In astonishingly simple terms, there are three fundamental game plans employed. You need to be agile enough to hop between game plans quickly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you might manage, to barricade in your competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate course of action at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match progresses.
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 opposer tosses an early two and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your competitor is then in big-time dire straits taking into account that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have two or higher pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It should be used when you are extremely behind as this action much improves your chances. The strongest areas for anchors are near your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is essential for a competent backgame: after all, there is no point having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break up this right away, while your challenger is moving their checkers home, taking into account that you don’t have any other spare pieces to shift! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position until your competitor gives you a chance to hit, so it can be a great idea to attempt and get your opponent to hit them in this case!