Learning How to Play Backgammon for Advanced Players

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

So you know how to set up your backgammon board, incorporate strategy into your game and play competitively in online backgammon tournaments? If this describes your backgammon situation, you're now looking to build upon your skills and embark upon backgammon for advanced players.

One of the most troubling scenarios you probably experienced when starting out in backgammon may have involved the doubling cube. How do you know when to use it? When should you play it to your advantage in a game of backgammon? The use of the doubling cube is something that you should learn if you want to play backgammon for advanced players. Let's recap on what we know so far about the cube and its role in backgammon.

The doubling cube is a six-sided object present which is similar in appearance to one of your backgammon dice. However, instead of a sequential pip count, the numbers 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 are displayed on its sides. The doubling cube's purpose is to keep track of the level of the wager in a game. When you're playing backgammon for advanced players, you are expected to know how to raise the stakes using the doubling cube. This is done purely by offering the cube to your opponent. If he accepts, the new wager is displayed by the number on the doubling cube's upright surface.
The general rule that most people playing backgammon for advanced players use is that the doubling cube should be offered on the third or fourth move to your opponent if you feel you have a slight advantage. It is considered respectful to adhere to this rule in backgammon tournaments unless you are severely behind your opponent after four moves.