In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 general plans employed. You must be agile enough to hop between techniques quickly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you might achieve, to lock in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate course of action at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your challenger tosses an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is now in serious difficulty because they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a position filled by at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It needs to be played when you are decidedly behind as this strategy greatly improves your opportunities. The strongest areas for anchor spots are near your competitor’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is integral for an effectual backgame: besides, there’s no point having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break apart this straight away, while your opponent is shifting their pieces home, because you don’t have any other spare pieces to move! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position up till your challenger gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a good idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this case!