Opening Reply 4-3

Best
Nearly Best
Pretty Good
Not So Good
Here are the best ways to play a roll of    after each of Red's possible opening rolls.

The EQUITY column shows the estimated cubeless equity of each potential play. The best play is displayed with a white background and the other plays are displayed with progressively darker backgrounds to give a rough idea of the amount of equity lost. Plays that give up more than 0.05 in cubeless equity are not listed at all.

  The VOTES column indicates the recommendations of some selected experts:

      D = Joe Dwek, in Backgammon for Profit (1975).
      R = Bill Robertie, in Inside Backgammon, Volume 8 (1998).
      C = Rene Cerutti, posted to the Internet (1999).
      B = Bart Brooks, in Backgammon's Best Openings and Replies (2004).

The check marks denote the best play in each of the following situations:

After

played
24/23, 13/11
  Reply
   PLAY W      G     BG     EQUITY VOTES CL DMP GG GS
  24/21, 13/9   + .470, .129, .006
  − .530, .149, .007

−.080   RB (.004)
  24/21, 6/2*   + .467, .116, .004
  − .533, .143, .007

−.097   (.016) (.008) (.034)
  13/10, 13/9   + .463, .136, .006
  − .537, .160, .009

−.102   C (.022) (.015) (.002) (.040)
  24/21, 24/20   + .467, .117, .006
  − .533, .154, .006

−.102   (.022) (.006) (.030) (.020)
  24/20, 13/10   + .466, .122, .005
  − .534, .155, .007

−.103   (.023) (.009) (.024) (.025)
 
After

played
13/11, 6/5
  Reply
   PLAY W      G     BG     EQUITY VOTES CL DMP GG GS
  24/21, 24/20*   + .537, .164, .011
  − .463, .114, .004

+.131   (.005)
  24/20*, 13/10   + .532, .172, .012
  − .468, .118, .005

+.124   RDB (.007) (.012) (.020)
 
After

played
8/5, 6/5
  Reply
   PLAY W      G     BG     EQUITY VOTES CL DMP GG GS
  24/21, 13/9   + .420, .111, .005
  − .580, .185, .009

−.239   RDBC
  13/10, 13/9   + .410, .120, .005
  − .590, .196, .013

−.263   (.024) (.020) (.001) (.042)
 
After

played
24/21, 13/11
  Reply
   PLAY W      G     BG     EQUITY VOTES CL DMP GG GS
  24/21, 8/4*   + .468, .127, .005
  − .532, .153, .008

−.093   R (.002) (.027)
  13/10, 8/4*   + .469, .140, .006
  − .531, .166, .011

−.095   BC (.001) (.025)
  8/4*/1*   + .460, .133, .005
  − .540, .158, .007

−.107   (.014) (.017) (.030) (.026)
  24/21, 24/20   + .457, .109, .005
  − .543, .153, .006

−.130   (.037) (.023) (.085) (.021)
 
After

played
13/11, 13/10
  Reply
   PLAY W      G     BG     EQUITY VOTES CL DMP GG GS
  13/10, 13/9   + .465, .145, .007
  − .535, .170, .010

−.097   RDB (.005)
  24/21, 13/9   + .468, .135, .007
  − .532, .174, .008

−.105   (.008) (.016) (.004)
 
After

played
24/23, 13/9
  Reply
   PLAY W      G     BG     EQUITY VOTES CL DMP GG GS
  24/21, 6/2*   + .470, .122, .005
  − .530, .153, .007

−.093   BC (.005)
  24/21, 13/9   + .465, .125, .005
  − .535, .161, .007

−.109   R (.016) (.011) (.009) (.027)
  24/20, 13/10   + .463, .122, .005
  − .537, .158, .007

−.112   (.019) (.015) (.019) (.025)
  13/10, 13/9   + .458, .136, .006
  − .542, .166, .010

−.118   (.025) (.024) (.050)
  24/21, 24/20   + .458, .115, .006
  − .542, .164, .006

−.135   (.041) (.025) (.044) (.047)
 
After

played
24/20, 6/5
  Reply
   PLAY W      G     BG     EQUITY VOTES CL DMP GG GS
  24/20*, 8/5*   + .552, .167, .009
  − .448, .104, .004

