Too good to double?

GulBara · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 19

I am trying to improve my backgammon game and so I want to brush up on my doubling skills. I understand the basic principals of doubling and I’m trying to master all the statistics and odds that go along with using the doubling cube successfully. In my research online and in books I have frequently run across the phrase “too good to double” and I must admit that I have absolutely no idea what it means. I hope that someone can explain it to me.

NulloPlay · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 11

Ahh, yes. I was also confused when I was learning to play backgammon and first heard someone say that a position I was in was “too good to double”. It sounds like a strange thing to say, but it actually makes a lot of sense once you understand what it means.

If you are in a position in which the doubling cube has not yet been turned but it looks like there is a good chance that you are going to win by either a gammon or win by a backgammon then your position is “too good to double”. In other words, if you do double and your opponent declines and forfeits the game then you will receive one point. However, if you don’t double then you have a chance to win the game for two or three points.

You are, therefore, in a position that is “too good to double” when doubling could cause you to win less points than if you just continued to play the game. Hope this helps!