Backgammon 4-3 opening: the best move
Rolled 4-3 on the opening roll? This is the best move according to the strongest analysis programs in the world:
13/10 13/9
Two checkers down from the midpoint, to the 10 and 9 points (13/10 13/9): they help you make points in your home next turn. Two alternatives are almost equal: 24/21 13/9 and 24/20 13/10.
All the good moves, best first
| Move | Chance to win | Gammon wins | Behind the best |
|---|---|---|---|
13/10 13/9 | 49.8% | 15.7% | — |
24/21 13/9 | 49.9% | 14.5% | −0.001 |
24/20 13/10 | 49.9% | 14% | −0.007 |
24/21 24/20 | 49.8% | 12.6% | −0.022 |
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.