Best Opening Move for 3-2 in Backgammon
Best play: 24/21 13/11 (+0.008 equity, gnubg 3-ply analysis)
An opening 3-2 offers no point to make, so it is about development. The main line is 24/21 13/11: the three advances a back checker toward the valuable 21-point while the two brings down a builder. The pure-building alternative 13/11 13/10 keeps the back checkers home but stacks your outfield with blots that only pay off if the next roll cooperates. Bots prefer the split by a small margin — the 21-point is a genuinely good anchor and the back checkers profit from mobility before the home boards grow teeth.
All reasonable plays for 3-2, ranked
| # | Play | Equity | Diff | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24/21 13/11 | +0.008 | — | 50.2 |
| 2 | 13/11 13/10 | +0.003 | -0.005 | 49.7 |
| 3 | 24/22 13/10 | -0.004 | -0.013 | 49.8 |
| 4 | 24/22 24/21 | -0.031 | -0.040 | 49.3 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best opening move for 3-2 in backgammon?
The best play for an opening 3-2 is 24/21 13/11 (GNU Backgammon, 3-ply cubeful analysis). It wins 50.2% of games from the start, with a cubeful equity of +0.008.
Why move to the 21-point rather than the 23-point with the three?
From the 21-point the back checkers are one pip from the golden anchor (the 20-point) and cover more of the outfield. The deeper 23-point split with 3-2 leaves the builders less well placed.