Backgammon Holding Games - How to Use Anchors in Backgammon
In this page we will tell you what is a backgammon holding game is, and how you can use your anchors and outfield points to play the backgammon holding game better.
A backgammon anchor is a point in the opponent's home board, or the opponent's bar, occupied by two or more of your checkers. This anchor is a strategic point to make, that enables the player to:
- Not get hit by the opponent
- Hold a position for attack
- Prevent Your opponent from reaching a position
A backgammon outfield point is any point outside the two home boards. This point can also be used strategicly against the opponent but in a different way. In this place, you have a smaller threat for hitting your opponent and a better chance at creating a prime or blocking your opponent.
A Holding game in backgammon occurs when both opponents have one or two backgammon anchors or outfield points in both halves of the backgammon board. In this way, the other player cannot create open points, because of the risk of getting hit by the backgammon anchor/prime. The game is suspended and doesn't advance until the player clears his checkers or until one of the players gets a double. A holding game is sometimes created against the wishes of both players, that find themselves in a stuck position.
Making the Right Moves in Holding Games
Hitting with backgammon anchors - In a backgammon holding game, even though the players have the option of advancing their anchors, they often choose not to do so, because they don’t want to forgo of their option to later hit the opponent with the backgammon anchor.
Moving backgammon anchors with a double - Sometimes anchors are left in one place, because the player doesn’t want to create an opening, for the other player to hit his single checker. In this case, players wait until they receive a double dice score, and only then move their checkers together.
Moving six points with the anchors - In a typical backgammon holding game the anchors are the checkers that give the option of playing the six or five dice score. If most of your checkers are in the home board, and you still need to play high dice scores such as the six, it could mean you will have to create an opening, that your opponent can later use to hit your points. The anchors are sometimes a protection against this kind of weak spot, as they allow you to move with high dice scores without threatening the checkers close to your backgammon home board.
Anchor against Outfield point - When one backgammon opponent has an anchor, of two checkers or more, in one side of the board, and the other opponent has an outfield point of two checkers or more on the other side of the board, these two points will often try to hit one another, in order to block the opponent on the bar. If one of the players is behind his opponent, and has more pips to complete the game, it is better for him if the anchor and the outfield points are six or less pips apart. This will allow him to possibly hit his opponent in the right time of the backgammon game.
A position like this, with the anchor on one side and the outfield point on the other, is usually better for the backgammon player who is behind in the race.
Gregory Peters - Game Analyst
