Invitation to comment: I believe beginners should *not* use the doubling cube until they get a feel for how games can progress, how advantages can come and go. That said, they should be encouraged to incorporate it into their play, because it really takes the game to an entirely new level.

@tomhill4003

9 ай бұрын

Agreed! I learned the game from Persian and Greek in-laws, and they don't use the cube at all. I spent the pandemic learning the game so I could keep my elderly Persian father in law occupied. He still beats me regularly (at 94 years old), bur I have come to love it. Perhaps someday I can move up to using the cube, but I'm simply not at that level yet.

@nerdgirl

8 ай бұрын

I’ve never used the doubling cube in the 20 years I’ve been playing. Guess I’ll try but we don’t even play with points.

Keep them coming, another well explained video. Ty

Now you need to explain equity in backgammon.

@jjmckenna

3 жыл бұрын

Get your abacus out of moth balls. ‘I was told there would be no math!’ 🤓✨

@erikperrott7302

3 жыл бұрын

If you are playing $100 a point it makes a lot of sense. 100 x64x3. You get a whole new perspective. Even $1 a point can hurt your wallet severely.

I'm enjoy these videos. Can't wait for the next one.

Good quick summary of the use of the cube Marc, Its the HARDEST thing to understand to learn for beginners and the hardest to master. Its all about probability and you need to know your statistics for sure if you want to master the game of BG!! But it makes it much more fun when you can psych out your opponent and get a freebie win if they get scared of losing too much and you win when they still have more than 25% chance of winning and you take advantage of their lesser knowlegde of the skill/game :) haha evil for sure but its not just about luck its 20-25% luck and 70-75% skill/strategy for sure. the better players will win 95% over the long haul.. Best game ever!!

Backgammon is played since thousands of years without the cube, it was brought in by Americans just 100 years ago. You can play dozens of different games on the backgammon board but since you only play the same game over and over again you need to add something to make it more interesting... It's like a card deck, you can play hundred of different games with cards or just the same one all the time but then you need another layer so the game doesn't get boring

@debnlinda

2 жыл бұрын

Can you suggest a good channel on other backgammon board games?

@fountedakis

2 жыл бұрын

@@debnlinda I couldn't find a lot of videos here on KZread but you can find a lot of variations over at: bkgm com / variants

@Dino-eb1ti

2 жыл бұрын

@@debnlinda kzread.info/dash/bejne/f5qDmZaqmKucos4.html

Great explanation with no fluff

That is an awesome cube and board. Where can I get a set like it?

Excellent video, thanks

Very informative and interesting video on the workings of the doubling cube, Marc! I think the cube intimidates a lot of casual backgammon players, especially those players who play the game 'for fun,' rather than in a match play scenario, or those that play 'money games.' Casual players who like simply throwing dice and moving the checkers around, without the cube, will hopefully learn that the cube makes even casual play more exciting and fun! Another thing that I believe intimidates causal players is the uncertainty of when to Take, and when to Drop. Many players may assume, incorrectly, that a cube should always be dropped if the player being offered the cube has multiple checkers back, or what looks like a 'busted up board.' This is false! Sometimes a back game setup, or the potential for a back game, gives the player that is behind in the race really decent winning chances, well over the mathematical Take point! As a fairly 'new' player, the workings of the doubling cube seem like a mystery, wrapped in a riddle, trapped in a puzzle. It is definitely the part of my game that I think will require the most study, but it is a fascinating part of the game. It's also why your book, Cube Like a Boss, is on my Xmas 'Wish List'. Cheers!

@BackgammonGalaxy

3 жыл бұрын

The best-seller book: Cube Like a Boss will do miracles on your game Justin!

@sjsphotog

3 жыл бұрын

for beginners its best to ignore the cube and just play 1 point single games until they know more then play match play with the cube once they get better and more advanced (1+ years of play)

@jjmckenna

3 жыл бұрын

@@sjsphotog That’s one way of looking at it, Stephen. I think it really depends on whether an improving player has an interest in tournament play, match play, or money games. If ‘yes,’ then I think there’s no reason to avoid playing with the cube immediately. No harm in learning the hard way!

