Opening 5-3: make the 3-point
This is the roll where the textbooks were wrong. For decades the standard play was 13/8 13/10, bringing two builders down. Computer rollouts reversed it: make the 3-point.
8/3 6/3Modern consensus
Why this play
- The old argument was that the 3-point is 'too deep', meaning it is buried in your home board where it blocks little. That is true as far as it goes.
- What the old argument missed is the value of a made point that costs nothing. 8/3 6/3 leaves no blot at all, while 13/8 13/10 leaves a checker on the 10-point exposed to a return shot.
- Rollouts of millions of games found the safe point is worth more than the flexible builders. It is a small margin, not a landslide, but it is consistent.
The mistake to avoid
Playing 13/8 13/10 is not a blunder and you will see strong players do it. But if you learned it from a pre-1995 book, know that the computers disagreed and the modern consensus followed them.
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 freeFrequently asked questions
What is the best play for an opening 5-3 in backgammon?
8/3 6/3. This is the roll where the textbooks were wrong. For decades the standard play was 13/8 13/10, bringing two builders down. Computer rollouts reversed it: make the 3-point.
Why not play something else with 5-3?
Playing 13/8 13/10 is not a blunder and you will see strong players do it. But if you learned it from a pre-1995 book, know that the computers disagreed and the modern consensus followed them.
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