to barricade in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable strategy at the start of the match. You can build the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your opponent rolls an early two and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your challenger is now in serious trouble seeing that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have two or more pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point occupied by at least 2 of your pieces.) It must be employed when you are decidedly behind as this action greatly improves your circumstances. The better locations for anchors are towards your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is critical for an effectual backgame: after all, there is no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break apart this right away, while your challenger is moving their pieces home, seeing that you do not have any other additional checkers to move! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up until your opposer gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a good idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this case!