BACKGAMMON / Best Opening Plays

[@le9335]

Want to learn backgammon after not playing since a kid so I’m watching videos today. This was by far the best tutorial I’ve watched. Very helpful. Thank you!

[@SteveConkie-t6r]

I played BG once and never again, but always told myself I should return to it. I bought a set about a month ago, thirty-odd years after my only game and started learning. This is my second strategy video, after becoming comfortable with basic play. It was hilarious playing with my partner when we were both drunk. She kept asking the direction she was supposed to go in and I kept having to look it up! But now, we can get through a game on our own. I look forward to many more pleasant evenings listening to soft music, drinking good red wine & playing backgammon. Thanks to the channel. thumbs up

[@MrJackOfAllTraits]

I've never studied backgammon at all but I do play quite frequently. I was pleased to see my strategies lined up with the preferred or alternative openings suggested by the computer in every scenario

[@LegendaryTactics]

Great! I found some of them surprising, by contrast

[@BarryTheElephant]

For casual money/single games it’s all good and well to be loose with preferred plays, n match play or when your game Play Rating (PR) counts, some of these alternative moves can often be classed as significant errors, potentially denying a PR win. The right choice you take on an opening play can also depend on whether you should be playing more aggressively or conservatively according to how far ahead or behind you are in a match.

[@MikeDindu]

I'm going to change my playstyle now for the 6-4 opening because the preferred option by the computer is really great. You develop a back piece out of your opponents home board and set up a potential builder at the 8 point. Conservative play prevents you from getting embarrassed but also robs you of initiative and flexibility. The problem with setting up a block at the two point is that now those pieces are effectively taken out of play as there are a very limited number of ways they can attack your opponent and unless you build a big prime in your home board they won't be blocking pieces very much. The best real estate for making blocks are points 9-3 as those are places on the board that tend to see the most action.

[@nostradamus7648]

HE DINDU NUFFIN

[@MikeDindu]

@@nostradamus7648 shieet

[@johnbuck5181]

@@nostradamus7648 when Mike is the black checkers, he steals the dice.

[@hansb.8]

Thanks for this video. Allow me to mentioning the following; your 6 and 5 is only possible when playing the Common rules. However, I learned from an Persian player that no bar is allowed to hold more the 5 stones . That makes the game much more interesting. They also have another rule: When you boot somebody out in your home field you not allowed to double that up to avoid getting kicked yourself . This also contributes to the excitement of the game. Just mentioning.... no offence intended.

[@LegendaryTactics]

No offence taken! Those are some great variant rules, thank you!

[@Paushrizess]

Thank you for your effort you’ve put in this video, I’m a professional backgammon player and I totally do preferred or alternative moves all the time, mostly preferred ones, amazing video👍

[@LegendaryTactics]

Thank you so much for watching and commenting! Glad you liked it! I'm looking to do more backgammon content soon!

[@kirksellman1999]

I agree with your choice for 6-4. I'm conservative in my opponent's home world, but aggressive outside it. Saving this video in my Backgammon document. Thanks for making it.

[@jonjayryzner]

And I tend to almost never make that move. Although it’s safe, it also makes those two checkers “dead” too early on. Yes, the 2 point is blocked, but will very quickly become moot once passed by the opponent. I prefer to keep the checkers alive as potential builders or blockers further back in the board… but that’s just my own take on it. Nice video otherwise.

[@emilywilcock4039]

I wonder if success rate of the more risky opening role moves the computer used is specific to computers in that they can also easily calculate every move thereafter. It’s much, much more difficult to calculate the most optimal move on every configuration throughout the game leaving you vulnerable to more than chance compared to the computer, and that’s why humans found the safer opening moves better overall. IOW, the more risky opening moves are actually less risky for the computer to take than for humans. Just a guess…

[@LegendaryTactics]

That makes sense to me! Thanks for sharing your insight

[@mobiusklein9140]

The correct move is based on the number of favourable dice rolls to follow on subsequent rolls, nothing more. Your guess is wrong.

[@kenboy127]

On a 4-1, why not do 13 to 8, essentially using it as a 5? Same for 4-3 - why not 13 to 6, essentially using it as a 7? This way, pieces are advanced without any exposure. Great video!

