Best Opening Move for 4-1 in Backgammon
Best play: 24/23 13/9 (-0.001 equity, gnubg 3-ply analysis)
With an opening 4-1 the standard play is 24/23 13/9: bring a builder down to the 9-point and nudge a back checker to the 23-point. The split prepares an advanced anchor and doubles your coverage of the opponent’s outfield, while the 9-point builder aims directly at making the 5- or 4-point next turn. The sharper alternative, 13/9 6/5, slots the golden point and leads to more hitting, more gammons and more variance. Analysis puts the split slightly ahead for money play, but the gap is small enough that slotting remains a respected stylistic choice.
All reasonable plays for 4-1, ranked
| # | Play | Equity | Diff | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24/23 13/9 | -0.001 | — | 49.7 |
| 2 | 13/9 6/5 | -0.020 | -0.019 | 49.6 |
| 3 | 24/23 24/20 | -0.032 | -0.031 | 49.2 |
| 4 | 13/8 | -0.039 | -0.038 | 49.0 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best opening move for 4-1 in backgammon?
The best play for an opening 4-1 is 24/23 13/9 (GNU Backgammon, 3-ply cubeful analysis). It wins 49.7% of games from the start, with a cubeful equity of -0.001.
What does splitting the back checkers achieve?
Moving 24/23 gives the back checkers two working points: they cover more return shots, reach the good 20- and 21-point anchors more often, and are harder to blitz than a stacked pair.