Backgammon 5-1 opening: the best move
Rolled 5-1 on the opening roll? This is the best move according to the strongest analysis programs in the world:
24/23 13/8
Bring a checker down to the 8 point and move a back checker one step (24/23 13/8). The small split gives your back checkers more ways out. Alternative: slot the 5 point (13/8 6/5).
All the good moves, best first
| Move | Chance to win | Gammon wins | Behind the best |
|---|---|---|---|
24/23 13/8 | 50.1% | 13.8% | — |
13/8 6/5 | 49.7% | 13.9% | −0.019 |
24/18 | 49.5% | 12.3% | −0.043 |
13/7 | 47.9% | 13.1% | −0.093 |
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.