Backgammon 6-2 opening: the best move
Rolled 6-2 on the opening roll? This is the best move according to the strongest analysis programs in the world:
24/18 13/11
Like 6-3: a back checker to the 18 point and a builder to the 11 point (24/18 13/11). A close alternative is one checker from the midpoint to the 5 point (13/5), leaving a blot on your most important point.
All the good moves, best first
| Move | Chance to win | Gammon wins | Behind the best |
|---|---|---|---|
24/18 13/11 | 50.4% | 13.8% | — |
13/5 | 49.4% | 14.5% | −0.019 |
24/16 | 50.1% | 12.3% | −0.023 |
13/11 13/7 | 48.2% | 13.6% | −0.079 |
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.