Backgammon 6-3 opening: the best move
Rolled 6-3 on the opening roll? This is the best move according to the strongest analysis programs in the world:
24/18 13/10
Run a back checker to the 18 point, the point your opponent most wants to make, and bring a builder down to the 10 point to make points in your home (24/18 13/10).
All the good moves, best first
| Move | Chance to win | Gammon wins | Behind the best |
|---|---|---|---|
24/18 13/10 | 50.5% | 13.4% | — |
24/15 | 50.2% | 12% | −0.032 |
13/4 | 48.4% | 13.8% | −0.073 |
24/21 13/7 | 48.5% | 13.1% | −0.075 |
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.