In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 chief game plans employed. You want to be able to switch strategies almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you might achieve, to barricade in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable strategy at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your challenger rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is now in serious dire straits because they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at least two of your pieces.) It needs to be played when you are significantly behind as it much improves your chances. The better places for anchor spots are near your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is crucial for a powerful backgame: after all, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break down this right away, while your competitor is shifting their checkers home, because you don’t have any other extra pieces to shift! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position up till your challenger provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a great idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this case!