Holding game advanced strategy

In the first part of this aricle, Holding game basic strategy, we explained how to recognize a holding game and went through the basic plays of a holding game. In this article we analyze various holding game situations and explain the applicable strategies. Special attention is paid to doubling action as normally in holding games one player is a clear underdog. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the race trailer should immediately pass on the cube, though.

The most typical holding game situations that you’ll come accross in backgammon are

• mid-point vs. anchor
• mid-point vs. bar-point
• low anchor
• high anchor

You might also see some situations with multiple anchors, but they are very similar to backgames and therefore they are not covered within this article.

Mid-point vs. anchor

One of the most typical mutual holding game situations is when one of the players has an outfield point (usually it’s the mid-point) and the other one a high anchor, normally the 5-point. This is illustrated in Picture 1.

In this particular situation White is clearly leading the race AND the two points are more than six pips apart. This is very important to keep in mind, because if the player with the outfield point moves a checker into safety to a home board point the opponent doesn’t have a direct shot. Therefore the probability of hitting is much lower than if the points were six or fewer pips apart.

Despite being behind in the race Black has a pretty good chance of winning. Naturally, as we are in a holding game, Black’s chances rely on hitting the White’s checker. Should he be able to do so, he’s got a full prime giving him the luxury of bearing in safely after hitting. In addition, it’s not that certain that White will be able to bring in both men safely. Remember, he needs to bring two men to safety and Black has relatively good chances to hit. Finally, a little less probably situation is that Black rolls high doubles, in which case he is back in the race.

In the situation in Picture 1. White should double, but Black shouldn’t underestimate his winning chances and pass. Actually, Black’s winning chances are around 30% and therefore it’s a take.

Mid-point vs. bar-point

Another usual situation is the one in Picture 2. Black has managed to make White’s bar-point, which clearly increases his winning chances. Now the Black’s point and the White’s mid-point are six pips apart, meaning that White should roll a double to bring both mid-point men to safety. If he doesn’t he will leave a direct shot and the hitting chances for Black are almost 50%. In this situation White shouldn’t double.

If Black’s anchor has been shifted to White’s 9 or 8-point, the situation is slightly better for White. The distance to Black’s point is then four or five pips, increasing White’s chances to bring in the men safely. White should double and Black should still take. However, should the distance between the two points be three pips or less, it would be an easy pass for the Black. At that point white simply has too many rolls with which he could move both men into safety on the same turn.

Low anchors

A low anchor situation is one where a player has an anchor on the 1, 2 or 3-point. This is not a favourable position and in most cases the player with a low anchor should resign when a double is offered. There are certain factors that play along in the decision that should be considered together with the pip-count. All these factors are related to the chances for the trailing player hitting the opponent’s checker.

Where is the anchor?
If the anchor is on the 1-point Black shouldn’t take the cube. 2 and 3-points are much better in that it’s much more difficult for the opponent to safely play behind the anchor.

Does he still have the mid-point?
If the trailing player still has the midpoint it makes it more difficult for the leading player to maneuver his own outfield men. Since the low anchor far away, without a mid-point to assist in hitting it is correct for the trailing player to pass on a double - and of course it is correct for the leading player to double.

Does the leading player has both the 5 and 7-point?
The 5 and 7-points are essential in preventing Black from repositioning his low anchors by moving them to strategically better positions. If the leading player has made both points it’s much easier for him the bring in his outfield checkers and therefore it’s a double and a pass for the trailing player.

High anchors

A high anchor situation bears resemblence to Mid-point vs. anchor positions, with the difference that the leading player has two or three points made before the anchor. This provides a safety net for the leading player during bearing in his outfield men. A common high anchor situation is shown in Picture 3.

Just like in low anchor situtations the trailing player’s winning chances are influenced by the certain factors that need to be considered together with the race situation.

Where is the anchor?
The 5-point anchor is the best, then comes the 6-point anchor and then the 4-point anchor. It is much better for the trailing player to have anchor on the 5-point than on the 4-point.

Does the leading player has mid-point checkers?
If there are mid-point checkers that need to be brought to safety he would ideally want to land them on the points before the opponent’s high anchor.

How many points are made in front of the anchor?
Three points offer a solid basis for the leading player first to bring his men to safety from the mid-point and then to move checkers from those points into safety behind the anchor. With three points in front of the anchor the trailing player should pass on a double, but if there are still mid-point checkers and only two points made in front of the anchor, it is a take.

Are there any gaps in front of the anchor?
It makes a big difference whether there are gaps between points in front of the trailing player’s anchor or not. Take for example Picture 3 - if the White’s checkers from the 7-point would be on the home board points it would be a whole different situation for him and it wouldn’t be a straightforward double for White in this situation and certainly a take for Black if White would double.