In extraordinarily simple terms, there are 3 chief game plans employed. You want to be able to hop between tactics almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you can achieve, to lock in your opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate procedure at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This consists of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your challenger rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play six/one six/one 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is then in big-time trouble taking into account that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or more checkers in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It needs to be employed when you are significantly behind as this plan greatly improves your opportunities. The best locations for anchor spots are near your opponent’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is critical for an effectual backgame: besides, there is no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your competitor is moving their pieces home, considering that you don’t have any other extra pieces to shift! In this case, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position until your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a wonderful idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this situation!