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Opening 4-3: builders or anchor

13/10 13/9 and 24/20 13/9 are both mainstream. The 20-point split has grown in popularity.

13/10 13/9Rollouts are close

Backgammon board after the opening roll 4-3 played 13/10 13/9 — The position after 13/10 13/9. The 10-point and 9-point are highlighted.

Why this play

Two builders on the 9 and 10 points aim squarely at the 5-point and the bar point. It is the fastest way to build a blocking structure.
24/20 instead puts a checker on the 20-point, one pip from the golden anchor. If you make the 20-point next roll you have solved your back-checker problem for the rest of the game.
This is the clearest example in the opening of a real strategic fork: build the front, or secure the back. Neither is wrong, and strong players choose based on the score and their opponent.

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

Splitting the difference with 24/20 24/21 leaves two back checkers loose in your opponent's home board with nothing gained.

How settled is this? Rollouts are close. Either main option is defensible, and the match score should push you one way or the other.

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 4-3 in backgammon?

13/10 13/9. 13/10 13/9 and 24/20 13/9 are both mainstream. The 20-point split has grown in popularity.

Why not play something else with 4-3?

Splitting the difference with 24/20 24/21 leaves two back checkers loose in your opponent's home board with nothing gained.