Backgammon Strategy – Anchoring

We have all heard the term that the "best defense is a good offense". I’m not sure where this started but it sounds like something General Patton would have said. A good offense does not always include being on constant attack, but can occasionally involve simply holding your ground in a strategic spot, and getting in the way of the enemy. This strategy works especially well in the game of backgammon.

Lets start with the idea of "Anchoring". This is a nautical term that means "We have just dropped a large bit of metal into the drink, and cannot move". This is exactly what you are doing with one of your pieces, with the exception of dropping it in water. Well for that matter your backgammon piece is probably also just a tiny piece of plastic, instead of metal, but let’s go forward. When you anchor it means you have invaded your opponent’s territory and established a defensive point on your adversary’s home board. From a military perspective, this is like establishing a beach head in enemy territory. This gives you a landing spot to come in on should you get hit and prevents your opponent from making his home board.

Do not wait to long before establishing your anchor. Try to get that piece of the board early in the game. The ideal place for anchoring your piece is on the higher points (20,21). This gives you an ideal landing spot. If you find yourself significantly behind in the game, establish at the lower points (22,23,24). These have more value in this situation because it is you strategy is to build your home board and wait for a shot.

If you have two anchors try to keep them on adjacent points. A technique that is often used to bring checkers in to act as anchors is re-circulating. Re-circulating refers to intentionally allowing a blot to be hit for the purpose of gaining time to preserve other valuable points.