Devising a healthy strategy concerning opening rolls in Backgammon makes perfect sense. After all, setting off on the right foot can be extremely important in any skill-based game. If you are player who plays for real money over the internet, analyzing the 15 possible opening rolls and their effects on overall strategy is a must. Much like in online poker, no aspect of the game can be overlooked, because each and every tiny edge matters, and it translates in cold-hard cash. In this respect, if you play online, do make sue you choose a room which offers you rakeback. That’s another edge you should definitely not overlook.

The opening rolls are about each of the players rolling one of the two dice used for the game. In case doubles turn up, it is considered a tie, and therefore the rolls are repeated. One of the players has to win, thus there are only 15 opening variations possible.

Analysis of these opening moves is widely available, as are different suggestions on what to do on each and every result. What a good backgammon players needs to know though is that it’s not so much about what move he needs to make, it’s more about the reasons he has to make that move.

This aspect of the game is also eerily reminiscent of poker starting hands. Opening rolls are always followed by responses to opening moves, and if you are not sure why you had to undertake the recommended actions you’ll soon find yourself lost in the strategic maze the game throws at you.

Part of undertaking the optimal strategy is to try to avoid the worst possible moves you can make. As they say, whatever you do, if you leave the eight-point with both your numbers, you can be pretty darn certain you’ve done the wrong thing. Get to know the bad plays as well as the good ones, that way, you’ll know what and why you have to avoid.

Let us see now a few basic concepts that should guide the way you play your opening rolls:

You want to create problems to your opponent when he takes his checkers home, right? In that respect, securing an advanced anchor is the best thing you can achieve. Go for it and make him sweat blood.

Setting yourself up for a good position is just about the most important thing in the game. Spare no efforts to get there, create builders and go for flexible positions, these should be much more important than playing safe, especially so in the early stages of the game.

You are going to have to make key points, so concocting strategy in a way that facilitates spare checkers bearing down on these points more than makes sense.

Aim for stranding your opponent’s runners, and in the same time escape your own runners.

Make home-board points. These are especially important in making your opponents life miserable after a hit.

Under all circumstances keep in mind what the object of the game is. As soon as the opening roll is consumed, you’ll have to act towards that objective, which is blocking your opponent and running away from him. There is no settling-in period. The very first move that you make will influence all others moves that you’ll have to make right up to the very end of the match.

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