Doublets

Backgammon is a very popular board game that is played with two dice, and a doubling cube that is used to increase the wagers made by the players. The game can be played by two persons only who are allotted a total of 15 checkers, or backgammon pieces, each. The objective of each player is to move all of his backgammon players to his home board and then off the board. The player who manages to get his backgammon men off the board first wins the game.

Although the game is played with dice the game of backgammon is not a game of chance or luck, in fact is entirely a game of skill. The only place where the element of luck may said to be of any influence is in the case of doubles or doublets.

A player begins the game in the typical fashion of board games by throwing the dice to see who starts the game first. Unlike normal play each player takes one of the dice and makes a throw. The player with the larger score on the die naturally leads. After it has been established as to who will begin the game of backgammon, the game begins.

Each player makes a throw alternatively and then proceeds to move either one or two of his backgammon game checkers across the board according to the numbers rolled. He may either choose to move a single backgammon piece for the sum of both of the numbers on the dice or may choose to move two separate pieces for each number that he has thrown. It is the player’s decision whether he would like to move for the smaller number first or the larger. Most players tend to opt for the smaller of the numbers as it gives them better chances and lessens room for error.

A doublet or a double as it is called in some places is when a player throws a set of doubles on his two dice. It can be any two doubles and is not limited to a set of sixes as some games tend to limit options.

When a player throws two similar numbers on his two dice such as 1 – 1, or 2 – 2, or 3 - and so on, it is called a doublet. For this throw the player is allowed to make more than two moves with his backgammon men or checkers. However each move that the player makes must consist of at least three spaces. For instance if the player gets two fives as a doublet (5 – 5) he may either replay it as a full ten or two pieces as five each. It is also possible for the player to make four moves in the case of a double. However it must be kept in mind that every move made for a double must consist of at least three spaces. Play does not occur when there is no legal move possible.

Marissa Patterson