Backgammon: When to abandon an anchor?

Last updated on June 5, 2025

In this Deluxe Backgammon post for beginners, we try to answer the question, “When to abandon an anchor?” First, we will define what an anchor is, and then we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of abandoning the anchor. Understanding the importance of anchors is an important aspect of becoming a stronger backgammon player.

Anchor definition

An anchor in backgammon is a secure point in your opponent’s home board that is occupied by two or more of your checkers (Anchor at the USBGF). At the beginning of the game, there is an anchor on the twenty-four-point. The most desirable anchors are the five-point and the four-point, these are known as advanced anchors. An anchor can be used to block your opponent’s checkers from moving around the board and can also be used as a safe re-entry point for your checkers if they get hit. Advanced anchors are anchors that are closer to your opponent’s home board and can be used to attack your opponent’s checkers. They also restrict your opportunities to construct an effective prime.

The advantages and disadvantages of an anchor

The question is more generally about when to leave pieces in your opponent’s home board. If those pieces are safe, you can theoretically leave them there until all of your other pieces are in your home board. The question is, should you? There are three main advantages and disadvantages of leaving an anchor in your opponent’s home board.

Advantages

It forces your opponent to play safely when bringing pieces towards or into their home board. The anchor provides an attacking threat that means they are at risk of a hit if they leave a blot. Without the threat, they can take a much more relaxed in their approach to the home board.

It prevents your opponent from completing a six-prime in their home board, meaning you always have a chance of re-entering from the bar.

As long as you have an anchor, it helps maintain contact, which might provide you with the opportunity to hit an opposing checker. This is vital if you are significantly behind in the race.

Disadvantages

The checkers forming the anchor can be much harder to get to your home board, this is because they are a long way from home, and there may be many barriers in the way. This is much more of a consideration if the anchor is on the 24-point rather than the 20-point, as it’s very easy for checkers on the 24-point to get blocked behind a prime. In the instance where you have an advanced anchor, this is less of a concern. Whether or not you wish to escape these checkers as opposed to moving others mostly comes down to your position in the race. If you are ahead, it is advisable to break the anchor and start racing (The Race at Gammon Empire). If you are behind in the race, you will want to leave the checkers and adopt a holding strategy.

You could be forced to make an unfavourable move if those are the only checkers not in your home board. For example, in this instance, any roll of six cannot be played in your home board, so you are forced to break the anchor if there is a legal move. This could leave you with a blot in your opponent’s home board.

Maintaining an anchor delays the beginning of the race, which can be a downside if you are significantly ahead, as it might give your opponent an opportunity to turn the game around.

Summary

All of this depends on both the rolls you make and the state of the game. If you have a roll that lets you safely advance checkers from one of these positions but not the other, this can force your hand. Additionally, if you can hit a piece in your opponent’s home or outer board, that should take extremely high strategic priority. Large doubles might give you an opportunity to escape both the checkers forming the anchor. This might also have the added advantage of extending your lead in the race (Leave Anchor or Not? at The Gammon Press).

In answer to the initial question, “When do you abandon an anchor?”. The answer is threefold. First, you might be forced to abandon the anchor as it is the only legal move. Second, you may have hit your opponent with one of the checkers forming the anchor. Thirdly, you are ahead in the race and decide to adopt a running strategy. This is particularly the case if you roll a large double. You will want to keep your anchor intact if you are behind in the race and are playing a holding or back game strategy.