Forum Archive : Opening Rolls

Factors to consider From:   Kit Woolsey Address:   kwoolsey@netcom.com Date:   27 July 1994 Subject:   Re: opening moves Forum:   rec.games.backgammon Google:   kwoolseyCtM4Ls.HGG@netcom.com Gerald E Mortensen wrote: > i have heard that expert opinion has shifted somewhat with respect to > splitting the back men versus bringing down builders or slotting in > the opening. what is the current thinking on these openers > (references? recent article in Inside Backgammon?) (i know what > robertie's books say) > > openers (money game, equal opponent -- let's not get into that again!): > 3 2 ? > 5 2 ? > 4 3 ? > 4 1 ? My preferences (all other things being equal) are currently; 3-2: 24/21, 13/11 5-2: 13/11, 13/8 4-3: 24/20, 13/10 4-1: 24/23, 13/9 However, all things are usually not equal. There are several factors to consider: 1) My opponent. Some opponents have more difficulty playing against a splitting style, while others will have more difficulty playing against a slotting and building game. Thus, I may vary my opening plays accordingly. 2) The state of the match. This is very important. The key is that the player who is ahead in the match wants to avoid gammonish positions since this gives his opponent more cube leverage. Thus, he is aiming for races or mutual holding games, so making an advanced anchor has a higher priority for him than usual. The player who is behind wants to go for the swingier gammonish positions. For example, let's suppose X is ahead 2 away, 4 away and let's look at the opening roll of 4-3. X should definitely not play 13/10, 13/9 -- he should make one of the splitting plays in order to go after his advanced anchor and aim toward a mutual holding game where gammons aren't so likely and he can make normal use of the cube. On the other hand if O wins the opening 4-3 roll he should definitely play 13/10, 13/9. This makes it too dangerous for X to split the back men, so X will be forced to bring down builders in response and the game tends toward a priming battle which is what O wants. This makes more difference than one might think. 3) Your own personal preference. There really isn't much difference between the various ways to play the opening rolls, so go with what you like and are comfortable with. Also, try out different things for learning purposes. Don't get stuck in one style -- experiment. For a couple of years I was advocating playing an opening 5-2 with 13/8, 6/4. I now believe this isn't a good idea, but by playing it I generated new types of positions I hadn't seen before and learned quite a bit. > also assume opponent opened with 4 2 and made the 4 point, money > game. how do i play 4 4 ? Play 24/20(2), 13/9(2). This is usually the best way to play 4-4 in response to most opening rolls, and against a 4-2 it is very clear. Locking up the enemy five point cuts down on the value of his having made your four point, and the nine point gives you a lot of flexibility for the future. This one isn't close. > any other examples of openings or responses where the "correct" play > has changed recently? As I have said, there often is no "correct" play. You have to decide for yourself what works for you. Kit   Did you find the information in this article useful?           Do you have any comments you'd like to add?

 

Opening Rolls

At different match scores  (Louis Nardy Pillards, July 2002) 

Average advantage of winning opening roll  (Chuck Bower, Oct 1998) 

Choosing a strategy  (Daniel Murphy, June 2001) 

Early game rule of thumb  (Rich Munitz, Feb 2009) 

Factors to consider  (Kit Woolsey, July 1994) 

How computers play  (Kit Woolsey, Mar 1995) 

Magriel's Chapter 5  (Hayden Alfano+, May 2006) 

Mloner vs Jellyfish  (Kit Woolsey, Dec 1995) 

Nactating a whole game  (Nack Ballard+, Jan 2011) 

Nactation  (Jim Stutz+, June 2010) 

Nactation overview  (Nack Ballard, Oct 2009) 

Nactation--Why use it?  (leobueno+, Jan 2011) 

Opening 1's: Split or slot?  (Douglas Zare, Dec 2003) 

Opening 21: Rollout  (Stick, Mar 2006) 

Opening 21: Split or slot?  (Dick Adams+, Dec 2003) 

Opening 32: Rollout  (Stick, Feb 2006) 

Opening 43: In GOL online match  (Raccoon+, Feb 2004) 

Opening 43: Pros and cons  (Stick+, Jan 2006) 

Opening 43: Which split is better?  (Peter Backgren+, Aug 2000) 

Opening 43: Which split is better?  (Michael J. Zehr+, Mar 1996) 

Opening 51: Rollout  (Stick, Feb 2006) 

Opening 52: Merits of splitting  (Peter Bell, Apr 1995) 

Opening 53: Magriel's recommendation  (George Parker+, July 1997) 

Opening 53: Split to 21?  (Alex Zamanian, Aug 2000) 

Opening 53: Why make the three point?  (Kit Woolsey+, Feb 1996) 

Opening 6's: Slot the bar point?  (Chuck Bower+, Feb 2000) 

Opening 6's: Slot the bar point?  (David Montgomery, June 1995) 

Opening 62: Could running be best?  (Gary Wong, Sept 1997) 

Opening 62: Split, run, or slot?  (Chuck Bower, May 1997) 

Opening 63: Middle Eastern split?  (Mark+, Apr 2002) 

Opening 63: Slot the four point?  (Dennis Cartwright+, Mar 2002) 

Opening 64: Make the two point?  (William Hill+, Jan 1998) 

Opening 64: Make the two point?  (Darse Billings, Feb 1995) 

Opening 64: Rollout  (Peter Grotrian, Jan 2006) 

Opening 64: Split to 20?  (Peter Bell, June 1995) 

Opening 64: Three choices  (Brian Sheppard, July 1997) 

Opening 65: Becker on lover's leap  (Jeffrey Spiegler+, Aug 1991) 

Opening 65: Computer rankings  (Chuck Bower, Jan 1997) 

Opening rolls ranked  (Arthur+, Apr 2005) 

Rollouts of opening 21 and replies  (Alexander Nitschke, Oct 1997) 

Rollouts of openings  (Tom Keith+, Jan 2006) 

Rollouts: Expert Backgammon  (Tom Fahland, Aug 1994) 

Rollouts: Jellyfish 3.0  (Midas+, Sept 1997) 

Rollouts: Jellyfish 3.0 level 6  (Chuck Bower, Feb 1999) 

Rollouts: Snowie 4.1  (Rene Cerutti, Apr 2004) 

Slotting the four point  (Joe Loria+, Oct 1999) 

Snowie's openers and replies  (rcerutti, Feb 1999) 

Splitting versus building  (Dave Slayton+, Aug 2000) 

Splitting versus slotting  (Daniel Murphy, Apr 2001) 

Splitting versus slotting  (Daniel Murphy, Sept 1997) 

Trice's rankings  (Marty Storer, Feb 1992) 

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