In astonishingly simple terms, there are three main plans employed. You must be agile enough to hop between techniques instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you are able to achieve, to block in your opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate course of action at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your competitor tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your competitor is then in big-time dire straits due to the fact that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have two or more checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point filled by at least two of your checkers.) It should be used when you are significantly behind as this strategy much improves your opportunities. The strongest areas for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is important for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no point having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break up this straight away, while your competitor is moving their checkers home, because you don’t have other additional pieces to shift! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position up until your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to attempt and get your challenger to get them in this situation!