In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 basic game plans employed. You want to be able to switch strategies quickly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to manage, to barricade in your competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable procedure at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your opponent tosses an early 2 and shifts one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is then in big-time difficulty taking into account that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have two or higher anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at least two of your pieces.) It needs to be used when you are decidedly behind as this action greatly improves your chances. The better areas for anchors are towards your opponent’s lower points and also on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is critical for an effective backgame: after all, there’s no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break down this straight away, while your opponent is getting their pieces home, seeing that you don’t have other extra pieces to move! In this case, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position up until your competitor provides you a chance to hit, so it will be a good idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this situation!