Usually for every roll there is an opening move that presents far bigger advantages than anything else you may come up with. In this case you have to split your checkers and bring a builder down. First of all, with your 1-score you split your checkers in the top right of the board. You then move one of them to the left (one point)

With the 2-score, you take the top left of the board with your checker, and move two points to the lower left of the backgammon board. Why is this the recommended course of action here?

First of all, let's look at the defensive side: your opponent will have a much harder time hitting you, since by doing so he'll leave himself exposed. On the offensive side: you'll find it much easier to move a checker forward from this setup, and you can secure a backgammon anchor in a strategic point easier too.

On top of it all, by using the above described opening move, you get a much better coverage of the backgammon board, which is particularly useful if your opponent has an exposed checker.

Another opening move that you could do on the 1-2 roll is the 11th point opening. This is more of a delayed-effect trap, since you need to go through a few moves before its advantages become obvious.

When time comes though, you'll find yourself in a better position to hit your opponent's checkers ( the ones that are in your half of the board ) when he decides to split them. It will also give you the possibility to create a new two-checker point.

You're pretty safe from having your checker hit. The only way that's going to happen is if your opponent rolls a 6-4.

Closing new backgammon points will be easier since you'll be able to perform that action on a bigger variety of rolls.

Never overlook or underestimate the importance of opening moves in backgammon, remember that every single stage of the game is important – even if not equally so. The bear-off is one such often underestimated aspect of the game.

Many players consider the game is virtually over when they reach the bear-off, and they're unaware of the fact that there are a variety of strategies still applicable here. Whenever you can choose between bearing checkers off and moving them to your side of the board, bear them off.

If there's a gap hindering your bear-off, fill up the highest one, but do not create more gaps in the process.

Always aim to make a well-balanced bear-off. One way to achieve that is to move your checkers to points in your home-board and create a pyramid wide at the 1-point and narrow at the 6-point. Keeping the same number of checkers on every point is another way to achieve balanced bear-off. This way, no matter what score you roll, you'll be able to bear off without problems.

Of course, the most important part of a backgammon game is the middle stage. That is the part when all the action happens, when stakes are doubled and when players build primes and hit each other. At this stage, the most important thing is to build primes.

Make sure that you don't forget to push a couple of checkers forth to your opponent's board though. You always need to have a clear idea as to where you're standing in the game at this point. If you're very far behind, it makes more sense to attack and hit the opponent than to try to race him.

Being aware of your position all through the game is a very important matter. This should dictate every single strategic decision you make while playing.