Backgammon Online

30-Aug-2010
12:10 PDT

As far as I am concerned, playing backgammon without a doubling dice is a bit like playing poker without money or buying a lottery ticket. But if anyone likes it that way... Beside that, in whatever country I played (private games or tournaments), the rules with the doubling dice has ALWAYS been the following : a game cannot be double if the dice has changed hand BUT if it has the figure on the dice is going be doubled if the looser fails to withdraw at least one chip before the winner has taken out all of his, and tripled if the looser has still one chip in the winner's board when every winner's chips have been taken out. Then, if you pass the doubling dice and your opponent thinks you're making a mistake, he can double it again AND keep it on his side ; but this is sometime considered as an option having to be agreed by both players.
Last but not least, I NEVER heard of a tournament being played without the doubling dice. I didn't know this (strange) particularity here and I will certainly inscribe myself in any tournaments from now on before Zoe Escape changes that rule...

05-Sep-2010
02:34 PDT

After reading your post I understand the concept in private money games only is what is agreed upon! The option you mention I am very experienced with ... whether it called a beaver or raccoon these options occur in private money games only!

06-Sep-2010
10:34 PDT

OK, if you want, but have you ever seen a tournament played without a doubling dice ? I did'nt... The best example is the following (which, on top of it, happend twice to me here !) : you play, you reach a position in which you can double your opponent without him being reasonnably able to accept it, but you can't ; therefore the game continues, the dices of your opponent change and he ends up winning a game he should never have won. Fair ?

18-Sep-2010
15:13 PDT

I totally agree with you they should start some tourney with the dice it will be more fair and real

19-Sep-2010
21:09 PDT

I'm not trying to be difficult here - I actually am learning this game as we speak - but could you explain to me what the penalty would be for accepting a doubling die in a tournament and losing? Right now, our tournaments are scored as 1 or 0, obvious. I could see a doubling die helping the winner in that it can take 7-8 points now to advance (so doubling would make that more exciting), but would the loser get negative points (or ??)? If not, there is no penalty to take the double (of course)

Just wondering. I wasn't sure how that worked.

19-Sep-2010
23:58 PDT

but if we to incorporate in a tourney (the way it is), two people can just redouble, The winner will take all. With 4 equal players chance is about 25% to advance (assuming there is tie breakers) but with redoubling, it jumps to 50%...

one of the best way to do it, is to implement 1game 3pt match with cube -- requires more coding...