Best Opening Move for 3-1 in Backgammon
Best play: 8/5 6/5 (+0.218 equity, gnubg 3-ply analysis)
The 3-1 is the best opening roll in backgammon, and the only one where every strong player and every bot agrees without hesitation: make your 5-point with 8/5 6/5. The 5-point — the "golden point" — is the most valuable point on the board. Making it on move one gives you a two-point home board immediately, threatens any blot your opponent leaves in your home board, and strengthens every attacking plan for the rest of the game. Nothing else with this roll is close: the equity gap to the second-best play is larger than for any other opening decision.
All reasonable plays for 3-1, ranked
| # | Play | Equity | Diff | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8/5 6/5 | +0.218 | — | 55.1 |
| 2 | 24/23 13/10 | -0.012 | -0.230 | 49.7 |
| 3 | 24/20 | -0.021 | -0.239 | 49.7 |
| 4 | 24/23 24/21 | -0.026 | -0.244 | 49.5 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best opening move for 3-1 in backgammon?
The best play for an opening 3-1 is 8/5 6/5 (GNU Backgammon, 3-ply cubeful analysis). It wins 55.1% of games from the start, with a cubeful equity of +0.218.
Why is the 5-point so valuable in backgammon?
The 5-point anchors your home board: it blocks your opponent’s back checkers from escaping with 4s, gives you a landing spot for builders, and makes any blitz or priming game far stronger. Backgammon theory has called it the "golden point" since Paul Magriel’s classic book.