+.173   R
 
After

played
13/9, 6/5
  Reply
   PLAY W      G     BG     EQUITY VOTES CL DMP GG GS
  24/21, 24/20*   + .550, .167, .012
  − .450, .116, .004

+.157   B (.012)
  24/20*, 13/10   + .540, .183, .014
  − .460, .118, .005

+.154   RD (.003) (.019) (.022)
 
After

played
8/4, 6/4
  Reply
   PLAY W      G     BG     EQUITY VOTES CL DMP GG GS
  24/20, 13/10   + .435, .112, .005
  − .565, .177, .008

−.197   RDC (.026)
  13/10, 13/9   + .431, .130, .006
  − .569, .188, .012

−.202   B (.005) (.009) (.030)
 
After

played
24/21, 24/20
  Reply
   PLAY W      G     BG     EQUITY VOTES CL DMP GG GS
  24/20, 8/5*   + .473, .115, .004
  − .527, .135, .006

−.077   R (.034) (.013)
  24/21, 8/4*   + .466, .109, .004
  − .534, .135, .007

−.097   (.020) (.013) (.059) (.026)
  24/21, 24/20   + .462, .090, .003
  − .538, .118, .004

−.105   (.027) (.021) (.105)
  24/20, 6/3   + .460, .103, .004
  − .540, .129, .005

−.107   (.030) (.025) (.084) (.025)
  8/5*, 8/4*   + .467, .137, .005
  − .533, .172, .014

−.109   (.031) (.010) (.098)
  13/10, 8/4*   + .458, .126, .005
  − .542, .156, .010

−.121   (.044) (.030) (.043) (.085)
 
After

played
24/21, 13/9
  Reply
   PLAY W      G     BG     EQUITY VOTES CL DMP GG GS
  24/21, 8/4*   + .468, .128, .006
  − .532, .165, .009

−.105   R (.019)
  13/10, 8/4*   + .466, .139, .006
  − .534, .175, .013

−.110   B (.005) (.004) (.023)
  8/4*/1*   + .457, .132, .005
  − .543, .166, .008

−.124   C (.019) (.022) (.033) (.024)
 
After

played
24/20, 13/10
  Reply
   PLAY W      G     BG     EQUITY VOTES CL DMP GG GS
  24/20, 8/5*   + .470, .124, .005
  − .530, .155, .008

−.092   RB (.017)
  13/9, 8/5*   + .466, .137, .006
  − .534, .170, .012

−.107   (.015) (.008) (.039)
  8/5*/1*   + .459, .131, .005
  − .541, .161, .008

−.115   (.023) (.022) (.025) (.035)
 
After

played
13/10, 13/9
  Reply
   PLAY W      G     BG     EQUITY VOTES CL DMP GG GS
  13/10, 13/9   + .458, .142, .007
  − .542, .178, .011

−.123   RDB
  24/21, 13/9   + .454, .126, .006
  − .546, .186, .009

−.155   (.032) (.008) (.041) (.025)
  24/20, 13/10   + .449, .117, .005
  − .551, .178, .008

−.166   (.043) (.018) (.068) (.019)
 
After

played
24/23, 13/8
  Reply
   PLAY W      G     BG     EQUITY VOTES CL DMP GG GS
  24/21, 24/20   + .470, .108, .004
  − .530, .143, .005

−.095   C (.041)
  24/20, 13/10   + .468, .115, .004
  − .532, .145, .006

−.096   B (.002) (.005) (.033) (.009)
  13/10, 13/9   + .465, .134, .005
  − .535, .159, .009

−.099   (.004) (.011) (.042)
  24/21, 13/9   + .465, .121, .005
  − .535, .150, .006

−.100   R (.005) (.011) (.025) (.024)
  24/21, 6/2*   + .460, .113, .004
  − .540, .144, .007

−.113   (.019) (.020) (.051) (.023)
  13/6   + .455, .118, .004
  − .545, .157, .007

−.132   (.037) (.031) (.052) (.059)
  13/10, 6/2*   + .456, .122, .004
  − .544, .166, .010

