Backgammon Holding Game Strategy
Backgammon holding game strategy summary points:
- Holding game strategy is usually the most effective strategy when you are behind in the race.
- Keep an anchor located high in your opponent's board, either in his home board or on the bar point (7-point).
- Attempt to establish anchors close to your opponent's lower point.
- The most preferable holding game anchors are point 20 or the bar points.
- By hitting your opponent's checkers from your held point, or by rolling high doubles you can gain an advantage and even take the lead.
- Recognize the appropriate times for offering the double cube, and accepting or rejecting a double when taking part in or defending the holding game strategy.
- Notice the opponent's checker distribution. If your opponent has established more landing points in his outer board, your chances of hitting decline considerably.
The holding game strategy is usually the most effective strategy when you are behind in the race, which is most often a result of receiving low numbers during the early dice rolls of the game or of your opponent hitting checkers that were close to your home board.
The main idea of the holding game strategy is to keep an anchor located high in your opponent's board, most often in his home board or the bar point.
It is best to establish anchors close to your opponent's lower point.
The most preferable holding game anchors are point 20 or the bar points, since they increase your chances for hitting your opponent as he attempts to gather his checkers inside his home board.
You may gain an advantage by hitting your opponent's checkers from your held point, or by rolling high doubles that could even enable you to take the lead.
In addition, it is important to recognize the appropriate times for offering the double cube, and accepting or rejecting a double when taking part in or defending a holding game.
An added crucial factor of the holding game strategy is the opponent's checker distribution. If the only points the opponent has made are 8 and 13, at times he will abandon a shot when he brings his men around. If your opponent has established more landing points in his outer board, your chances of hitting decline considerably.
At times, when waiting until the last minute and keeping your holding point in your opponent's home board, you may hit one or more of your opponent's checkers, and if your home board is blocked, your opponent could wind up stuck on the bar while you remove all your checkers.
Written by: Gary Tenaglia.
