The golden anchorIntermediate
The 20-point is called the golden anchor, and it is probably the most underrated point on the board for players below expert level. Holding it turns your two back checkers from a liability into an asset that can win the game on its own.
What an anchor actually does
An anchor is any point you hold with two or more checkers in your opponent's home board or just outside it. It does two jobs at once: your back checkers can never be hit while they sit there, and they sit directly in the path your opponent needs for their own home board.
Why the 20-point specifically
It is the highest anchor that still sits inside your opponent's home board, which means it blocks their best point while keeping your checkers close enough to escape later. Anchors deeper than that, on the 21, 22 or 23 points, are safe but passive: they block points your opponent cares less about and your checkers have further to run.
The shot you are waiting for
Holding the 20-point means every checker your opponent brings home has to pass you. Sooner or later they will be forced to leave a blot within range, and because your checkers are already deep in their territory, a hit there is close to fatal for them. This is why the anchor is an asset and not just a shelter.
How to get there
Opening rolls 5-4 and 4-3 both offer 24/20. Once you have one checker on the 20-point, making the point is often worth more than almost anything else available, because an unanchored back pair is the position most likely to lose a game outright.
The numbers, computed
Every figure below is enumerated over all 36 ordered outcomes of two dice, not quoted from a table. Shot counts assume the intervening points are open.
| Situation | Rolls that work | Chance |
|---|---|---|
| Hitting a blot 5 pips away | 15 of 36 | 41.7% |
| Hitting a blot 4 pips away | 15 of 36 | 41.7% |
Hitting a blot 5 pips away: Indirect shot: it needs two dice combined.
Hitting a blot 4 pips away: Indirect shot: it needs two dice combined.
What most players get wrong
Back checkers should run for safety as soon as possible.
Running both back checkers out early is often the losing plan. It concedes the entire board to your opponent, who then builds freely while you have nothing on their side to threaten. An anchor lets you stay in the game on both fronts. The instinct to escape is right when the anchor is hopeless and wrong when you can hold a good one.
Play a rated game and every decision gets reviewed afterwards against the best move available. The dice are committed before you roll and checkable after, so the number you end up with is a measure of you, not of luck.
Play a rated game freeFrequently asked questions
What is the golden anchor in backgammon?
The 20-point, held with two or more checkers. It is the strongest defensive anchor because it blocks your opponent's most valuable home board point while keeping your back checkers close to escape.
Is the 20-point better than the 18-point?
For defensive purposes, yes. The 20-point sits inside your opponent's home board and blocks a point they need. The 18-point is an escape staging post rather than a blocking anchor.
© 2026 Backgammon Battles