−.138   (.043) (.029) (.043) (.074)
 
After

played
24/18
  Reply
   PLAY W      G     BG     EQUITY VOTES CL DMP GG GS
  24/21, 24/20   + .463, .102, .004
  − .537, .120, .004

−.092   (.022)
  24/21, 13/9   + .461, .115, .004
  − .539, .134, .006

−.099   R (.007) (.004) (.032)
  24/20, 13/10   + .455, .110, .004
  − .545, .131, .006

−.113   (.021) (.015) (.022) (.038)
  24/20, 8/5   + .450, .111, .004
  − .550, .141, .007

−.132   (.040) (.026) (.029) (.067)
  13/6   + .446, .115, .004
  − .554, .144, .006

−.139   (.047) (.034) (.029) (.082)
  24/21, 8/4   + .447, .110, .004
  − .553, .141, .007

−.141   (.049) (.032) (.038) (.076)
 
After

played
13/8, 6/5
  Reply
   PLAY W      G     BG     EQUITY VOTES CL DMP GG GS
  24/20*, 13/10   + .543, .162, .009
  − .457, .110, .004

+.143   RDB
  24/21, 24/20*   + .540, .151, .009
  − .460, .111, .004

+.126   (.017) (.006) (.027) (.007)
 
After

played
24/22, 13/8
  Reply
   PLAY W      G     BG     EQUITY VOTES CL DMP GG GS
  24/20, 6/3*   + .470, .117, .004
  − .530, .145, .007

−.090   B (.002) (.039)
  13/9, 6/3*   + .471, .136, .005
  − .529, .163, .011

−.090   (.000) (.034)
  24/21, 24/20   + .465, .106, .004
  − .535, .142, .005

−.106   R (.016) (.011) (.071) (.004)
  24/20, 13/10   + .458, .114, .004
  − .542, .149, .007

−.121   (.031) (.025) (.069) (.032)
 
After

played
13/8, 6/4
  Reply
   PLAY W      G     BG     EQUITY VOTES CL DMP GG GS
  24/21*, 13/9   + .545, .171, .010
  − .455, .115, .005

+.151   R
  24/21*, 24/20   + .540, .151, .009
  − .460, .111, .004

+.126   (.025) (.009) (.048) (.002)
 
After

played
13/11, 13/8
  Reply
   PLAY W      G     BG     EQUITY VOTES CL DMP GG GS
  13/10, 13/9   + .475, .147, .007
  − .525, .159, .009

−.064   RBC
  24/21, 13/9   + .473, .131, .006
  − .527, .159, .007

−.083   D (.020) (.005) (.037) (.006)
  24/20, 13/10   + .466, .129, .006
  − .534, .172, .008

−.112   (.049) (.018) (.055) (.046)
 
After

played
8/3, 6/3
  Reply
   PLAY W      G     BG     EQUITY VOTES CL DMP GG GS
  24/21, 13/9   + .459, .125, .005
  − .541, .176, .008

−.135   (.016)
  13/10, 13/9   + .455, .138, .006
  − .545, .179, .012

−.137   RBC (.002) (.009) (.015)
  24/21, 24/20   + .459, .115, .006
  − .541, .176, .007

−.144   (.010) (.001) (.037) (.002)
  24/20, 13/10   + .455, .122, .006
  − .545, .176, .008

−.145   (.011) (.007) (.030) (.008)
 
After

played
13/10, 13/8
  Reply
   PLAY W      G     BG     EQUITY VOTES CL DMP GG GS
  13/10, 13/9   + .471, .142, .006
  − .529, .165, .010

−.085   RD (.005)
  24/21, 13/9   + .473, .133, .007
  − .527, .172, .008

−.095   (.010) (.014) (.011)
  24/20, 13/10   + .463, .123, .006
  − .537, .166, .007

−.119   (.034) (.020) (.054) (.018)
 
After

played
24/20, 13/8
  Reply
   PLAY W      G     BG     EQUITY VOTES CL DMP GG GS
  13/9, 8/5*   + .466, .136, .005
  − .534, .167, .012

