The best opening rolls are 3-1 (use it to make the 5-point), 6-1 (make the 7-point) and 4-2 (make the 4 point).
With an opening roll of 5-4, 4-3, 5-2, 5-3, or 3-2, it's good to move two checkers from your midpoint (the opponent's 12-point); these builders will provide you with material with which to make points later, and you're only exposing them to indirect shots. With 3-2, 4-3, or 5-4, a good alternative is to split your back men and slot the opponent's 4-point or 5-point, then use the other number to move just checker from the midpoint. A third possibility for 5-4 is simply to move one of the back checkers nine.
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With 6-5, 6-4, 6-3, or 6-2, it's good to either move one back man using both dice or to move one back man six and move another man from the midpoint. With 6-2, however, many experts would prefer to move a man from the midpoint eight in order to slot the 5-point.
With 4-1, 2-1, 5-1, a player should either split the back men by moving one of them one and using the other number to move a checker from the midpoint; or play the one to slot the 5-point and move a man from the midpoint.
Doubles cannot begin a game under normal rules, since ties on the throw to go first are rerolled. But when the opponent moves first and you then roll doubles, the following moves are considered best. With 6-6, make both bar points (the 7-points, yours and your opponent's). With 5-5, move two checkers from your midpoint to your 3-point. With 4-4, move your back checkers once each to make your opponent's five-point as an anchor, then make your 9-point. With 3-3, move your back checkers once each to make your opponent's 4-point, then make your own 5-point. With 2-2 move your back checkers twice each to make your opponent's five-point as an anchor. With 1-1, make your 5- and 7-points.
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