Reply to the Backgammon Opening Rolls
The backgammon player making the second move in the game has a tougher job than the first player doing the opening roll. The player who makes a reply to the opening roll is faced with more dice roll combinations and a host of plays for those combinations. On the other hand, the player who gets to make the first move only has to remember 15 combinations and less backgammon plays associated with those combinations.
We will deal with two sets of dice combinations when we make a reply to an opening roll. Each item is more of a standard reply rather a very comprehensive one. Just remember that some replies may not apply to certain specific situations since we can't exactly tell what is your opponent's opening play.
Let's begin with the doublets as replies to the opening roll in backgammon.
A double six should be played as 24/18(2) 13/7(2). A double five should be played as 13/3(2). A double four is played as 24/20(2) 13/9(2). A double three is played as 24/21(2) 8/5(2). A double two can either be played as 24/20(2) or 13/11(2) 6/4(2). A double one should be played as 8/7(2) 6/5(2).
The doublets have certain advantages if you get them as a reply to the opening roll. These would definitely allow you to have the advantage of making points early in a backgammon game. A really strong reply to an opening roll with a doublet would allow you to control key points on the backgammon board.
The next set of combinations consist of non-double dice roll combinations.
A Two-One combination is either played as 13/11 6/5 or 24/23 13/11. A Three-One can only be played by 8/5 6/5. A Three-Two should either be played as 24/21 13/11 or 13/10 13/11. A Four-One can either be played as 24/23 13/9 or 13/9 6/5. A Four-Two combination is played as 8/4 6/4. A Four-Three can be played as 13/10 13/9 or 24/20 13/10 or 24/21 13/9. A Five-One can be played as 24/23 13/8 or 13/8 6/5 or 24/18. A Five-Two is played as 13/11 13/8 or 24/22 13/8. A Five-Three is played as 8/3 6/3. A Five-Four is played as 24/20 13/8 or 13/9 13/8. A Six-One combination is played as 13/7 8/7. A Six-Two should be played as 24/18 13/11 or 24/16 or 13/5. A Six-Three combination should be played 24/18 13/10 or 24/15. A Six-Four should be played as 24/14 or 24/18 13/9 or 8/2 6/2. A Six-Five should be played as 24/13.
A few of these combinations allow you to reply to an opening roll with a point made on the backgammon board and some of these combinations don't. Another good point about non-double dice combinations is that they also open other strategic opportunities you wouldn't get otherwise.
Take time to study each reply to the opening rolls. You may need more practice to remember all of these but with time and experience you'll be able to master the reply to the opening roll.