In very general terms, there are three main plans used. You need to be agile enough to switch tactics quickly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you can manage, to barricade in the competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable strategy at the begining of the match. You can create the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match advances.
The Blitz
This is composed of locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your opposer tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play 6/1 six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is now in big-time trouble because they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It must be used when you are extremely behind as this strategy much improves your opportunities. The strongest locations for anchors are near your competitor’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with one point separating them. Timing is crucial for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break apart this right away, while your competitor is getting their checkers home, seeing that you do not have other extra checkers to shift! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position until your opponent provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a good idea to attempt and get your opposer to get them in this situation!
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