@agerray

3 жыл бұрын

The problem if you're playing "just for fun" - nothing wrong with that! - is that the cube has no value. You could double on every turn - it makes no difference. It's only in a competition setting - or playing for money - that it has real value.

@sjsphotog

3 жыл бұрын

@@agerray when I said "playing for fun" is that you wont be using the cube just playing without it for 1 point games and no matches :)

Thanks for the great videos Marc. They lead me to buy your book which I really enjoyed. Quick question - why isn’t Jacoby used in match play?

@BackgammonGalaxy

11 ай бұрын

Hi John, thanks a lot! For historical reasons the jacoby rule isn't used in match play, i don't know if there is another answer to that...

Amazing

Thank you for this

@BackgammonGalaxy

2 жыл бұрын

yw Willie!

Great explanation,one question though : if i own the cube,is there a point in game when i am no longer allowed to double up ? For instance,all of my checkers are in and i'm ready to start banking off,while my opponent doesn't have his checkers in yet,or we're both banking off and i have less checkers left ?

Happy 2021, Marc...I am considering buying the exact board in this video from Onur...I would appreciate any critique, positive and negative, that you have to offer. ~Guy

@BackgammonGalaxy

3 жыл бұрын

Wait until you see the 2021 Galaxy board! It will be released during the UBC final in 1.5 weeks from now!

Well explained.

Hello, I am finding these UTubes fascinating. Thank you. I am watching with a different motivation however. I am an old Navy Chief who has played a lot of Acey Ducey . I have been asked to start an Acey Ducey group in senior citizen’s community. I would like to know why Backgammon starts with all the checkers on the board vs bringing all the checkers on via the roll of the dice as in Acey DUCEY? Also I have found that the dynamics of Acey Duecy with the choice of doubles makes for a much more interesting game. Any thoughts and or comments would be greatly appreciated. Warm regards Chuck

I'm a bit confused as to what the advantages of dropping are? By taking you have control of the cube and you don't lose any points so it seems advantageous. Anyway I am a complete beginner trying to learn the rules of backgammon and these videos have been great so far, very informative

@jjmckenna

3 жыл бұрын

What if you had two or three checkers on the bar, and your opponent is threatening to close out his home board? That’s actually a position ‘too good’ to offer a cube, but if your opponent did offer the cube, would you take it, knowing your opponent is likely to win a gammon and four (4) points, instead of just one point if you drop the cube?

@lukeanatr

3 жыл бұрын

@@jjmckenna No I guess there are some positions like which you described which are overwhelmingly in your opponent's favour and at that point it's just damage control to mitigate points being lost. I suppose I was imagining more nuanced scenarios where the outcome is less clear in which case you would probably need a good head for probability or intuition from experience to make a logical judgement.

@jjmckenna

3 жыл бұрын

@@lukeanatr Yes, and this is why a grandmaster like Mr. Olsen can write a book on the subject of almost 400 pages (‘Cube Like a Boss’). It’s an incredibly math-intensive subject that mollifies me, and many other players. The hypothetical ‘window’ for offering or taking a cube changes with each roll of the dice, which makes it very challenging to figure out how to handle this little square-shaped riddle.

@BackgammonGalaxy

3 жыл бұрын

There is a big risk of taking!.. You might lose two points, rather than 1! Or even 4 points if you lose a gammon! That is why you need to win around 1 in 4 games for taking the cube to be better than dropping. If you do not win 1 in 4 games, you are better off dropping.

Monopoly has huge equity swings, especially in specific stages of the game-state, and especially when playing 1 on 1

Great videos, I’ve played backgammon for years but never really developed any strategy just played the dice rolls so these videos are really helpful for me to rethink how I play. Just a quick question about the cube; if your opponent refuses the doubling cube, does the state of the board at that time influence how many points are won/conceded or do you just win a single point?

@BackgammonGalaxy

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Shane! We're so happy that you like our content and that it is inspiring you to dive more into this beautiful game

@TexXasBBQ

2 жыл бұрын

@@BackgammonGalaxy I had the exact same question. Thank you for the answer!

They should put number 1 on the cube and 32 as the max. You never go above 8 anyways. Now we have to use 64 as number 1. I've always found that weird.

@BackgammonGalaxy

3 жыл бұрын

You haven't played in the crazy chouettes that I have :)

Does the doubling cube reset back to 1 after each game? Or does it continue to double from where it left off in the next game in the match?

