What is the Doubling Cube (Whats that square block with numbers on it used for?)
Formal backgammon (including tournament, head-to-head and chouette) is played with a device known as a doubling cube. The doubling cube is marked on each of its six faces by numbers which sequentially increase by powers of 2 (typically 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64). The doubling cube (“cube” for short) indicates the number of points at stake as the game progresses. At the start of the game, the cube resides in the “center” and its default value is 1. Whilst in the center position, the cube is accessible by both players. During the course of the game either player may exercise their option to offer their opponent a double providing that it is their turn to play and they have yet to roll the dice. If the player has decided to roll and subsequently rolls cocked dice, they may not then change their minds and offer a double prior to re-roll. To offer a double, the player “on roll” picks up the cube from its resting location, lays down the cube with the number 2 face-up on the playing surface in fron
