Anchor

How it works in play

An anchor is a safe base for your back checkers: a made point can’t be hit, it stops the opponent from closing you out, and it gives you somewhere to land while you wait for a shot. Higher anchors are worth more. One on the opponent’s 5- or 4-point (your 20- or 21-point) watches their outfield; a deep one on their 1- or 2-point (your 24- or 23-point) is safe but passive.

Related terms

• Advanced anchor — An anchor on the 20-point (the "golden anchor") or the 18-point.
• Golden point — The 5-point (offense) — or the 20-point as the defensive "golden anchor."
• Holding game — Strategy of holding an anchor in the opponent’s territory (typically the 20-point) and waiting for a shot.
• Back game — Strategy built on two or more anchors held deep in the opponent’s home board.
• Point — One of the board’s 24 triangles. "To point on" a checker: make the point by landing two checkers on its blot.

Go deeper

• Game plans: the holding game
• Game plans: the back game
• The 15 opening rolls
• Backgammon strategy, from first roll to bear-off

In other languages

• العربيةالمرساة (Anchor)
• ΕλληνικάΆγκυρα (anchor)
• فارسیلنگر (Anchor)
• עבריתעוגן (Anchor)
• РусскийЯкорь (anchor)
• TürkçeÇapa (Anchor)