The Doubling Cube: When Should You Double in Backgammon?

You’re playing backgammon. Things are going well. Very well, actually.

Your opponent looks slightly worried. And then you reach for the doubling cube...

The doubling cube is one of the things that makes backgammon different from most other board games. It lets you raise the stakes of the game while it’s still being played.

Sounds simple enough. Knowing when to use it is another matter.

So, what does the doubling cube do?

The doubling cube is a special die marked with the numbers 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64.

At the start of a game, the cube is on 1. Either player can use it to double the value of the game before rolling the dice.

If you offer a double, your opponent has two choices:

Accept the double and continue playing at the new value.Pass and give up the game, losing the current value.

If they accept, the cube moves to 2 and belongs to them. This means they can make the next double if the game swings in their favour.

So the cube isn’t just saying, I think I’m going to win.

It’s also asking: Do you think you can still win this?

When should you double?

The basic idea is simple: double when you think you have a strong enough advantage that your opponent should consider giving up.

Imagine you’re well ahead in the race. You have a strong home board, your opponent has several checkers stuck behind yours, and the position looks difficult for them to recover from.

That might be a good time to double.

You’re effectively saying, I think I’m in a strong enough position to risk raising the stakes. Are you willing to keep playing?

If they accept and you win, you get twice the points.If they pass, you instantly win the game at its current value.

When should you not double?

Being ahead isn’t automatically a reason to double.

If your position is only slightly better, your opponent may happily accept. You’ve increased the value of the game without necessarily gaining much from doing so.

The same goes if your position is strong but still vulnerable. You might be winning right now, but a couple of bad rolls could change everything.

In practice: Imagine you’re ahead in the game, but your opponent has a strong home board and several chances to hit you. You might be better off playing another few turns rather than doubling immediately.

Always ask yourself: Am I ahead or am I ahead enough?

What happens if your opponent doubles you?

The same decision works in reverse. If your opponent offers you a double, you need to decide whether your chances are good enough to continue.

Accept if you think you still have a reasonable chance of winning.Pass if the position looks so bad that continuing isn’t worth the extra risk.

This decision is called taking or passing the cube.

This can get surprisingly difficult. You might be losing, but still have enough chances to justify a take. Or you might look at the board and realise that your position is almost hopeless.

The cube can change hands

Once you accept a double, the cube belongs to you. That matters because the game can turn around.

Imagine your opponent doubles you when they’re ahead. You accept. A few turns later, you hit one of their checkers, build a strong home board and suddenly you’re the one in control.

Now you can double. The cube goes from 2 to 4, and the stakes rise again. This can continue throughout the game. And it’s where things get interesting.

Don’t use the cube just because you’re winning

One of the easiest beginner mistakes is treating the doubling cube like a victory button: You’re ahead, so you double.

But a good double is really about risk and reward.

Ask yourself:

How strong is my position?How likely is my opponent to recover?Would they accept?If they do, am I happy playing for twice the value?

If the answer to the last question is “not really,” not doubling might be the better choice.

Why is the doubling cube so much fun?

The doubling cube adds another dimension to backgammon.

Without it, you’re deciding how to play your position. With it, you’re also deciding how much the game is worth. That creates a little psychological game alongside the board itself. You can be confident, cautious, optimistic or spectacularly wrong.

The cube doesn’t change the dice. It changes what the dice are worth.

And suddenly, that innocent-looking game of backgammon feels a little more serious - in a good way.