Best Opening Move for 6-4 in Backgammon
Best play: 8/2 6/2 (+0.016 equity, gnubg 3-ply analysis)
The opening 6-4 is a three-way argument that bots have never fully settled: run with 24/14, split with 24/18 13/9, or make the deep 2-point with 8/2 6/2. The run banks a race lead, the split fights for outfield control, and the 2-point trade takes a real (if deep) home-board point on move one. Different engines and depths shuffle the top spot by a few thousandths of a point. What the analysis agrees on: all three are playable, and the biggest mistake with 6-4 is not any of them — it is timid half-measures like 24/18 24/20.
All reasonable plays for 6-4, ranked
| # | Play | Equity | Diff | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8/2 6/2 | +0.016 | — | 50.0 |
| 2 | 24/18 13/9 | +0.012 | -0.004 | 50.4 |
| 3 | 24/14 | +0.003 | -0.014 | 50.6 |
| 4 | 24/20 13/7 | -0.051 | -0.067 | 48.5 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best opening move for 6-4 in backgammon?
The best play for an opening 6-4 is 8/2 6/2 (GNU Backgammon, 3-ply cubeful analysis). It wins 50.0% of games from the start, with a cubeful equity of +0.016.
Is making the 2-point really a good idea this early?
It is deeper than you want a point this early, which is why the play was long dismissed. But it wins real equity in blitz positions, and rollouts rank it level with running and splitting — a genuine three-way tie.