Too good to double?

Whopper · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 14

I have read a few articles and postings online in which people have used the term “too good to double”. I am completely unclear on what this means—after all, how could it ever be too good to double? If you are ahead then doubling will get you twice as much winnings, so why not do it? It anyone can help clear this issue up for me it would be great.

Shaker · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 20

I’ll try to explain the meaning of “too good to double” with a could-be situation. Let’s say your opponent has doubled at the beginning of the game and you are now in control of the doubling cube. You are way ahead. You are about to start bearing off your checkers and your opponent still has checkers all over the board, including in your home board. If you offer up a double now, your opponent can decline and lose to you by two points (because the stakes have already been doubled once). However, if you choose not to double there is a large chance that you can win a gammon. A gammon is usually worth two points, but since the stakes have already been doubled you win four points instead of two. By choosing not to double in this instance you are not taking any chance that your opponent may choose to not accept the double for a lower point loss. In such a case, the term “too good to double” is used.