[@LegendaryTactics]

Yes, I totally agree with you - but the neural network determined that over a large number of games, those moves were optimal. Perhaps it leads to better positioning for the 2nd roll and beyond? Certainly I would play the moves you recommend here if I am in a "gammon-save" situation, but the neural network did not take the current score into account, essentially giving you a "pure" analytical result.

[@jimphilidor9031]

Piling checkers on some points is dangerous in the long run because it creates inflexible positions. You will probably leave a shot at a moment when you least want it. You need to diversify your pieces, so you can quickly create a stronger position. The blot on the 9 point creates a huge amount of dice combinations that build some valuable home board point or the bar point. Also the only combitations that hit this blot are 6-2, 5-3, 4-4 and 2-2 (but I don't think you should even hit with 2-2). So that's 5 or 6 combinations out of 36 - quite a small risk for a big benefit.

[@rufust.firefly4890]

Passive moves as openers.

[@mobiusklein9140]

Playing a 41 your way (13 to 8) gains you very little and virtually nullifies the advantage of rolling first.

[@nielsenniklas]

Exactly what i was thinking! I was worried maybe you cant move the same checkers twice and that ive played it wrong my whole life 😅

[@danielshahaf9703]

I love bg and think your vids are great! Even though i know all this stuff and much more about bg i think this clip can expose more people to the game or maybe relight their flame. Imo... bg with 5pl chouette is the most fun. Tnx for your effort!

[@muleavenger9772]

I understand a lot of the choices the computer made. It is trying to set up higher probability for the next rolls. If the computer gets hit in the opening, I think it will starts moving to play a back game. My father does this to me and it can work by blocking home points. I guess the computer found the the chance of making a point on the home board higher then being sent to the bar.

[@andyfidler8544]

Nice video and good to allow the watcher to consider what to do before declaring suggested options. As a complete beginner this was a useful introduction to opening move strategies. Thanks.

[@LegendaryTactics]

So glad it was helpful! Thank you for the kind words and for watching!

[@PeterOzanne]

You say that "4-3 preferred move is risky, and you often get punished", but the opponent only hits with 2-2, 3-3, 4-4, (3 rolls) plus 2-6, 3-6, 3-5, and 4-5. As they each count twice (I'll explain for beginners), that's a further 8, making a total of 11 rolls out of 36. If you get hit, plenty of room to re-enter, AND, when you mostly get missed, there are a lot of numbers to make a point or attack. It's true that people make this roll when needing a gammon more than a simple win. Sometimes the move choices depend on the match score (leading or trailing by a significant amount) or who has the cube (when you star using the cube!). Another thing is the 6-2 and 6-3. When you split to the 18-point with the six, and play the 2 or 3 from the midpoint, you distribute your checkers better, and can additionally make your important 5-point with 6-1, 6-3, as well as the other numbers. Unless your opponent gets lucky with 6-6, 3-3, or 6-1 (only 4 rolls out of 36) you will often be able to "make " their bar-point with your other back-checker, or, if hit by, say, a 4-2, almost half your rolls will hit back from the bar. So the greater chance of being hit is at least outweighed by the chance of hitting back (gaining a lot of ground in the race) OR making their bar-point, plus making a point inside their home with a 1, a 3-2, or a 5-4). It's a very nice video for beginners! Going forward I'd recommend videos by Grandmasters (yes, this exists in Backgammon!) like Marc Olsen for intermediate level and beyond.

[@williamrubin8041]

My friend Tom and I play 2x a week: over the last 5 years, we have played 1000s of games. One NEW wrinkle I added, for when we tie in a best of 5 set: We play a 'QUAD' game: we use 4 dice instead of the usual 2! It makes for an exciting 'Game 7' to settle the set. All other rules apply.

[@LegendaryTactics]

That's an interesting variant! How did you come up with that one?

[@jimphilidor9031]

Backgammon was actually the first game for which neural net programs were developed for. First AI like this was TD Gammon, developed in 1992. Neural net programs for chess and go became decades after this. Chess programs were doing fine against humans with just raw power. I think the best players had already figured out many of these moves before neural nets. However, the bots showed that making the 2 point with 6-4 was indeed a good move (especially if you're behind in the match score), which was considered blasbhemy in the 70's. The bots also like to split 24/23 with 1's, instead of slotting 6/5, which was preferred in the old days. So they're kind of aggressive in some ways but conservative in other ways.

