Backgammon 6-4 opening: the best move
Rolled 6-4 on the opening roll? This is the best move according to the strongest analysis programs in the world:
24/18 13/9
Three plays are almost equal, and even the analysis programs disagree on which is first: run a back checker to the 18 point and bring a builder down (24/18 13/9), make the 2 point (8/2 6/2), or run one checker to the 14 point (24/14). Pick by style: 24/18 13/9 is flexible, 8/2 6/2 is safer.
All the good moves, best first
| Move | Chance to win | Gammon wins | Behind the best |
|---|---|---|---|
24/18 13/9 | 50.4% | 13.9% | — |
8/2 6/2 | 49.8% | 16.1% | — |
24/14 | 50.5% | 12.4% | −0.006 |
24/20 13/7 | 48.3% | 13% | −0.076 |
GNU Backgammon ranks 8/2 6/2 first, and the difference is tiny.
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.