@Lanovran

3 жыл бұрын

The cube is reset for each game.

Very good explanation as always! I love the board you're using, where is it from?

@BackgammonGalaxy

3 жыл бұрын

Hi :) It's FM Gammon. We also have our own official Galaxy board in the shop :-) Only 12 left.

@jjmckenna

3 жыл бұрын

Flavio - These FM boards are awesome. Very different style from the Neptune board. I did an unboxing video of my FM board, here: kzread.info/dash/bejne/eHyrrMt-YZnRgLg.html

@flaviopinhota

3 жыл бұрын

@@jjmckenna I already checked their website and they are beautiful! 😀 I'm going to watch your KZread video. Thanks for your reply.

@jjmckenna

3 жыл бұрын

@@flaviopinhota If you have any interest in buying an FM board, hit them up and work out a deal! I have another, lower priced board from them literally on the way from Istanbul, and will likely be putting up another video within a week. It’s a board that retails for around $400US. Tell them I sent you, if interested. ✌🏼

@flaviopinhota

3 жыл бұрын

@@jjmckenna I will definitely get one in a near future. I already subscribed to your channel, so I will wait for your next unboxing. A $400 board it's more affordable to me ☺.

A few drunk gamblers invented this doubling cube in 1920's America. I like to play the traditional way. But there are no tournaments without this cube...

@BackgammonGalaxy

2 жыл бұрын

It adds so much thrill to the game

Never played for points. Pennies, or even nickels. And in the early 80s, that was good enough for me. Quarters could take your dinner money too quickly. ;-)

This cube seems super OP lol

The most difficult thing for me is to determine whether or not my advantage is too good. I would love to read "cube like a boss" but unfortunately I have no time :(

is there a point in the game in which its too late use the cube ? for instance , im putting chips home before the other guy. than i pull out the cube , is that bad etiquette or is that okay ? lol

My difficulty in deciding when to take the cube lies in figuring out how to determine whether I "win 25% of the time," or what-have-you, in a given position. How does one calculate their chances of winning a particular game, and thus know if they're at or beyond their take point?

@jackcarpenters3759

3 жыл бұрын

I never use the cube, but i read an article that concluded it simply from the pipcount difference. Don't know exactly it was something like 1.1 x pipcount + 4 is take 1.1 x pipcount +12 is double.

@winthorpetrois

3 жыл бұрын

@@jackcarpenters3759 No, it's much more complicated than that.

Whats the highest double you have seen?

Beautiful set, were can you buy?

@BackgammonGalaxy

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Check out the shop.backgammongalaxy.com the new Galaxy 2021 board will be released in one week, and it will be quite similar to this board and more travel friendly, with the same sized checkers and same luxury feel.

Doesn't points scoring only matter in match play where to play more than one game?

Cheers

When I used to play for very large stakes the cube rarely went very high

@ryanmoon05

3 жыл бұрын

Large stakes money games or large stakes tournament play?..the doubling cube plays a different role in each.

@ryanmoon05

3 жыл бұрын

I should say, the cube has different stakes for both, the role/rule is the same.

Where can I get that board?

I love that board, looked high and low on eBay but cannot find anything that big. Can anyone signpost me where I can buy this huge set?

@BackgammonGalaxy

Жыл бұрын

We have a wide variety of large boards on our webshop: shop.backgammongalaxy.com

I'm looking for an explanation of the 8/9/12% Rule. Talk to me like I'm 5. Thank you in advance!

Until what part of the game can one double up? Even when half of the pieces are already off and it looks like a 99% chance of winning? So, if I have 90% of my pieces off and my opponent still has all of their pieces on the board, I can still double? This seems like a bit weird to double at the very last moment.

@BackgammonGalaxy

3 жыл бұрын

Either player can double at anytime they want during the game. But once you have doubled your opponent only they can re-double (and vice versa). There's. nothing wrong with doubling just to get a pass and finish the game. But you don't want to double if you have a chance of winning a gammon.

