Backgammon 5-3 opening: the best move
Rolled 5-3 on the opening roll? This is the best move according to the strongest analysis programs in the world:
8/3 6/3
Make the 3 point (8/3 6/3). A closed point in your home on the very first turn is an asset, and the computers clearly prefer it to splitting.
All the good moves, best first
| Move | Chance to win | Gammon wins | Behind the best |
|---|---|---|---|
8/3 6/3 | 51.6% | 16.3% | — |
24/21 13/8 | 50.6% | 14.2% | −0.053 |
13/10 13/8 | 49.8% | 14.4% | −0.079 |
13/5 | 49.4% | 14.5% | −0.096 |
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.