In extraordinarily simple terms, there are 3 fundamental plans used. You want to be agile enough to switch tactics instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you can manage, to barricade in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable tactic at the begining of the match. You can create the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift 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 challenger on the bar. e.g., if your opposer rolls an early two and shifts one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play 6/1 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is then in big-time trouble taking into account that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It needs to be used when you are decidedly behind as this strategy greatly improves your chances. The strongest locations for anchors are near your opponent’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is critical for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to dismantle this straight away, while your opponent is shifting their pieces home, considering that you don’t have any other spare checkers to shift! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up until your competitor provides you a chance to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to attempt and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!