Doubling Cube Rules

Doubling is by far the most complex and least well understood area of backgammon.

Each game starts at a stake of 1 point. During the course of the game, a player who feels he has a sufficient advantage may propose doubling the stakes. The player does this by turning the doubling cube to the next appropriate value. Each face of the doubling cube bears a number to record progressive doubles and redoubles, starting with 2 and going on to 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64. At the start of play, the doubling cube rests to one side of the board, in the centre between the two players with a displayed value of 64 (there is no 1 on the doubling cube so 64 serves as 1 at the start of the game). At any point during the game, a player who thinks he is sufficiently ahead may propose doubling the stakes, in the first instance by turning the cube to 2, and so on.

A player may double any time it is his turn and he has not yet rolled the dice. A player who is offered a double may refuse, in which case he concedes the game and pays one point. Otherwise he must accept the double and play on for the new higher stake. A player who accepts a double becomes the owner of the cube, which is placed on his side of the board (showing the new value), and only he may make the next double.

Subsequent doubles in the same game are called `redoubles`. If a player refuses a redouble he must pay the number of points that were at stake prior to the redouble. Otherwise he becomes the new owner of the cube and the game continues at twice the previous stake. There is no limit to the number of times a double may be offered in one game.

A more detailed explanation of doubling can be found in the article "Doubling Basics".

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