In very simple terms, there are 3 fundamental plans used. You want to be agile enough to hop between strategies quickly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you might achieve, to block in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable tactic at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This is comprised of locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your challenger tosses an early 2 and shifts one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play six/one six/one 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is then in big-time trouble since they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It needs to be used when you are extremely behind as this strategy much improves your opportunities. The strongest locations for anchors are close to your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is integral for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no point having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your opponent is getting their checkers home, seeing that you don’t have any other spare checkers to shift! In this situation, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position up till your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a great idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!