The Strategy of Anchoring in Backgammon

admin · Site Admin Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 862

A great way to succeed in a game of backgammon is by strengthening your backgame. This is a defensive method of play where you fight your opponent within his or her home board by creating made points, blockades and anchors. Anchoring in backgammon is an extremely effective method of hindering your opponent's game, while strengthening your own.

An anchor is a defensive point that you have established in your opponent's home board. These are points that have two or more of your checkers on them and are referred to as "made points". Your opponent may not land on these points. Anchoring in backgammon is a great strategy because it prevents your opponent from entering all of his checkers into his home board and buys you time to get the rest of your checkers ahead in the game.

Anchoring in backgammon also serves the purpose of creating landing points should you be hit and have to re-enter the game through your opponent's home board. When you create anchors, it makes it impossible for your opponent to create a prime, or block of six points, in his home board in order to trap you on the bar.

If you want to try out the strategy of anchoring in backgammon you may have to re-circulate your checkers. What this means is you must be hit intentionally so that you can bring more checkers into your opponent’s home board and build anchors there.

Building anchors is a great strategy for anyone looking for ways to improve their game.