Best Opening Move for 5-3 in Backgammon
Best play: 8/3 6/3 (+0.089 equity, gnubg 3-ply analysis)
The opening 5-3 makes the 3-point: 8/3 6/3. For decades players treated 5-3 as a "builder" roll (13/8 13/10 was the old book play), but modern bots settled the argument: taking a real home-board point beats stacking builders. The 3-point is the deepest of the standard opening points, so it contributes less to priming than the 4- or 5-point — its value is in attack. With a two-point board you hit more confidently, and an early exchange of hits favours you clearly.
All reasonable plays for 5-3, ranked
| # | Play | Equity | Diff | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8/3 6/3 | +0.089 | — | 51.7 |
| 2 | 24/21 13/8 | +0.040 | -0.049 | 50.8 |
| 3 | 13/10 13/8 | +0.000 | -0.089 | 49.5 |
| 4 | 24/16 | -0.015 | -0.104 | 50.2 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best opening move for 5-3 in backgammon?
The best play for an opening 5-3 is 8/3 6/3 (GNU Backgammon, 3-ply cubeful analysis). It wins 51.7% of games from the start, with a cubeful equity of +0.089.
Why not play 13/8 13/10 with an opening 5-3?
That was the recommendation in older books. Rollouts show making the 3-point wins more: the extra home-board point is worth more than two loose builders, especially in mutual blitz positions.