Backgammon 4-2 opening: the best move
Rolled 4-2 on the opening roll? This is the best move according to the strongest analysis programs in the world:
8/4 6/4
Clearly best: make the 4 point (8/4 6/4). Another closed point in your home, with no blot left anywhere.
All the good moves, best first
| Move | Chance to win | Gammon wins | Behind the best |
|---|---|---|---|
8/4 6/4 | 53.8% | 16.2% | — |
24/20 13/11 | 50% | 13.6% | −0.167 |
24/22 13/9 | 49.9% | 13.9% | −0.167 |
13/11 13/9 | 49.5% | 14.7% | −0.176 |
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.