Gambling with the backgammon doubling cube

admin · Site Admin Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 862

Gambling with the backgammon doubling cube now seems to be such an intrinsic element of the backgammon board game that it may be hard to recall it is a fairly new invention. Gambling with the backgammon doubling cube only came onto the backgammon scene in the 1920's whereas the backgammon board game has been known for over five thousand years.

The doubling cube is somewhat larger than the regular backgammon dice. It is also distinguished by different numbering. Instead of the standard one to six numbering, the doubling cube it is marked 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64. It is placed in a central position in the game. When a player is allowed to challenge their opponent to double the stakes, they do so by turning over the doubling cube to its next higher value and presenting it to their opponent. If the offer is accepted, the player that accepts the double takes the cube and places it on their side of the board and this signifies they have taken ownership of the doubling cube.

The chief attraction of gambling with the backgammon doubling cube is seen in an increase in tension or excitement in the game. Whether or not to accept the cube is a decision that needs to be made with great thought and calculation. Declining the offer constitutes conceding the game at the current states, and therefore gambling with the backgammon doubling cube serves to focus players and spectators attention on the game more so than when the cube is not used.