Backgammon Equities
Equities are numbers that describe the current value of a game to you or the opponent. This number is presented as a proportion of the game’s stake. If you or the opponent, theoretically, wanted to end the backgammon game at that given moment, the equity would be the proportion of the stake that you would be willing for the opponent to pay you. Your equity always equals the negative of the opponent’s equity.
When you are converting equity into monetary value, you need to take into account the stake as well as the cube value. You therefore times the equity by the stake and the cube. Take this example: The cube value is on 2, the stakes are $3 a point and your equity is –0.12. If you agreed to stop playing at this point, you would need to pay your opponent $3 x 0.12 x 2 = $0.72. Because your equity is negative, you would need to pay the opponent in this case.
There are generally four common kinds of equity:
Cube Equity – This is used in a backgammon game that is being played with a doubling cube. A cube equity is a player’s position value in relation to the present stake of the game. The value of the cube itself is not essential in cube equity. Because cube equity takes into consideration the potential for future doubles, its calculations are based on cube ownership.
Cubeless Equity – This refers to the value of a player’s position in comparison to the value of winning a game. It does not take into account the effect or consequence of the doubling cube used in the game.
Settlement Equity – The equation used in this equity is as follows: cube equity x the current value of the doubling cube = settlement equity. This is the value of the player’s equity in a game where money is exchanging hands.
Match Equity – Within the context of the present match score, the match equity refers to the value of a player’s position.
Things that can affect equities :
Volatility – The changeability of an equity position is an important factor when determining equity.
Vigorish – Three general ‘vig’ can affect the total equity of a position. They are as follows:
Gammon Vigorish – An added equity that results from the possibility of a gammon in the game.
Free Drop Vigorish – This refers to the advantage that a player has when the trailer is 2 points from victory in the Crawford game of a backgammon match. The leader in the game enjoys a free drop advantage because he or she can refuse when the trailer offers a double.
Recube Vigorish – This is calculated as the value of cube ownership to the player in the game that is being offered a double by the opponent.
