Opening Rolls and Opening Moves

If you're new to backgammon, you’ll be happy to know that some moves are considered the only right thing to do. If you ignore this advice, you are reducing your chances of success and won’t be able to call yourself unlucky! Experts throughout the ages have analyzed games to see what the best moves are to any given opening roll.

The most important point to make is what’s known as the golden point, which is your twenty point (your opponent's five point). This point will provide you with an excellent anchor and make your opponent’s life difficult when he wants to reenter from the bar. So an opening roll of 3-1 should make you smile. Opening rolls of 6-1 and 4-2 will allow you to make the 7 and 4 points.

Move two men from your midpoint, your 13-point (i.e., your opponent's 12-point), when you roll 5-4, 4-3, 5-2, 5-3, or 3-2. Another possibility is with 3-2, 4-3, or 5-4, use one of the numbers to slot your opponent and with the other number move one checker from your midpoint. A different possibility for 5-4 is to move one of the back men nine.

With a roll of 6-5, 6-4, 6-3, or 6-2, you should either move one back man using both numbers, or move one back man six and another from the midpoint. Experts disagree somewhat on what to do with 6-2, however; many would prefer to move a piece from the midpoint eight in order to slot the 5-point.

With 4-1, 2-1, 5-1, split the back men by moving one of them one point, and move a checker from the midpoint using the other number; or play the one to slot the 5-point and move a checker from your midpoint.

If your opponent has the first turn and you roll doubles on your first roll, here’s what you should do:

6-6: Make both bar points (your and your opponent's 7-points).

5-5: Move two men from your midpoint to your 3-point.

4-4: Move your back men one point each to make your opponent's five-point as an anchor, then make your 9-point.

3-3: Move your back checkers once each to make your opponent's 4-point, then make your own 5-point.

2-2: Move your back checkers twice each to make your opponent's five-point as an anchor.

1-1: Make your 5- and 7-points.

As you become more experienced in the game of backgammon, you will probably find yourself making your own mistakes, as you do in real life. We hope that these tips will reduce your mistakes to a minimum.