In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 fundamental game plans used. You want to be agile enough to hop between strategies almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to lock in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable procedure at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your competitor rolls an early two and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is now in big-time calamity taking into account that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at least 2 of your checkers.) It needs to be used when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your chances. The strongest areas for anchor spots are near your opponent’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is essential for a competent backgame: after all, 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 opponent is moving their pieces home, because you do not have any other spare pieces to move! In this situation, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your challenger provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!