In very simple terms, there are three general plans used. You must be agile enough to hop between techniques almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you can achieve, to block in the competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable strategy at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match advances.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your opposer rolls an early 2 and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opposer is now in big-time difficulty due to the fact that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at least 2 of your pieces.) It would be employed when you are significantly behind as this action greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest areas for anchors are near your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is critical for an effectual backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your challenger is moving their pieces home, owing to the fact that you do not have other extra checkers to shift! In this case, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up until your challenger provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a great idea to attempt and get your challenger to hit them in this case!