@jacques42

3 жыл бұрын

@@BackgammonGalaxy Why are you saying that 'you don't want to double if you have a chance of winning a gammon?' This does not make sense, since the stronger the chance of winning, the more one should consider doubling, even more so if it is a gammon or a back gammon. Can you please explain why not to double in that specific situation when one is about to win with a gammon? Thank you

@BackgammonGalaxy

3 жыл бұрын

​@@jacques42 Because IF you have a good chance of winning a gammon or even a backgammon, your opponent will be very happy to pass the cube giving you only 1 point in stead of 2, 4 or even more points. You never want to double when it's too good (meaning you have high chances of gammon/backgammon) because if your opponent knows what they're doing, they will just pass it and you just missed out on the possibility of winning more points.

@jacques42

3 жыл бұрын

@@BackgammonGalaxy oh wait, so if the opponent passes, the value resets to 1 point that I would get, regardless of what is was before the last double? Didn't realise it resets and thought it stays on the last double value. So this is a risk for the person with the good position not to offer a double when his position is too good. Gotcha.

@argonwheatbelly637

3 жыл бұрын

@@jacques42 : No. It only resets at the start of the next game. The risk of doubling when you can gammon, is that whatever the double, you could lose the gammon double, because if you were to offer it (and double) to your opponent, your opponent can concede the game, and you collect whatever the double was that you had. Say, it's on 4, and you offer at 8, your opponent can concede and you get 4x only. If you keep it, and gammon your opponent, you get a double for the gammon, and the 4 becomes 8x. See? It's a strategy.

I'm wondering what other game can use a doubling cube to make that game also more interesting. Suggestions?

@BackgammonGalaxy

3 жыл бұрын

Hmm not sure I understand. You mean what other game apart from backgammon?

@jedagelijksebraintraining

3 жыл бұрын

@@BackgammonGalaxy like you said: the swing in equity must be rare.

@manuelpaulengelbrecht6798

3 жыл бұрын

Chess?

@ACBeats09

3 жыл бұрын

Any, that cube is for any game, as you can use it to double the points/bet....

@jedagelijksebraintraining

3 жыл бұрын

@@ACBeats09 We just wonder what other games can use a cube as beautiful (tactically) and useful (speeding up no contact games) as the backgammon does.

👍🎲👊💰

Thanks! I would like to know how doubling works in this case (that is how backgammon galaxy works): Imagine a match of 5 points and I am loosing 1-4, why can I sometimes make a double and sometimes I'm not allowed to do it?

@jjmckenna

3 жыл бұрын

Look up ‘Crawford Rule.’ When one player gets to within one point of a winning score, the cube is unavailable for the next game (Crawford game). If the player behind in points wins the Crawford game, the cube is reactivated and the match is ‘post-Crawford’ (cube in play) until there is a winner.

@gabrielpons4613

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@sjsphotog

3 жыл бұрын

@@jjmckenna and when that player who is behind wins the crawford game, they should immediately double on their first turn of the next game so that they have an easier chance to come back to win the match.

@sirmustard5337

3 жыл бұрын

@@sjsphotog i hate when an Opponent does that

Who goes first after the first game?

@jjmckenna

3 жыл бұрын

The players roll dice after each game to determine who plays first in each subsequent game.

@chein33

3 жыл бұрын

@@jjmckenna Thank you, believe me or not my wife and I couldn't find the answer.

@jedagelijksebraintraining

3 жыл бұрын

@@chein33 each start of a game both players roll 1 dice, untill there are two different dices on the table. Then the person who rolled the high dice, has to play those rolled dices as first move.

Sincere question: Realistically speaking, does the cube ever get up to double digits? It seems like 16, 32, 64 are just useless for match play. Unless, what - you’re playing a 128-point match? Seems like a waste of die faces.

Doubling is good. Clocks in games, them I don't like...much. Chess clocks I accept, but not for a leisurely game. And backgammon moves rather fast, so no clock is needed. Things like Boggle need them, and that's ok. Backgammon is a game I like to play in person. Convivial, innit?

1 to 3 should not be 33.33%?

@BackgammonGalaxy

3 жыл бұрын

odds 1-to-3 is equivalent of 25%... It is one part out of a total of four parts. One part for and three parts against.

