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In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 general game plans used. You want to be able to switch techniques quickly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you might manage, to block in the competitor's checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable strategy at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This consists of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your opponent rolls an early two and moves one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play 6/1 six/one eight/three 8/3. Your competitor is then in big-time dire straits since they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or more checkers in your competitor's inner board. (An anchor is a point filled by at least 2 of your checkers.) It should be employed when you are extremely behind as this plan greatly improves your chances. The strongest locations for anchors are near your competitor's smaller points and either on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is important for an effective backgame: after all, there is no reason having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this straight away, while your opponent is getting their pieces home, because you do not have other additional checkers to move! In this situation, it's more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your competitor gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a good idea to attempt and get your competitor to hit them in this situation!