In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 main plans used. You must be agile enough to hop between strategies quickly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you can achieve, to block in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable strategy at the begining of the match. You can create the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This consists of closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your opponent rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is then in big-time calamity taking into account that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have 2 or more pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at least 2 of your pieces.) It must be played when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your chances. The strongest locations for anchor spots are close to your opponent’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is crucial for an effective backgame: besides, there’s no reason having 2 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 moving their pieces home, seeing that you do not have other additional checkers to shift! In this case, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position up until your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a great idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!