Backgammon 6-5 opening: the best move
Rolled 6-5 on the opening roll? This is the best move according to the strongest analysis programs in the world:
24/13
Clearly best: one back checker runs all the way to the midpoint (24/13) and lands safely. Nothing is left exposed, and the checker that escaped is out of danger.
All the good moves, best first
| Move | Chance to win | Gammon wins | Behind the best |
|---|---|---|---|
24/13 | 53.2% | 12.3% | — |
24/18 13/8 | 51% | 13.4% | −0.085 |
13/8 13/7 | 48.3% | 13.7% | −0.173 |
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.