In very general terms, there are 3 general plans employed. You must be agile enough to switch strategies almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you can achieve, to lock in your competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate strategy at the start of the game. You can build the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match continues.
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 rolls an early 2 and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is then in big-time dire straits since they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have two or more anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum two of your checkers.) It would be employed when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest places for anchors are close to your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is critical for a competent backgame: after all, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your opposer is getting their checkers home, considering that you don’t have any other additional pieces to shift! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position until your competitor provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this situation!