How to Play the Backgammon Six-One Opening Roll
Every backgammon game starts with the players' opening roll to see who makes the first move. The backgammon player who gets the higher result on the dice gets to move first and in case of a tie, both players roll again.
The backgammon player who moves first will have to use the numbers that both of them rolled in the first phase. Given this premise you can be sure that there are only fifteen possible combinations for the opening roll. Doubles on the opening roll are impossible because players roll the dice again in case of a tie.
One common opening roll you're going to get while playing backgammon is a six-one opening roll. Let's take a look at how to play this opening roll properly. We will also see what advantages the play will present us.
The recommended move for the six-one opening roll is to do a 13/7, 8/7. This move takes control of your bar-point. Owning the bar-point in the opening roll would open a lot of opportunities for you during a backgammon game.
Among the opening rolls in backgammon, the six-one is the third best. The opening rolls that are far better than the six-one are three-one and four-two. Let's move on to the strengths and weaknesses of this opening roll and the play associated with it.
With the six-one opening roll you take control of the seven-point. This is a good blocking position since by doing so you have set up a small three-point prime. This series of points without any gaps in between makes a good barricade. Your opponent's checker's (the back men) won't be able to jump over it easily.
Another benefit we gain by playing the six-one opening roll with a 13/7, 8/7 is that your checkers on the seven-point gives you an exact coverage of the home board. If you are able to bring down a spare from the mid-point you have posed a huge threat to any blot made by your opponent on your home board.
Your opponent's checkers entering from the bar are easy pickings and are within range for a good hit. Though enemy checkers can still enter from the bar, you can easily send them back there if you have enough spares to build points on the bar.
That makes this play for the six-one opening roll very appealing. Another reason is that the equity for this play is +.1035 -- pretty good for an opening roll.
Knowing how to correctly play the six-one opening roll adds significantly to your game. Take advantage of the strategic opportunities this opening roll gives in your backgammon game.