[@LegendaryTactics]

Interesting! I find it fascinating that even a computer or neural net develops a "play style" that humans can grasp and adapt to!

[@tlahe2]

I believe (dare to presume) 2 neural net programs played each other using different strategies until the best plays became clear. That's the way I would have done it.

[@Marcolino10DK]

Gerald Tesauro developed TD-Gammon, which was based on his revolutionary AI re-inforcement learning algorithm TD-learning (temporal difference learning). Backgammon was one of the first real world applications for reinforcement learning ai algos.

[@JeanPierreWhite]

Came here to say that. Yes, Backgammon was chosen for the first neural nets because the rules are relatively straightforward.

[@mauriciopetersen2622]

Very nice content! but you forgot 6 and 2 😂 For me, I always play 24/18 and 13/11

[@tgwnn]

At gammon go, 13/5 is pretty good (a bit worse than 24/18 13/11 but close). I usually do it because it's a fun move.

[@mauriciopetersen2622]

​@@tgwnnAs long as your opponent don't get a sum of 4 you're ok 😅

[@JeanPierreWhite]

Making your 2 point with 6-4 isn't that great. Making points deep into your own board weakens your ability to prime your opponent therefore committing you to a blitzing strategy. Why reduce your strategic flexibility at such an early point in the game?

[@1220donmarko]

On the 2-1, I find myself playing the preferred style. I just find that even if I get hit to the bar, the opponent has 5 open spots on their home board for me to roll into, and I’m able to anchor up with that chip soon after. Going after that golden point is huge. Thanks for the video.

[@BillHimmel]

Glad to see my openings are approved by the silicon overlords!

[@LegendaryTactics]

Ha ha ha, you are on the right track!

[@lucaschristensen2738]

The major factor that will influence which, among viable alternative openings, one should choose is the match score. If you are playing to a given number of match points (a game is inherently 1 point, a gammon worth 2, and a backgammon worth 3, with the doubling cube multiplying that), your level of opening aggression, defensiveness, prime building, or just running like the dickens will be determined by considerations such as whether you just need a single point to win the match (run!) or you have to push for a gammon to stay viable (seed blots near your home board to build that prime quickly!).

[@RealBigBangVideos]

What about 6-2? You forgot to mention that one. So how did neural network play that opening move?

[@LegendaryTactics]

Nice catch! I can't believe I missed that. In that case, the neural network recommended 24->18 and 13->11, with the alternative being 13->5.

[@cannonskier]

Great Vid. Thank you.

[@LegendaryTactics]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching!!

[@uz7442]

I've never played this game until my boyfriend suggested as he used to play back in the day. So needless to say he obliterated me horribly when we got a board. These are so helpful to learn from as I've only been familiar with chess before.

[@LegendaryTactics]

Backgammon is a fun game, and definitely worth playing! Don't give up on it - soon you'll be trouncing him :)

[@uz7442]

@@LegendaryTactics I am having a very angsty blast :D definitley so much to learn and I haven't been so invested and angry in a board game for a very long time.

[@mjazzguitar]

For 6 and 4, 8 to 2 and 6 to 2 is preferable because of your opponent gets a 1 with anything other than a 6, they have to leave themselves open on 18 or 20.

[@LegendaryTactics]

It's interesting how many different approaches people have. This video was based on what a neural network found was best over many many games

[@grover-]

For 6:4 @11:58, I don't think you should burry pieces so early in the game. I always play 24 to 18 and 13 to 9

[@LegendaryTactics]

Yes, there are plenty of plays that people will prefer. What happened here is that a neural network played backgammon many thousands of times and found that these opening moves had the highest odds of winning.

[@patricklemmon8260]

Many of the opening rolls have a greater flexibility than you allow. With weaker opponents I often slot the 5 point with 1's, then bring down a builder. With stronger opponents I usually break the back checkers, and bring down a builder. In cash games I play very aggressively with the cube in the middle.

