Opening Rolls RepliesOn the previous article, you've learned about the best opening rolls moves, one of the most significant decisions a backgammon player has to make. The opening rolls reply, the move that follows the opening roll, is no less significant. While there are only 15 possible opening rolls, each opening rolls offers exactly 21 possible replies.
Experienced backgammon players usually know how to reply to any opening roll in backgammon based on their experience and acknowledgement of the opponent's skill. For backgammon beginners, here is an introduction to some of the standard opening rolls replies including the best replies to a roll of doubles.
2-1 
When you roll 2-1 you can either hit the opponent's blot or make the 11-point and the 23-point.
5-1, 4-1  
Split your upper checkers.
3-1, 4-2, 5-3, 6-1    
These opening rolls is referred to as one group because in all of them, you must move your checkers with one point gap and then move them to a new row.
4-3, 3-2  
The best reply would be to hit the 4-point and the 5-point
5-2 
Two possible options:
- Hitting
- Making the 8-point and the 22-point.
5-4 
If you can, hit their opponent's side of the board. If it is impossible, you can split their checkers, but remain on the opponent's side.
6-3, 6-2  
The best reply would be to hit, but if it is impossible, you can either make the 18-point and the 10-point (or 11-point) or move your checkers to the 15-point and 16-point.
6-4, 6-5  
In each of these rolls you should definitely move your checkers in your opponent's home board.
Opening Rolls Replies - Doubles
1-1 
There are two recommended replies to a roll of double 1's:
- To make the 5-point and the bar point
- To make the 4-point and choose between making the 5- point and splitting on the 22-point.
2-2 
Hitting the opponent's checker in the 20-point and making the 4-point is the most common opening roll reply when rolling double 2's, providing these movements are legal.
3-3 
Similar to the previous double replies, here you can hit the 5-point and the 3-point or alternatively, create the 21-point and the 10-point.
4-4; 5-5  
When rolling double 4's or double 5's, it would be a good strategy to start building a block at the home board by creating the 3-points. Another option is to hit the opponent's blot, providing the latter opening move was a split.
6-6 
It is agreeable that the best possible reply is to make both bar points. In case the 18-point has been made by the opponent previously, then you can try and make the 2-point in his home board.
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