−.106   BC (.030)
  24/20, 8/5*   + .462, .119, .004
  − .538, .148, .007

−.108   R (.001) (.007) (.041)
  8/5*/1*   + .454, .127, .004
  − .546, .159, .008

−.127   (.021) (.023) (.040) (.037)
  24/21, 24/20   + .450, .093, .003
  − .550, .138, .005

−.147   (.041) (.032) (.118) (.005)
  24/21, 13/9   + .448, .118, .004
  − .552, .159, .008

−.149   (.043) (.037) (.072) (.051)
 
After

played
13/9, 13/8
  Reply
   PLAY W      G     BG     EQUITY VOTES CL DMP GG GS
  13/10, 13/9   + .464, .141, .006
  − .536, .170, .011

−.105   RDB
  24/21, 13/9   + .462, .125, .005
  − .538, .172, .008

−.125   (.019) (.004) (.036) (.007)
  24/20, 13/10   + .460, .128, .006
  − .540, .172, .008

−.126   (.020) (.009) (.034) (.013)
  13/9, 8/5   + .454, .133, .006
  − .546, .181, .014

−.149   (.044) (.022) (.037) (.045)
 
After

played
13/7, 8/7
  Reply
   PLAY W      G     BG     EQUITY VOTES CL DMP GG GS
  24/21, 13/9   + .449, .117, .004
  − .551, .163, .007

−.151   DBC (.001) (.007)
  24/21, 24/20   + .450, .102, .004
  − .550, .160, .006

−.161   (.010) (.029)
  24/20, 13/10   + .445, .113, .005
  − .555, .166, .008

−.165   (.014) (.008) (.014) (.021)
  13/10, 13/9   + .436, .128, .005
  − .564, .167, .010

−.172   R (.021) (.028) (.004) (.042)
 
After

played
24/18, 13/11
  Reply
   PLAY W      G     BG     EQUITY VOTES CL DMP GG GS
  24/21, 13/9   + .445, .114, .004
  − .555, .149, .007

−.148   RDBC (.024)
  24/21, 24/20   + .444, .099, .004
  − .556, .136, .005

−.150   (.002) (.002) (.032)
  24/20, 13/10   + .436, .105, .004
  − .564, .150, .007

−.178   (.030) (.019) (.037) (.046)
  24/21, 8/4   + .432, .109, .004
  − .568, .158, .008

−.190   (.042) (.026) (.037) (.068)
 
After

played
24/16
  Reply
   PLAY W      G     BG     EQUITY VOTES CL DMP GG GS
  24/21, 13/9*   + .523, .150, .006
  − .477, .121, .005

+.076   RB (.018)
  13/10, 13/9*   + .520, .162, .007
  − .480, .131, .007

+.070   (.006) (.006) (.028)
 
After

played
13/5
  Reply
   PLAY W      G     BG     EQUITY VOTES CL DMP GG GS
  24/20*, 13/10   + .551, .161, .009
  − .449, .114, .004

+.153   R
  24/21, 24/20*   + .544, .149, .008
  − .456, .113, .004

+.130   (.023) (.012) (.035) (.011)
 
After

played
24/18, 13/10
  Reply
   PLAY W      G     BG     EQUITY VOTES CL DMP GG GS
  24/21, 13/9   + .439, .112, .005
  − .561, .158, .007

−.170   RC (.005)
  24/20, 13/10   + .438, .105, .004
  − .562, .154, .007

−.176   B (.006) (.002) (.016)
  24/21, 24/20   + .431, .104, .005
  − .569, .158, .006

−.192   (.023) (.016) (.032) (.022)
  8/1*   + .420, .117, .004
  − .580, .162, .009

−.210   D (.040) (.038) (.028) (.053)
  13/10, 8/4   + .424, .117, .005
  − .576, .173, .012

−.215   (.045) (.031) (.020) (.067)
  13/6   + .419, .108, .004
  − .581, .161, .008

−.219   (.049) (.041) (.048) (.054)
 
After

played
24/15
  Reply
   PLAY W      G     BG     EQUITY VOTES CL DMP GG GS
  24/20, 13/10*   + .523, .140, .006
  − .477, .115, .004

