Backgammon Basics: The Opening Roll
Never take the first moves in backgammon for granted. Every player must treat the opening roll as any other roll you make during a game of backgammon. Start a game of backgammon with an objective and a reason for your move that works pretty well with your game plan. The opening roll is just as important as the last roll you make to win a game.
The opening roll is the very first dice roll both players make in a game of backgammon. During the opening roll each player will take one die. Both backgammon players will make a roll to determine who makes the first move. The player who is able to come up with a higher roll makes the first move in a game of backgammon.
It is impossible to make the first move in backgammon game as a double on the opening roll. This is so because if both players get a tie in the opening roll, they roll the dice again. Given this situation, the player who wins the opening roll only has 15 combinations to work with.
Since there are only a limited number of dice combinations that can ever come up in the opening roll, it will be worth our while as backgammon players to devote some time studying them. The opening roll has been studied by a lot of backgammon players. Experts and advanced players alike have made their recommendations.
But of course, there have been some differences in opinion regarding how to play certain opening rolls since people have their own preferences and style. So, some plays in some opening rolls have become clear favorites, while others remain less popular. There have also been times when the consensus would change, and the less favored play becomes the new favorite.
If backgammon players will study how to correctly play the opening rolls they will be able to play the right moves every time. Another good reason to study the different plays for each opening roll is to find a play to fit your very own strategy.
One good advice is to spend some time to study each opening roll. Understand why a certain play is a current favorite among backgammon players. Practice the play each time you get a chance to do so in a game of backgammon.
As you gain some experience with the favorite plays for each opening roll, try out the less popular plays. See which one would fit your strategy. The next thing you will have to do is to figure out how to respond to the opening roll.
How to play the opening roll is just as important as any other decision you have to make in a game of backgammon. It is easier to start right during a backgammon game than start with a blunder in the opening roll and try to make up for it in the rest of the game.
