How to Win at Backgammon - Using the Doubling Cube


by Robert Power - Date: 2006-12-05 - Word Count: 422 Share This!

A player who has a large advantage during a game may propose doubling the stakes with the doubling cube. This can be done at the start of the player's turn, and before the dice have been rolled. Should the opponent reject the offer, they concede the game and pay the original wager, while acceptance of the offer means that the game is now played for the new higher stakes.

If a player accepts the offer of a double, they then become the owner of the doubling cube, and only they are allowed to redouble. Should a redouble be refused, the player must pay the wager that was at stake prior to the redouble. This process can go on until 64 times the original wager is at stake.

If the losing player has borne off at least one piece by the end of the game, they pay the original wager. If none of the pieces have been borne off by the end of the game, the player has been 'gammoned' and loses double the value of the doubling cube. A defeat without any pieces borne off, and a piece in the bar or the winners' home board is called 'backgammon', and the loser must pay three times the value of the doubling cube.

When to use it

Not only should you be aware of your game strategy, but you should also put much thought towards when to use the doubling cube. There are many factors influencing the players decision on when to offer the double, and when to accept or reject it when it has been offered.

The pip count needs to be considered when a player is thinking of offering a double, and as a general rule, if a player is leading consistently during the game, it is a good strategy to offer to double. However it is not just this that needs to be taken into account - the arrangement of pieces across the board should be looked at. If your opponent has managed to block four or five points in a row then they have a more commanding position than someone who has lots of points with only one piece.

Offering a double earlier rather than later is more likely to result in the double being accepted, as an opponent is unlikely to accept the offer with defeat looming. However the prospect of winning gammons or backgammons changes the landscape further - sometimes doubling is not recommended if there is a high chance of this occurrence, as the opponent would simply accept the loss of the original stake.


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Robert Power is a Backgammon and Skill Gaming fanatic. Want to know more about the rules of backgammon, as well as strategies to win? Learn more at www.skillgamingstrategy.com/backgammon.html.

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