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Opening 4-1: split and build

24/23 13/9 is the modern standard, narrowly over the older slot 13/9 6/5.

24/23 13/9Modern consensus

Backgammon board after the opening roll 4-1 played 24/23 13/9 — The position after 24/23 13/9. The 23-point and 9-point are highlighted.

Why this play

13/9 puts a builder on the 9-point, which bears directly on the 5-point and the bar point, the two points you most want next.
The 1 goes to the back checkers. Moving 24/23 costs nothing and improves your position for the coming fight in your opponent's home board.
As with 5-1, the slot is not wrong so much as slightly overpriced. The computers found the safer distribution worth a hair more.

The numbers

Shot counts below are enumerated over all 36 rolls of two dice, assuming the intermediate points are open.

A blot on your 9-point sits 15 pips from your opponent's back checkers, which is 1 rolls out of 36, or 2.8%.

The mistake to avoid

13/9 13/12 is the play to avoid: it leaves two blots where one useful builder would do.

How settled is this? Modern consensus. Computer rollouts changed the standard answer here, so older books may disagree.

Knowing the play and making it under pressure are different skills

Play a rated game and the computer reviews every decision you made afterwards, including this one. The dice are sealed before you move and verifiable after, so what the review measures is you.

Play a rated game free

Frequently asked questions

What is the best play for an opening 4-1 in backgammon?

24/23 13/9. 24/23 13/9 is the modern standard, narrowly over the older slot 13/9 6/5.

Why not play something else with 4-1?

13/9 13/12 is the play to avoid: it leaves two blots where one useful builder would do.