Importance of defensive backgammon strategy

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Successful backgammon players do well to devote as much attention to their defensive backgammon strategy as they do to their attacking tactics. Ideally a "golden mean" needs to be struck between the aggressive and defensive backgammon strategy applied. Without a sound approach to protecting your own checkers, even the most sophisticated attack plan can be thrown into disarray by having to bring hit blots back into play.

The efforts made to protect blots or lone checkers from being hit are a key element in any defensive backgammon strategy. Ideally single checkers should not be left exposed on points. It is therefore recommended to disperse checkers around the board, and to keep checkers in groups wherever possible. This is particularly challenging in the closing stages of the game. As players enter the straight race to bear off their checkers and they start to dismantle primes, it is common that blots get left unprotected.

Another important element in defensive backgammon strategy is the positioning of anchors. Anchors are two or more of your checkers placed on a strategic point in the opposing player's home board area. These anchors represent secure defensive positions in enemy territory. Anchors make it difficult for the opponent to rearrange their checkers, and thus impede their efforts to bear off checkers. If you position an anchor on the fifth point in the opponent's home board (an advanced anchor) is reckoned an excellent move to make at the commencement of the game.