Backgammon 4-1 opening: the best move
Rolled 4-1 on the opening roll? This is the best move according to the strongest analysis programs in the world:
24/23 13/9
One checker from the midpoint to the 9 point and one back checker a step (24/23 13/9). A close alternative: 13/9 6/5, slotting the 5 point to make it next turn.
All the good moves, best first
| Move | Chance to win | Gammon wins | Behind the best |
|---|---|---|---|
24/23 13/9 | 49.8% | 14.4% | — |
13/9 6/5 | 49.9% | 14.2% | −0.007 |
24/23 24/20 | 49.1% | 12.7% | −0.032 |
13/8 | 48.9% | 13.8% | −0.040 |
GNU Backgammon ranks this move first too.
The numbers: eXtreme Gammon (XG) rollouts, money play with the doubling cube. "Behind the best" is how much a move loses compared with the best one, in fractions of a point; less than 0.02 is barely noticeable.
Practice
The best way to learn openings is in a real game: against the computer you get a hint every turn, and an analysis of every move at the end.