No breaking news regarding the opening rolls. Eveything is well known by experience and rollouts. There are still some rolls which are discussable, depend on certain match situations or which are simply a matter of style.
If you want some other published rollouts go to Tom Keith’s famous Backgammon Galore or Stick’s bgonline.
Group I: 31, 42, 61, 53, 65
This is probably the "no doubt" group. With 31 make the 5-point, with 42 the 4-point, with 61 the bar point, with 53 the 3-point, use 65 to run from the back. No matter whether you play money game or match.
Group II: 64, 63, 62
The "split or run group": The modern approach is to split with the 6 and play one checker down from the midpoint. However, with 64 in a gammon go situation you may also make the 2-point. At double match point and gammon save running with 64 might be the best.
Group III: 54, 52, 43, 32
The "either split or both down" group: In neutral and gammon save situations most players split and play one checker down from the midpoint (54 24/20, 13/8 – 52 24/22, 13/8 – 43 24/20, 13/10 – 32 24/21, 13/11). For gammon go they play two checkers down from the midpoint.
Mostly underrated and seldom played with 43 are 24/20, 24/21 or the minor split 24/21, 13/9.Nonetheless no one did prove yet that these plays are inferior.
Group IV : 51, 41, 21
This is the "either split or slot with an ace" group. In a gammon save or neutral situation most players prefer to split with the ace and put one checker down from the midpoint.
In a gammon go situation play one checker down from the midpoint and slot the 5point with the ace. Some players always slot with 21.