[@LegendaryTactics]

Yes, these were the results that a dispassionate algorithm came up with as the best plays. As with most games, playing the opponent is just as important as playing the game

[@patricklemmon8260]

Playing the opponent, when you know, is a big part of the art. I often congratulations to my turkeys when the roll me of the board and never point out how lucky they got ! Keeps em coming, I hate gambling, and love playing for money.

[@garychristison763]

On the 4-1 roll, I hate splitting the back checkers by taking 24-23 because it reduces the desirability of double-6's if I'm lucky enough. For 4-1, I tend to take the rolls the neural network sees as less desirable such as 13/9,6/5 or even 13/8. Other than that, my preferred first moves fall in line with the computer model.

[@KarlheinzAgsteiner]

FIrst thanks for the well produced video; most of the advice is quite good. However the beginning and the headline is just weird, given that, as Jim below has written, Backgammon was the first serious game that showed that neural networks can play on world champion level. And there are several superhumanly strong backgammon out there, all based on neural networks, some of them available for over two decades (BGBlitz), and yes, all of them have trained on millions of games, so no, nothing new can be gained in backgammon opening theory from yet another NN AI today.

[@LegendaryTactics]

Interesting! I didn't know of those, and I didn't know that they had been developed to that extent. Certainly for more casual players like myself, these openings seem quite counter intuitive, and that's what I found interesting enough to make a video about it. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@ArthurvanH0udt]

Besides just missing 62 also the third option for 32 is missing. Besides 24/21 13/11 just slightly off (as 3rd after 2 down) is 24/22 13/10. Also running with either 63 or 54 are not the best moves. Not very bad, but off too much to not play them in standard situations. Match play does change the values in some settings though! BTW as you took run for 63 & 54. Also missing in one of your comments is 62 run as 3rd option. But as the 63R and 54R it really is a bit too far off.

[@smokeysmith1282]

Fantastic piano/music. Who’s the author? ThankYou

[@bluesprite9504]

Every single one: 5-6: 1:44 1-3: 2:09 1-6: 2:38 2-4: 2:48 3-5: 2:55 1-2: 3:35 1-4: 4:41 1-5: 5:04 2-5: 7:11 3-6: 8:01 3-4: 9:12 4:5: 10:16 4:6: 11:06 He forgot 2:6 but it is 24 t0 18 and 13 to 11 :)

[@hotwheelsanddiecastcars1123]

If you roll a 6 and 4 you move brown pieces to space 2. With only one white that can take your pieces.

[@630aramis]

Well Done

[@josiahdent3302]

Good video would be improved with time signatures so we can jump straight to a particular roll and would increase your views massively as this video would become a regular resource for many new players

[@LegendaryTactics]

That's a good idea! I will add those a little bit later today. Thanks so much for the suggestion!

[@mjazzguitar]

What's wrong with using the smaller rolls that add up to 5 to go from 13 to 8? That way if you happen to have 2 rolls that are 2 apart you can use them to fill in your home board.

[@stevebannon9250]

It’s irrelevant what you feel is best or what your play style is. statistically there is always one “best” move. Whatever that is is always the optimal choice. I love this game. It’s fantastic but it’s not as complex as something like chess. There’s only one correct move when statistics are considered. Assuming the dice are as fair as they could be you should always do the best statistical move. Especially in one point matches.

[@JohnnyRocket541]

What about opening moves for rolling doubles?

[@LegendaryTactics]

To begin the game, each player rolls a die, and the higher roller goes first, using the result rolled. If the rolls are the same, the die are re rolled, so doubles are not possible as an opening move...

[@Yornek1]

If only chess openings were as simple

[@LegendaryTactics]

Haha, true!

[@gabrielk.]

Sry for my english i hope you understand my question. If you Roll 2 and 3 why 2 down and 3 from the start ich prefer 3 and 2 so if i roll the next 1 and 6 than i can play the normal 6 1... If you do not understand it right the short question why is the 2 3 not flexible so i can shoose which i play 2 and whitch 3 And whyts abouzt 4 4?

[@UndecemberGeoNote]

I am confused. How can letting opponent capture in my base, with 1/1,2/2,3/1,4/1,4/2,4/3,4/4,4/5,4/6 A GOOD OPENING MOVE?! I might have a brain aneurism... And that move of having a checker on "5th slot" was considered in many openings. That is literally in my base, will take me forever to get back from opponents base to here... Can you or anyone please explain this to me.

