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| Backgammon experts generally agree on the best ways to play the opening roll of the dice. These opening moves are listed below. If you watch top players, including the best computer players like Snowie, Jellyfish and GNU, you will notice that they regularly begin each game with these specific opening moves.
Memorizing these opening moves is your first step to becoming a winning player. Print this page and use it as a reference.
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Two options: Move a back checker one point and move a checker from your midpoint (24/23, 13/11). Or move a checker from your midpoint and slot your 5 point (13/11, 6/5). |
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Make your 5 point. (8/5, 6/5). |
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Move a back checker 1 point (24/23). Move a checker from your midpoint (13/9). |
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Move a back checker (24/23). Move a checker from your midpoint (13/8). |
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Make your bar point (13/7, 8/7). |
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Move a back checker 3 points (24/21). Move a checker from your midpoint (13/11). |
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Make your 4 point (8/4, 6/4). |
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Move a back checker 2 points (24/22). Move a checker from your midpoint (13/8). |
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Two options: Move a back checker to your opponent’s bar point and move a checker from your midpoint (24/18, 13/11). Or run a back checker to your 16 point (24/16). |
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Two options: Move two checkers from your midpoint (13/10, 13/9). Or move a back checker 4 points and move a checker from your midpoint (24/20, 13/10). |
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Make your 3 point (8/3, 6/3). |
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Two options: Move a back checker to your opponent’s bar point and move a checker from your midpoint (24/18, 13/10). Or run a back checker to your 15 point (24/15). |
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Two options: Move a back checker 4 points and move a checker from your midpoint (24/20, 13/8). Or move two checkers from your midpoint (13/9, 13/8). |
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Three options: Run a back checker to your 14 point (24/14). Or move a back checker to your opponent’s midpoint and move a checker from your midpoint (24/18, 13/9). Or make your 2 point (8/2, 6/2). |
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Run a back checker to your midpoint (24/13). |
| DoublesUnder normal rules you can’t begin a game with doubles because ties are rerolled. However, if your opponent wins the opening roll and then you roll doubles, open with these moves. | |
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Make your bar point and 5 point 8/7(2), 6/5(2). |
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Two options: Make your 20 point 24/20(2). Or make your 11 point and 4 point 13/11(2), 6/4(2). |
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Make your 21 point and 5 point 24/21(2), 8/5(2). |
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Make your 20 point and 9 point 24/20(2), 13/9(2). |
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Move two checkers from your midpoint to make your 3 point 13/3(2). |
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Make your bar point and your 5 point 24/18(2), 13/7(2). |
