Opening Moves – Step One: What to know before you study strategy

  The basic rules of backgammon are simple and not difficult to follow. I learnt to play as a child, rolling the dice and making whatever moves seemed appropriate to get me around the board quickest. That was my six-year-old understanding, that the object of the game is to move all your men into your inner board and then off the board first. But when you are not playing against another six-year-old, a little more finesse is expected. You aren’t going to win against strategy without understanding strategy, not ever. In a game that involves rolling the dice, chance is always a factor, but although backgammon may be simple in terms of moves, it is a little too complex to expect pure dumb luck to prevail. There are books and articles you can study to learn strategy, but to get a good grasp on what you are reading, you need to start with the basic concepts. That’s where we are starting.

Understanding the Lingo
  The first few articles I read, I read three times without getting a word. I was trying to skim grasp the ideas without understanding the terminology. So, basic as it is, start with understanding the lingo that is going to be used in any discussion of opening moves.

Points
These are the triangular markers (24 total) that you use to progress your men around the board.

(62, 34, 61)
These refer to the rolled dice. 62 is a roll of six and two, and so forth.

(10/4, 11/9)
  These refer to moves that correspond to your roll. For example, for a roll of 62, then 10/4 is moving your man from the 10 point to the 4 point (6) and 11/9 is moving your man from the 11 point to the 9 point (2).

Opening Moves
  Statistically, your first moves can make a difference in the outcome of the game. Study the recommended moves, and practice rolling the dice and making those moves. Do this until you instinctively make the appropriate moves for the rolled dice.

Safety First
  Safety is the most important tactical move for the beginner. Until you can anticipate your next moves and your opponent’s next moves based on the possible dice rolls, your main objective should be moves that keep you from leaving a blot (one man on a point.)