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The Point-Making Opening Rolls in Backgammon

The opening roll in backgammon is a well-defined part of the game. Since there are a limited amount of opening roll combinations that can be made a lot of experts have studied how to make the best possible move for each opening roll.

A point-making opening roll is an opening roll that let's you establish a point early in the game. This category includes opening rolls that give you the opportunity of making a valuable move right from the start of a backgammon game. The three-one, four-two, six-one, and five-three openings are the point-making opening rolls in backgammon.

Point-making opening roll #1 the three-one opening roll: This is considered the best point-making opening roll there is in backgammon. Given this opening roll you can take control of your very own five-point at the start of the game.

Controlling the five-point means that you are making a home board point. This already gives you positional advantage backgammon. The five-point also serves as a good block to your opponent's back checkers. With this point-making opening roll you are already setting up a good prime early in a backgammon game.

A great goal after making this move is to build your seven-point thus establishing your prime. You have now barricaded your opponent's back checkers by doing so. This is an excellent move for a point-making opening roll in that it also denies your opponent that crucial spot on the backgammon board.

The correct move for this point-making opening roll is 8/5 6/5.

Point-making opening roll #2 the four-two opening roll: The correct move for this point-making opening roll is to do an 8/4 6/4 move. This also makes a home board point early in the game and is a great set up for a prime. The only weakness this point-making opening roll has is that the four-point isn't as important or strategic as the five-point.

Point-making opening roll #3 the six-one opening roll: This is yet another interesting point-making opening roll. The correct play for this point-making opening roll is 13/7 8/7. With this point-making opening roll, you have an instant prime at the very start of the game.

Point-making opening roll #4 the five-three opening roll: The correct play for this point-making opening roll is to do an 8/3 6/3, which makes your three-point. This is not the best point-making opening roll but still makes a home board point which isn't that bad after all.

Knowing how to play a point-making opening roll is necessary in backgammon. Taking advantage of the strategy by a point-making opening roll gives you an inherent advantage early in backgammon.