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In exceptionally general terms, there are three fundamental game plans used. You want to be agile enough to switch strategies almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to achieve, to barricade in your competitor's checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable strategy at the start of the game. You can create the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This is comprised of locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your competitor rolls an early 2 and moves one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is now in serious dire straits considering that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have 2 or more pieces in your competitor's inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It would be employed when you are extremely behind as it much improves your opportunities. The better locations for anchors are near your opponent's smaller points and also on abutting points or with one point separating them. Timing is integral for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break apart this straight away, while your competitor is moving their checkers home, owing to the fact that you don't have other additional pieces to shift! In this case, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to attempt and get your challenger to hit them in this case!