Golden anchor and golden point
from: Marc Werner
In every Backgammon book you can read the term "golden
point" or "golden anchor" or "most
important point on the board". These terms describe the 5 or
20-point. The golden point is your own
5-point, the golden anchor is the
20-point (the opponents 5-point). These are the
most important strategic points on the Backgammon board for several
reasons:
- Together with your 6-point, they form the beginning of an
effective prime to block the enemy back checkers in your own home
board.
- In every blot-hitting-contest you have the best possible prime
with two points made (6 and 5-point) against the checkers your
opponent must enter from the bar.
- The best possible case, is a 6-prime or a closed board against
the enemy checkers. The 5-point is the next best point (together
with the 6 point which you already own) to achieve this goal.
- If you have the golden anchor it is much harder for your
opponent to build an effective prime against these checkers,
compared to the checkers on the 24-point.
- If your opponent makes an advanced anchor in your home board it
is always in front of your inner board points, that is
strategically advantageous for you.
- Suppose your opponent must enter from the bar and you own the 5
and 6 point, the highest numbers on the dices. If your opponent is
not able to come in from the bar (with the numbers 6-6, 5-5 and
6-5), he will waste much more pips (what is bad for the race) on
average compared when you have the lower points and he cannot enter
from the bar.
In the opening of a game there is often a hefty struggle for
both 5-points because the reward to make and own the 5-point or
20-point often outweighs the risk to get more checkers back. Here
it is a typical example of an early fight for the 5-point from both
players.
Position 59, Category Opening 2nd Move
Black to play 
Black vs White
Moneygame: Jacoby and Beaver
added at 1/8/2010 7:19 PM, from admin
Pipcount: 167(+9) - 158(-9)
1) 13/9 6/5*
Equity: -0.085 6 ply
| Player: | 48.10% | 35.13% | 12.45% | 0.52% |
| Opponent: | 51.90% | 36.39% | 14.43% | 1.08% |
Pipcount: 162(-1) - 163(+1)
2) 24/20 6/5*
Equity: -0.104 (-0.019) 6 ply
| Player: | 47.47% | 36.04% | 10.98% | 0.45% |
| Opponent: | 52.53% | 38.78% | 13.06% | 0.69% |
3) 6/5* 5/1*
Equity: -0.144 (-0.059) 6 ply
| Player: | 46.22% | 34.39% | 11.44% | 0.39% |
| Opponent: | 53.78% | 39.35% | 13.71% | 0.72% |
4) 8/4 6/5*
Equity: -0.172 (-0.087) 2 ply
| Player: | 45.95% | 34.20% | 11.29% | 0.46% |
| Opponent: | 54.05% | 37.10% | 15.74% | 1.21% |
5) 24/23 13/9
Equity: -0.195 (-0.110) 2 ply
| Player: | 44.35% | 33.06% | 10.90% | 0.39% |
| Opponent: | 55.65% | 41.33% | 13.59% | 0.73% |
Software: eXtreme Gammon Version: 1.11
As you can see, it is usually better to keep attacking at the
golden point even if you were hit back! So you can see, that for a
couple of reasons it is a strategic advantage to own the 5-point
(even better to have both of course. The struggle for the golden
points (in nearly every step of the game) is another fundamental
and very important principle of the game.
Position 62, Category Middle Game
Black to play 
Black vs White
Moneygame: Jacoby and Beaver
added at 1/12/2010 11:30 AM, from admin
Pipcount: 161(-1) - 162(+1)
1) Bar/23 6/5*
Equity: -0.003 XG Roller+
| Player: | 49.56% | 35.41% | 13.48% | 0.67% |
| Opponent: | 50.44% | 37.04% | 12.64% | 0.76% |
Pipcount: 158(-9) - 167(+9)
2) Bar/24 13/11
Equity: -0.183 (-0.180) XG Roller+
| Player: | 45.97% | 34.51% | 10.99% | 0.47% |
| Opponent: | 54.03% | 38.83% | 14.45% | 0.75% |
3) Bar/23 11/10
Equity: -0.264 (-0.261) XG Roller+
| Player: | 43.40% | 32.54% | 10.41% | 0.45% |
| Opponent: | 56.60% | 41.34% | 14.51% | 0.75% |
4) Bar/24 11/9
Equity: -0.274 (-0.271) XG Roller+
| Player: | 43.16% | 31.74% | 10.98% | 0.44% |
| Opponent: | 56.84% | 41.51% | 14.48% | 0.85% |
5) Bar/22
Equity: -0.278 (-0.275) XG Roller+
| Player: | 43.45% | 33.24% | 9.78% | 0.43% |
| Opponent: | 56.55% | 41.06% | 14.72% | 0.77% |
Software: eXtreme Gammon Version: 1.11
The golden point and the golden anchor are the most important strategic points on the board. Especially in the beginning it is
normally worth to take some risks and try to make either of these points, even if you are hit back several times.
updated: Thursday, April 15, 2010