The doubling cube in backgammon when used is akin to raising in poker. If you raise the pot in poker and it is the first raise of the hand then the dollar amount will be quite small. If the blinds are $1-$2 then the first pot raise will be to $7 and no more. However if another player wanted to re-raise then the next pot raise would be to $24 which is more than three times the initial raise.

In backgammon the first double puts the dice on 2 and the next double takes it to 4. The second double is more than the combined effect of the previous double and playing a single game. This is exactly the same if there is another double to 8…….this double is more than all of the other moves put together. This element of the game introduces equity into the equation and this is where the best players excel because they simply estimate the equity in a position better than the other players.

Doubling in backgammon is a risky move for two reasons, firstly you are doubling the stakes of the game and secondly it hands control of the cube across to your opponent. This means that they can re-double you at their discretion providing of course that they accepted your initial double in the first place. While doubling is risky it is also essential and backgammon is what it is because of the cube.

Some of the better players are very good at assessing equity in the position but as an inferior player then how should you go about playing a stronger opponent? Well firstly I do not think that you should be offering doubles very early in the game. The position in all likelihood would be too marginal and this would immediately lead to you losing control of the cube. It would also mean that your opponent could immediately double you back in a position that was marginal without being at a disadvantage.

If your opponent is aggressive and doubles you early in the game then you must stand your ground and take the double. The only exception to this is if your position is very bad after several fortunate rolls on behalf of your opponent or unfortunate rolls on your part. So controlling the cube against strong opposition is vital as is playing a solid game. If you try to open the position up without having the necessary skill to do so then a strong player will destroy you.

It is a far better strategy to keep the game tight even if it comes at the expense of a little fluidity in your position. At least you cannot get blown away by your opponent’s power play and you stand a good chance of gaining a win going into the middle game. In short match situations then aggressive players can and will often force you to take marginal doubles. Sometimes this is an effort to get back into the game quickly if they are behind. But if you play your moves solidly then you should not fear such tactics and a merely doubled cube isn’t something to fear when you have possession of it.

Carl “The Dean” Sampson can be found playing poker at www.pokerstars.co.uk

I like this backgammon variant and I hope you will too.

Is an interesting variation. Both players start with their checkers off the board.

They introduce their checkers on the opponents board depending on the number thy roll. For instance a 3-2 roll allows the player to place his checkers on the second and third lines.

You cannot take out your opponent’s blot until you do not have at least one checker on your home board. The reintroduction of the checkers from the bar goes the same way as for standard gammon.

OK? Check it out.

Those studying Online Casino note how the turn is often the make-or-break part of a hand; where you decide to make the continuation bet with a strong hand, or where you fold to a firm re-raise.

Players will often bring out the big guns on the turn, having made it relatively cheap for players to call on the flop. By the time the turn comes around, players will be less likely to give you any breathing space with a cheap call, so the raises tend to shoot up.

Aggression is the key to handling the turn. Never let players draw for free. You want to be giving your opponents the tough decisions to make, rather than them giving you the head-scratchers.

If you are drawing to a straight or a flush, you should be willing to carry through on a turn bet with a river bet, even if you don’t hit your draw.

This is because a bet on the turn, followed by a check on the river looks so weak it will almost always be found out. So, if you are unwilling to fire two barrels – one on the turn, one on the river – don’t bother with one.

With marginal hands, it is a fine line between calling or folding on the turn when faced with a raise. Different situations call for different strategies of course, so always make your decision based on table knowledge and your opponent’s style of play.

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He said he got a good stare out of that from the ‘locals.”

He then found out that the popular board game Tavli was a variant on backgammon and made it a point to learn the basics of the game.

So here goes:

Tavli is Greece’s favorite board game.

It is played in a wooden frame with 30 counters in two different colors (15 counters of each color). The word tavli is used for the game but also for the board that the game is played on.

The players move the counters in specific places inside tavli board, which is split in two parts, according to the dice. The purpose is, in every variation of the game, to move all his counters in specific places and then to gather them out of the game. If the player manages this before his opponent manages to gather at least one of his counters, the winning counts as double win (double game).

If the opponent manages to gather even one counter, then the winner takes only one point. The game usually finishes in 3,5 or more usally in 7 winning points.

The variations of the game tavli that are played by greeks are “plakoto”, “portes” (doors), “feyga” and “gioul”, which is played rarely. The “doors” are same as the international backgammon (but without doublind cube)

If you’re interested in more details, let me know. But look it up online and you might find it’s a lot of fun to play.