Double the Stakes with the Backgammon Doubling Cube

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Backgammon is a game between two people where strategy and stamina are needed to become a champion. This age old game has been played over centuries through the alternating rolling of the dice between players, following that the movement of the pieces on the board according to the numbers rolled. The backgammon doubling cube raises the stakes of the game - dividing the men from the boys.

How does the backgammon doubling cube work? If you understand the general rules of backgammon then learning how to use this aspect is very simple. Basically, the cube is placed on the bar (the raised division between the two boards) and when it is turned, one of two things will happen, either it is the end of the game or the stakes are doubled.

If a player believes that he has the advantage over his opponent he may propose to double the stake. This may be done only be done before throwing the dice on his turn. The opponent my refuse, this concludes the game and his loss of only one point. However, he may accept the double which will allow the game to proceed with a higher stake. The player who accepts this move is given the cube, giving him the opportunity to use it. There is no rule as to how many times this cube may be used - just make sure that you are going to win as there might be a lot at stake.

Another situation that doubles points is when the player who lost the game was not able to bear off any pieces. In this case the winner gets double points that are indicated on the cube.

Backgammon is the only game where the dice is doubled. The determination of a winner is defined by the number of points set before the game that the winner has to achieve.

Here are two handy tips to help you on your way using the backgammon doubling cube. Firstly, there are a limited number of sides on any given cube; however, technically there is no maximum point value for a single game. If you don't have the backgammon doubling cube, don’t worry the calculations may be don’t with the help of a pen and paper and smart adding up.