[@JeanPierreWhite]

The 5-point aka "Golden Point" is one of the most valuable points to establish early in the game. It is often worth the risk in order to establish it very early in the game. Personally I would consider this strategy if I was behind in match play, it leads to more complex games and more gammon chances. When you are behind taking a little extra risk is often worth it.

[@corygreen3710]

2-3 opening roll move as 5 so you don’t leave a blot, 1-4 same thing same position on the board then you have no unnecessary blots. It’s ridiculous to leave that many blots on an opening move, I think it makes the player look like a beginner and they will be punished for such a move. Sorry I don’t remember the number layout you had.

[@LegendaryTactics]

Oh, I agree with you - I would do the same. But this is move the AI found had a higher winning percentage over untold numbers of games

[@lab35982]

Why wouldn't you move a single piece to the 8 spot on a roll of 4&1?

[@LegendaryTactics]

I'm merely reporting what the neutral network found, after playing millions of games, as far as what the optimal move is

[@HarveyRosenblum]

Did I miss 2-6/6-2 roll suggestion?

[@jgsalon]

Just curious what software is this please?

[@LegendaryTactics]

It was filmed on Tabletop Simulator!

[@nostradamus7648]

1:30 STARTS HERE

[@LegendaryTactics]

I have added the timestamp in the description! Thanks for pointing it out!

[@aizensousuke7170]

3:2 , i play totally differnet, i put it on the 3 white, before my "home"

[@LegendaryTactics]

Yes, everyone is going to have their own style. This is just what the neural network found to be the best moves, based on a ton of games played.

[@barancrakoglu3894]

the music that plays at the beginning - please someone tell me where its from its really bugging me

[@quinnswanger6870]

The explanations and stated preferences here are way too simplistic. The objectively best opening plays are dependent on the match score, which is not mentioned at all.

[@LegendaryTactics]

I agree, but this was based on research that was done with the use of the neural network, and from my understanding, based purely on winning percentage. It also depends on your play style - I am a conservative player regardless of the score, perhaps to my detriment.

[@salkinfamilychiropractic3142]

6 and 2 as a first roll? I get that a lot.

[@dawnbecker8103]

Can someone answer a question? I have a question for anyone who can answer: All of my players were in but one and on my board, the fourth space was empty but two pieces on the fifth space. I had nothing on the sixth space. My last roll with one player out was a six and five and if I had moved a six first, i would have landed on the fourth space, then I would have been required to take out a five, leaving one piece on the fourth position and one piece on the fifth position. Instead, i chose the first move as a five, giving me now three pieces on the fifth position and since i did not have any pieces on the sixth position, i took in one player from the three I had on the fifth space, resulting in all pieces, as being covered. He told me this is wrong and said that I need to move six first, then five.

[@brick_layer541]

I thought doubles can be used for opening moves EXCEPT for the very first game of the set

[@maubin7]

❤

[@LegendaryTactics]

Glad you liked it!

[@kelvinwilson9217]

It’s all subjective as players have their own strategies, and although in general some basic moves may apply, they may also not be beneficial as the opponent needs also to be encouraged to take risks that strengthens your chances of a win. Then again my playing is reckless, and confuses the opponent into defeat!!

[@patricklemmon8260]

Do read Paul Magriel's book called simply "Backgammon ". There are many " rules" and agreed upon moves that must sometimes be ignored.

[@Kaminski64]

You mentioned to be hit on the 11 pip, your opponent must roll a ten. There is no “ten”, there is 6-4 and 5-5 and the 5-5 won’t hit the 11 spot.

[@rufust.firefly4890]

I don't like to split my backmen too early. Sometimes, it can't b helped. Not talking about 6-5. I also don't like making the 2 point(6-4) early either. When I started you were considered a rank neophyte if you made the 2 pt on your opening move. I don't think a newbie shot slot the 5 point w/a 2-1.

[@mobiusklein9140]

hi Rufus, at the start you have 4 objectives; hit enemy checkers, make new points, escape your back men, unstack heavy points. Splitting your back men diversifies your escaping numbers and in general, the earlier you split, the safer it is to do so.

