Anchoring in backgammon is a very useful tactic

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Anchoring in backgammon ranks high amongst the strategies that the skilled player needs to master. To understand what we mean by anchoring in backgammon one of the basic backgammon rules needs to be kept in mind - a player is allowed to move a checker according to the dice throw to a point on the board that is empty, or occupied by a single checker (or blot) of the opposing player. However, if the opponent has positioned two or more checkers on a point, no checkers can be landed there. Where one player has two or more checkers positioned on points within their opponent's home board area, these are known as anchored checkers.

Depending on which points the anchoring in backgammon is located, different terms are applied to these anchors. When a player puts an anchor on the third, fourth, or fifth point in their opponent's home board, these are called Advanced Anchors, however, an anchor positioned on their first or second point is known as a Deep Anchor.

Anchoring in backgammon is a good strategy to employ in a number of playing situations. A good example is when one player has a marked lead over their opponent, and the player at the disadvantage can use anchors to limit their opponent's room for moving their checkers and thereby cause them delay. In the final, bearing off stage of the game, players want as much freedom of movement as possible to be able to easily bear off their checkers and difficulties placed in their way can have a major effect on the fortunes of the game.