Handling the Doubling Cube in Backgammon

The backgammon match play's a competition where two players win games to get the predetermined winning points. Points are counted on each finished game in the match. That's one point for a single, two points for a gammon and three points for backgammon. The point or points won are multiplied by the number on the doubling cube to get the current points for the game. Rather than gathering percentages on a player's chances, here are simple approaches to handling the doubling cube in a backgammon match play.

Common sense would dictate that if your opponent offers a double, it's almost always right to drop or refuse the offer when you're going to be gammoned. It's better to be behind a point rather than four points in a match anyway.

Accepting a double would give you the upper hand of owning the doubling cube. Owning the cube means that you have the power to redouble and raise the game points fourfold as well as keeping it current at twice the win.

And there's Woolsey's law on doubling which says that if one's not sure whether the game's a take or pass, it's always right to double. Making the initial double offer and giving your opponent ownership of the cube is important to keep it in play during the game. If your opponent drops the offer, you'll win a point. Otherwise, if it's accepted and you win, you'll win twice the game points. But if you lose, well, it happens.

Making the initial offer on the doubling cube has already given you an advantage of being the domineering player in the game. With any luck, this move will threaten your opponent to make more mistakes (hopefully, more mistakes than you). Of course, it's motivating to offer a double to a strong player. This makes for an interesting match and more cube turns in the process. This is when the doubling cube's potential is seen at its best.

Handling the doubling cube is one of the key points to win a backgammon match play. There are a number of straightforward approaches regarding its use. Refuse a double when you're likely to get gammoned. Accepting the double gives you ownership of the doubling cube thus controlling its use at the moment. Practicing Woolsey's law to always double whether or not you're sure it's a take or a drop. And making an initial offer will, more likely, move your opponent to commit more mistakes in the game.