[@rufust.firefly4890]

@@mobiusklein9140 Agreed. But if I roll 41 I move 13-9, 6-5. If I roll 21, I move 13-11, 6-5. If I roll 51, I'll split. Based on if I move first.Reply to opponent's opening move changes things mayb.

[@mobiusklein9140]

@@rufust.firefly4890 ...Rufus, Playing 13/9, 6/5 with an opening 41 is a 0.4 error. Playing 13/8, 6/5 with an opening 51 is a 0.5 error. These plays were once common but the neural nets exposed them for the errors they are. To confuse the issue, you will see Mochy and other top players making these plays against weaker opposition because they produce longer, more complicated games, thus giving the weaker player more opportunities to blunder. This helps preserve their 'edge' which can be somewhat nullified in shorter games....BUT, for us mere mortals, splitting the back men with the '1' is the play

[@bagoataman]

Please explain the 4/3 roll as to why 24 to 20 and 24 to 21 was NOT an option

[@gamatoutsikos]

I don't understand why you keep opening the 6 to a 5 with a roll of 1

[@frank124c]

Great video. I am looking for a good website to play live opponents and I don't want to join Facebook. Any suggestions?

[@alexisprel1756]

board game arena is not bad.

[@frank124c]

I checked it out, good site! TY!

[@mjazzguitar]

Can anyone recommend any online gaming sites?

[@luciustitius]

Another neural network agrees.

[@LegendaryTactics]

I'm glad to hear that!!

[@chriswade9616]

Video starts at 1:38.

[@LegendaryTactics]

Yes, I needed about a minute and a half to explain where I was getting these plays from. But the actual analysis begins at 1:38

[@davoodsobhani3713]

what about 6 and 2

[@jamesrickerby2756]

6, 4, run 2 point useless, my prefered!

[@hustlinhitch]

I played backgammon for the first time this week and wasn't impressed, only because I raced and won every time.

[@LegendaryTactics]

Stick with it, as there is a lot more to it than first appears!

[@sjsphotog]

You DONT add the dice values like 5-4 to get 9. You Count each dice separately!! And you don't say it 5 TO 4!!??!! you dsay just 5-4, the dice values only. Otherwise, you got the correct preferred plays From XG (Extreme Gammon) correct.

[@LegendaryTactics]

Thanks for refining my use of the terminology.

[@bingo1232]

This neural network, in me, stuffed in like a pimento in an olive says, “The best opening is … ‘Hello’. In backgammon, as in all of life, one must be prepared to consider that living requires an intimate knowledge of both living & dying. Each and every day that we’re moving is a day that they don’t bury us. This neural network = presently on an editable… not hobbled, but definitely off the rope.

[@johnbuck5181]

…da fuq?

[@oompaloompa23]

You cover the 2point on the 6 4. Bro you way too conservative. The other conservative moves are justifiable but that one is not. Bad move.

[@LegendaryTactics]

I agree - these were moves determined to be the best by a neural network/AI. It's not how I would play

[@nazihalameen9444]

What about doubles

[@LegendaryTactics]

Doubles can't happen as the opening roll - they are re-rolled

[@tomfielder8973]

I have a question. As a novice player, why on an opening roll of 3-2 would you not go 13-8? This leaves nothing exposed…🤔

[@kathylyft3002]

Could you please take out the music... so hard to hear you... thanks

[@LegendaryTactics]

I will see what I can do! Thank you for the feedback - we are much more subtle with the music now than before...

[@HeroWarsPhanatic]

Double 5's is the worst opening roll

[@Straandvig]

Bro what???

[@mobiusklein9140]

Your manner of speaking/phraseology betrays a limited understanding of this game. Backgammon players NEVER refer to 65 as "Eleven", and we do NOT describe dice rolls as 4 to 3 but simply 43.

[@LegendaryTactics]

Yes, guilty as charged! I am a casual backgammon player who decided to improve my game by doing some reading, and I thought I would share some of the things I have been learning. Thank you for clarifying the terminology - I will endeavour to do better next time!

[@MikehMike01]

This idiot kept shoving his own opinion in instead of just saying what the the neutral network results are

[@bricago2302]

You’re doing fine. Ignore the critics.

[@smokeysmith1282]

Fantastic video. Haters hate lol. Background keys on point.