In extraordinarily simple terms, there are three basic game plans employed. You want to be agile enough to switch strategies almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you might manage, to block in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable strategy at the start of the game. You can create the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This is composed of locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your opponent tosses an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is now in big-time calamity considering that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or more pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at least 2 of your checkers.) It would be used when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest locations for anchor spots are towards your competitor’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is crucial for a competent backgame: besides, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your challenger is getting their pieces home, considering that you do not have any other additional checkers to shift! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up until your opponent gives you a chance to hit, so it may be a great idea to attempt and get your competitor to get them in this situation!