How to Know When To Use the Backgammon Doubling Cube
In this page, we will explain everything you need to know about online backgammon doubling, and answer the most important two questions: when to double and when to accept doubles. Doubling is a major part of the winning online backgammon games, and it gives players the chance to catch up on their opponent even if a large gap has gathered between them, and one player is leading.
What is backgammon doubling?
In most online backgammon games the backgammon doubling die is used. When a backgammon game starts, the stakes are first 1 point. The backgammon doubling cube is used to increase the number of points at stake in an online backgammon game. Each raising of the stakes doubles the stakes, this is why it is called backgammon doubling.
The backgammon doubling die is a cube with the numbers 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 on its face. Before rolling the die, the online backgammon player can choose to double the stakes of the game. If he chooses to do so, the other player either accepts, and the stake points double, or reject, in which case that player loses the stake points that were set before the doubling was done.
The 25% Backgammon Doubling Rule
An important tip for players is to double if you can win 25% of the online backgammon games, or if the chance the player has for winning are 25% or higher.
Let's imagine an online backgammon game with 4 black and 4 white checkers left in the game, both in the same position inside the homeboard, at the 24th and 1st points.
If it is white's turn, he has two options to win the game: either by playing the double (odds of 1/6), or if both players don’t roll a double (odds of 5/6*5/6). Put together the odds come out to 31/36. this is more than 25%, and so white should double.
Redoubles. The opportunity to redouble is available only to the player who was doubled. Some online backgammon games have the chance to redouble indefinitely, but most times redoubles takes place up to 64. This backgammon doubling limit is set so that the player doesn't get raises indefinately and the game's stakes do not rise too high.
Factors Influencing Backgammon Doubling
There are a few major factors that should all be considered before deciding to accept or offer a double. These factors are determined early in the online backgammon game and this is why special attention should be given to the first opening moves.
Spread of Checkers Through the Backgammon Board. If one of the players has an advantage in the online backgammon board position, it means the spread of checkers throughout the board is in one of the players' favor. An example of this advantage could be that the black player has spread his checkers so four rows in a row are blocked for the white player. This is certainly an advantage for black and will influence the final score.
Pip Count. In most online backgammon games, the pip count is done automatically. This is the number that signifies the checker distance leading to the end of the game. When the pip count is 0 it means all the checkers were cleared from the board. Pip count can change throughout the game, showing the other player as leading, but it is still a very valuable indicator for who is leading. If you see you are ahead in the game considerably with pip counts, it can be a good indicator to use backgammon doubling. The sooner you double, the better the chance for your opponent to agree to the double.
Sitting Targets For Hits. The more online backgammon rows occupied by only one checker, the higher the possibility to hit those checkers. If more checkers are threatened by the black, for instance, it is more likely that white will get hit to the bar, stalling his race and giving an edge for the black player.
Gammons and Backgammons. If there is an option to win a gammon or backgammon, this can also influence doubling. Sometimes backgammon doubling is not recommended if a gammon or backgammon could be won because it means the other opponent can decline the double and the added points would not be won on the online backgammon match.
