- Three point anchor games, where one player anchors on the three point, occur frequently in backgammon and can be important to study. - The document provides guidance on when it is advisable to take the cube in three point anchor games based on pip count deficits and board position. Borderline pip counts are given for different point openings. - Factors like spare checker distribution and the possibility of gammons are also discussed in determining cube action and clearing points against the three point anchor.

1. Three Point Anchor Games
Lectured by Mochy @ Gibraltar Backgammon Championship 2016

2. Recommended App for iPhone/iPad/Android

3. Who cares about The three point anchor
games?
Three point game is NOT exciting.
Nobody plays backgammon for three point
holding games
Not many people study the three point game

4. Reasons to study
It happens very often. You will play it every day.
Bar, 5p, or 4p games are usually take, while 2p or 1p
games are usually pass. 3p game is the one you are not
sure of.
Easy to learn. An hour lecture makes difference.

5. Position 1 (7p & 9p open)
How many pip down is the borderline take?

6. 22pip is the borderline !

7. Definition of the reference
White has escaped all back men
White has a reasonable distribution
(Spare on each point)
Black keeps mid point
(if not?)

8. If Black doesn’t keep a midpoint

9. Position 2 (7p open)
9p is closed. How about now?

10. 19pip is the borderline. 9p has very small
impact.

11. Position 3. 7p is closed now.

12. 7p makes massive difference on Equity.

13. Position 4.
10 pip is the borderline with 7p closed.

14. Position 5. Full Prime!

15. Drop against a full prime.

16. Rare exception…
I didn’t want to know this!

17. Maximum Pip deficit to take the cube
Conditions of the prime Maximum pip deficit
Open 7p and 9p 22
With 9p 19
With 7p 10
Full Prime (“almost” always a pass)

18. Position 6.
How do spare checkers matter?

19. Spare’s distribution matters more than Pip
count.

20. 0
100
200
300
400
500
600
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Equity Difference by a Pip
3p game Race

21. Position 7.
Cube Action?

22. Small no double & Easy Take.

23. It becomes a double with 8 shot.

24. Position 8.
Aggressive for Gammon or Safe?

25. It is almost always right to clear a 6p
against the 3p anchor.

26. Position 9. Bearing in against the 3p.

27. Very often right to clear the 8p before 10p
or 11p.