In extraordinarily general terms, there are three chief game plans employed. You must be able to hop between strategies quickly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to achieve, to block in the competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable procedure at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your opposer rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your competitor is now in serious difficulty since they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or more anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at least 2 of your checkers.) It needs to be employed when you are decidedly behind as this strategy much improves your chances. The strongest places for anchor spots are close to your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is integral for a competent backgame: besides, there is no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this straight away, while your competitor is shifting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you do not have other extra pieces to move! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a good idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this situation!