@johnt7100

2 жыл бұрын

@@BackgammonGalaxy lol

Let me tell you a match I played in the world championships after a few rolls I can see I am a much better player than my opponent now I have to adjust my game because if I make the best move and he hits I might well lose more points so by making a move which is not so good I am at less risk when I beat the then world champion in the British championship I doubled when it was very close but I worked out if I throw what I need I have a good chance of winning if I was playing a weaker player I would never have doubled. Let me tell you secret when I played tounerments I never doubled unless I was a massive fav the reason being if I give him the cube I am leaving myself open to losing a lot of points

@BackgammonGalaxy

3 жыл бұрын

That is a very interesting strategy Kate. Did you have a lot of success with it?

@katewild2194

3 жыл бұрын

If you are the better player you want to roll the dice and make as many moves as possible also make the games as complicated as you can I will give you an example you start the game you roll 6-3 or 6-4 the best way to move is 6 out and 3 down the reason being is their is a good chance the game will proceed into a blot hitting game I know I will be making the best moves almost every time and get an advantage if you watch such a game you will see players thinking should I hit should I play this move it was agony for me at times because I knew the correct move. I will give you another tip for playing tournaments another time if you like.

@michaelblankenau6598

9 ай бұрын

You sound like someone who over estimates their own ability and underestimates that ability of the opponent . Probably not nearly as strong as you think you are .

Marc???

I would like to know more about the rules at BACKGAMMON GALAXY? Can you please explain how this rule is a new ruling system and how it is legal to implement this rule as a new standard of play......this is the response from BACKGAMMON GALAXY when I questioned why when I lose a match I receive the penalty of lowering my ranking score and when I win a match from a higher ranked player I do NOT get rewarded any ranking points: **The Galaxy Rating system (GR), is a new and innovative system of ranking players, and the way it works: To win GR from your opponent, you have to win both the match AND the error rate battle (the two crowns). If you win one, but not the other, it's a GR draw.** Seems like a scam to keep higher ranked players UP and lower ranked players DOWN......

Congratulations on the Backgammon Galaxy upgrade. I can’t logon now so I’ve stopped playing there. Massive screwup.

1/3 is not 25%

@djtopinambur

3 жыл бұрын

it is not 1/3, it is 1:3 ;)

@Marcolino10DK

3 жыл бұрын

Odds 1-to-3 is 1 unit out of 4 units or 25%.

@ACBeats09

3 жыл бұрын

It's 33,33333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333%, as a close rate. 10 is not dividable by 3

@jackcarpenters3759

3 жыл бұрын

divide 75 by 25

I have to say that THERE ARE SO MANY VARIABLES IN THIS GAME BECAUSE OF THE ROLLS OF THE DICE, what the system is programed that is a correct move may NOT BE depending on the roll of the dice..... THE CORRECT MOVE MAY BE TO LEAVE AN EXPOSED CHECKER but only a FOOL will leave an exposed checker if it can be covered/paired. THE RULES HERE ARE A MATTER OF OPINION and that is exactly what it is....AN OPINION!!!! THERE ARE NO RULES THAT A PLAYER HAS TO FOLLOW EXACT MOVEMENTS ACCORDING TO EACH ROLL OF THE DICE. IT COMES DOWN TO A WIN IS A WIN, AND A LOSS IS A LOSS. ERROR BATTLES is a made up strategy for winners to stay winners and beginners/losers not to advance......kind of what is going on today in politics. HAS BACKGAMMON TURNED INTO A POLITICAL GAME?

I have to say that THERE ARE SO MANY VARIABLES IN THIS GAME BECAUSE OF THE ROLLS OF THE DICE, what the system is programed that is a correct move may NOT BE depending on the roll of the dice..... THE CORRECT MOVE MAY BE TO LEAVE AN EXPOSED CHECKER but only a FOOL will leave an exposed checker if it can be covered/paired. THE RULES HERE ARE A MATTER OF OPINION and that is exactly what it is....AN OPINION!!!! THERE ARE NO RULES THAT A PLAYER HAS TO FOLLOW EXACT MOVEMENTS ACCORDING TO EACH ROLL OF THE DICE. IT COMES DOWN TO A WIN IS A WIN, AND A LOSS IS A LOSS. ERROR BATTLES is a made up strategy for winners to stay winners and beginners/losers not to advance......kind of what is going on today in politics. HAS BACKGAMMON TURNED INTO A POLITICAL GAME?