The Best Opening Moves in Backgammon
There are only 15 possible opening rolls in backgammon, because nobody can open with a double (the starting roll uses one die from each player, and a tie means rolling again). Expert players and computer rollouts agree on good moves for all of them, so learning this table is one of the quickest ways to play better.
Moves are written from your own side. 8/5 6/5 means one checker from your 8-point to your 5-point and one from your 6-point to your 5-point.
The 15 opening rolls
| Roll | Good move | The idea |
|---|---|---|
| 3-1 | 8/5 6/5 | Makes your 5-point, the best point on the board |
| 4-2 | 8/4 6/4 | Makes your 4-point |
| 6-1 | 13/7 8/7 | Makes your bar point, blocking the back checkers |
| 5-3 | 8/3 6/3 | Makes your 3-point |
| 6-5 | 24/13 | “Lover’s leap”: one back checker runs all the way to safety |
| 6-4 | 24/18 13/9, or 8/2 6/2, or 24/14 | All close. The first is the most popular today |
| 6-3 | 24/18 13/10 | Splits the back checkers and brings a builder down |
| 6-2 | 24/18 13/11 | Same idea as 6-3 |
| 5-4 | 24/20 13/8, or 13/8 13/9 | Split, or bring two checkers down |
| 5-2 | 13/8 13/11 | Brings two builders down safely |
| 5-1 | 13/8 24/23 | One safe checker down, a small split at the back |
| 4-3 | 24/20 13/10, or 13/9 13/10 | Split to your opponent’s 5-point, or bring two builders |
| 4-1 | 24/23 13/9 | A builder for your 5 or 4-point, plus a small split |
| 3-2 | 24/21 13/11, or 13/10 13/11 | Split, or two builders |
| 2-1 | 13/11 6/5, or 24/23 13/11 | Slot your 5-point, or split. Both are fine |
Replies with doubles
Doubles can only come from the second turn onward. When there’s nothing to hit and nothing special in the position, these are the usual plays:
| Roll | Usual play |
|---|---|
| 6-6 | 24/18(2) 13/7(2): both bar points |
| 5-5 | 13/3(2): makes your 3-point |
| 4-4 | 24/20(2) 13/9(2) |
| 3-3 | 8/5(2) 6/3(2) |
| 2-2 | 13/11(2) 6/4(2) |
| 1-1 | 8/7(2) 6/5(2): bar point and 5-point |
Three ideas behind the table
Make points when you can. With 3-1, 4-2, 6-1 and 5-3 you can make a point straight away, so you do.
Bring builders down. Checkers on your 13-point are far from where the action is. Moving them down to your 9, 10 or 11-point gives you more ways to make good points next turn.
Split the back checkers. Moving one back checker up (24/23, 24/21, 24/20 and so on) gives you more ways to make an advanced anchor and makes it harder for your opponent to build a blockade.
Try them out: every opening roll on this site is a chance to practise, and the Hint button will show you the computer’s choice.