BGonline.org Forums

Easy take--but is it a double?

Posted By: Coolrey
Date: Sunday, 30 November 2008, at 11:54 p.m.

In Response To: Easy take--but is it a double? (adambulldog)

You are ahead in the race and you have made the best anchor so there is reason to be optimistic. But if you analyze this as an easy take, then I submit to you... and nobody will believe this, especially aspiring experts... It is much WORSE to double a GoB.

While it is plausible that you need to get lucky to beat a Giant, the amount of luck you will be required to get if you double the Giants early is astronomical in its scope. Backgammon is a game of lucky swings. If you keep giving these doubles to Giants they will take it and smile to themselves inside. For it is only YOU who risk making an error here. No Giant is passing, and it may well be wrong to give up total access to the cube even against an intermediate who will wait till he gets lucky and double you out.

The problem is deeper still against a talented player, who may offer you a redouble in a sticky situation that the intermediate would blow on past. So, against the intermediate your risk is perhaps 2 points, but the Giant has devised ways to squeeze you for 8 ounces of your hide, or most certainly 4. The Giants have learned to squeezed the orange twice to get all the juice, and they don't even mind a little pulp. You want them licking your pulp? I don't!

Play 10 matches against Gnu or Snowie and try doubling early. See how your results compare to your normal success rate. While an early double can sometimes result in a spectacular win or dramatic gammon... The MOST spectacular results will be in favor of the GIANT. You will develop a great position, be forced to leave a fly shot, which he will hit and you will feel particularly unlucky... When in fact you have been particularly deserving for selling this extremely well known, (for his skill), and dangerous player such a cheap ticket on the roller coaster ride that is backgammon.

He may hit your last checker, get a redouble in and beat you out of 4 points... or some other such nauseating result because you gave away so much out of respect. Only when a player learns to stop committing suicide in this fashion do they actually step up to the expert level, imho.

Messages In This Thread

• Easy take--but is it a double?
  adambulldog -- Thursday, 27 November 2008, at 5:40 p.m.
  • Easy take--but is it a double?
    Matt Cohn-Geier -- Thursday, 27 November 2008, at 6:11 p.m.
  • Easy take--but is it a double?
    garyo -- Thursday, 27 November 2008, at 6:36 p.m.
  • Easy take--but is it a double?
    Martin -- Thursday, 27 November 2008, at 8:23 p.m.
  • Easy take--but is it a double?
    neilkaz -- Thursday, 27 November 2008, at 9:23 p.m.
  • Easy take--but is it a double?
    Caryl Stephanson -- Thursday, 27 November 2008, at 10:38 p.m.
    • Easy take--but is it a double?
      Dan Pelton -- Thursday, 27 November 2008, at 11:36 p.m.
      • Easy take--but is it a double?
        Caryl Stephanson -- Saturday, 29 November 2008, at 6:19 p.m.
  • Easy take--but is it a double?
    Keene -- Friday, 28 November 2008, at 4:44 p.m.
  • Easy take--but is it a double?
    Coolrey -- Sunday, 30 November 2008, at 11:54 p.m.