Backgammon 5-4 opening: the best move
Rolled 5-4 on the opening roll? This is the best move according to the strongest analysis programs in the world:
24/20 13/8
Split a back checker to the 20 point and bring one down to the 8 point (24/20 13/8). The 20 point is your opponent's 5 point, the most important point for them, and you get ready to take it. A close alternative: two checkers down from the midpoint (13/9 13/8).
All the good moves, best first
| Move | Chance to win | Gammon wins | Behind the best |
|---|---|---|---|
24/20 13/8 | 50.5% | 14.1% | — |
13/9 13/8 | 49.9% | 15.4% | −0.014 |
24/15 | 50.2% | 12% | −0.042 |
13/4 | 48.4% | 13.8% | −0.082 |
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.