 Backgammon is played all over the world and most of us have played a game or so recognizing it as the opposite side of a chessboard in many sets.
Getting back to the cube, you should understand that even though the cube has six sides and generally goes from 2..4..8..16..32..64, there is really no true upper limit to what the cube can go to as I have seen raises and re-raises "doubles and redoubles" up to the 256 level.
I personally have been re-raised "doubled' to 128 and declined to accept the cube.
You have two decisions you can make when you are doubled. You may pass and lose the number of points that the cube was on when it was in possession of your opponent or take the cube at the level it was offered to and risk losing twice as much.
For example, if your opponent was holding a cube on 4 and doubled you back to 8 you could fold "drop" and lose 4 points or take and risk losing 8 or possible winning 8. Remember of course that gammons and backgammons apply to all games played to conclusion but if a game is ended on a redouble and pass then no gammon or backgammon bonus is awarded.
If you call "take" for example you now own the cube on 8 and are eligible for and subject to gammon and backgammon penalties if the game is played to completion.
One advantage of calling "taking the cube" is that the only one who can then raise the pot "redouble" is you. You have possession of the cube and can either elect to check "hold the cube" or bet "redouble".
In money games there is a convention that is usually played called beavering a cube. That occurs when your opponent doubles you when he thinks he is winning the game but in reality he is losing. You can then raise "beaver" the cube by turning the cube to one level higher than what he offered it to you.
For example if your opponent doubles you from 4 to 8 and either he is not winning the game or you improperly perceive yourself to be winning the game you could raise "beaver" the cube to 16.
This convention is normally accepted and in some cases at certain backgammon clubs you can "raccoon" a beaver. That is when you re-raise your opponent "raccoon" the cube after he has beavered it. In that case the cube would go from 4 to 8 on the redouble, from 8 to 16 on the beaver and from 16 to 32 on the raccoon.
Tournament backgammon is different since there are no beavers, raccoons or settlements allowed. Players play to a set number of points and the first player to win that number of points wins the match.
As stated before you don't need to turn the cube to win a gammon or backgammon bonus in tournament play.
Tournament play in backgammon doesn't have raised blinds after time goes by as tournament poker does but as you proceed to the agreed number of points you will play to the games take on a higher level of significance and eventually it could get to a point where both players are "all in". This occurs when at the conclusion of the game whoever wins that game will win the match.
This could occur for example when the match is played to for example 11 points and each player has 10 points, or if the match is played to 11 and the score is 3-3 and the cube level reaches 8.
Each time you win a game in backgammon whether it is tournament of cash game you win a minimum of one point. This changes when the cube is turned or there are double or triple game bonuses.
To determine how many points you win or lose at the conclusion of a game you multiply the size of the cube with the nature of the game being it single, double or triple.
For example if cube ends on 8 and you win a gammon you will win 8x2=16 points. If the cube was on 4 and you lose a triple game (backgammon) you will lose 4x3=12 points. If the cube is on 2 and you win a single game then you will win 2x1=2 points.
As I stated before there are many options out there for those interested in improving their game, which include literature and online sites you can play at. One additional tool, which I have not mentioned yet are neural nets known generally as "bots". These programs play at a high level and can be used to as tools of analysis for single positions or entire matches or money sessions. The best of these include Snowie, Jellyfish, and Gnu.
Gnu is free and is quite capable in its playing ability but not as user friendly as Snowie or Jellyfish which cost a decent amount but are well worth the investment if you plan to study backgammon to any degree of diligence.
Play well and have fun.
Steve Sax
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