In very general terms, there are 3 chief game plans used. You must be agile enough to hop between strategies quickly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you can manage, to block in the opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate tactic at the start of the match. You can build the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This involves closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your opposer tosses an early 2 and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is now in serious dire straits since they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It would be employed when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The strongest areas for anchor spots are near your competitor’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is critical for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break down this straight away, while your opposer is moving their checkers home, seeing that you don’t have any other extra checkers to move! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position up till your competitor provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a good idea to attempt and get your opposer to get them in this situation!