+.071   R (.037)
  13/10*, 13/9   + .520, .162, .007
  − .480, .131, .007

+.070   B (.002) (.006) (.038)
 
After

played
8/2, 6/2
  Reply
   PLAY W      G     BG     EQUITY VOTES CL DMP GG GS
  13/10, 13/9   + .479, .147, .007
  − .521, .173, .011

−.074   RB
  24/21, 13/9   + .476, .133, .006
  − .524, .176, .008

−.094   (.020) (.006) (.034) (.012)
  24/20, 13/10   + .472, .129, .006
  − .528, .178, .008

−.108   (.034) (.013) (.049) (.024)
 
After

played
24/18, 13/9
  Reply
   PLAY W      G     BG     EQUITY VOTES CL DMP GG GS
  24/21, 13/9   + .435, .107, .004
  − .565, .157, .008

−.184   RB
  24/20, 8/5   + .432, .110, .005
  − .568, .165, .008

−.195   (.011) (.006) (.001) (.022)
  24/20, 13/10   + .432, .103, .004
  − .568, .157, .008

−.195   (.011) (.007) (.016) (.006)
  24/21, 24/20   + .428, .096, .004
  − .572, .151, .006

−.200   (.016) (.013) (.035) (.001)
  8/1*   + .418, .117, .004
  − .582, .165, .009

−.218   D (.035) (.035) (.016) (.051)
 
After

played
24/14
  Reply
   PLAY W      G     BG     EQUITY VOTES CL DMP GG GS
  24/20, 13/10   + .454, .114, .004
  − .546, .126, .006

−.107   BC (.006)
  24/21, 13/9   + .450, .115, .004
  − .550, .128, .006

−.114   R (.008) (.007) (.010) (.010)
  13/10, 13/9   + .443, .127, .004
  − .557, .136, .007

−.125   (.019) (.021) (.040)
  24/21, 24/20   + .446, .096, .003
  − .554, .121, .005

−.134   (.028) (.015) (.057) (.005)
 
After

played
24/13
  Reply
   PLAY W      G     BG     EQUITY VOTES CL DMP GG GS
  24/21, 13/9   + .448, .114, .004
  − .552, .124, .005

−.115   RDB (.011)
  13/10, 13/9   + .443, .124, .004
  − .557, .132, .007

−.125   (.010) (.010) (.026)
  24/20, 13/10   + .447, .110, .004
  − .553, .130, .005

−.127   C (.012) (.002) (.020) (.014)
  24/21, 24/20   + .443, .095, .003
  − .557, .122, .004

−.143   (.027) (.011) (.060) (.007)
 

 

Summary
  Opening Play   Reply
24/21,
13/9
13/10,
13/9
24/20,
13/10
24/21,
24/20
24/20,
8/5
24/21,
8/4
13/10,
8/4
24/21,
6/2
24/20,
6/3
13/9,
6/3
13/9,
8/5
  24/23, 13/11          
  13/11, 6/5   *20       
  8/5, 6/5          
  24/21, 13/11     *4*4    
  13/11, 13/10          
  24/23, 13/9       *2   
  24/20, 6/5    *20, 5      
  13/9, 6/5   *20       
  8/4, 6/4          
  24/21, 24/20    *5      
  24/21, 13/9     *4     
  24/20, 13/10    *5      
  13/10, 13/9          
  24/23, 13/8         
  24/18          
  13/8, 6/5  *20        
  24/22, 13/8        *3*3 
  13/8, 6/4*21          
  13/11, 13/8          
  8/3, 6/3         
  13/10, 13/8          
  24/20, 13/8    *5     *5
  13/9, 13/8          
  13/7, 8/7          
  24/18, 13/11         
  24/16*9          
  13/5  *20        
  24/18, 13/10          
  24/15 *10*10        
  8/2, 6/2          
  24/18, 13/9          
  24/14          
  24/13          
  24/21,
13/9
13/10,
13/9
24/20,
13/10
24/21,
24/20
24/20,
8/5
24/21,
8/4
13/10,
8/4
24/21,
6/2
24/20,
6/3
13/9,
6/3
13/9,
8/5

 

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