In today's lesson, I am joined by grandmaster, Dirk Schiemann, to discuss cubing (take/pass decisions) in five levels.

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LINK TO DIRK'S BOOK: [ Ссылка ]

Level 1 Beginner (Money Game and Match Play 4a/3a): The take point for money is 25%. In match play the value of points won and lost is not expressed in units but in match winning chances. It is different for each match score, which leads to different take points depending upon score and cube level. 26/36 means 10 rolls do not take off both checkers (12, 13, 14, 15, 16), - as this is slightly above the 25% take point for money, it is right to take the cube.

Level 2 Intermediate (Money Game): When the cube is live after taking, equity can be generated through future redoubles. One way is to deny your opponent equity when she has to pass your redouble. The other way is to force her to continue the game on a higher cube level as the underdog after redouble/take.

Level 3 Advanced (Money Game and Match Play 2a/4a): For money 2% extra gammon losses can be compensated for by winning 1% more games. We also say: “the gammon value is 0.5”. You have to pass when your wins cannot compensate for the extra gammons lost. In match play gammon values vary with score and cube level. This often leads to big adjustments for take/pass decisions.

Level 4 Master (Match Play 4a/7a and Match Play 7a/5a): With a match lead you oftentimes have to pass because you rarely will be able to get to a profitable redouble because of the score. One reason why you can take more liberally at most scores when trailing is that you will often get to powerful recubes that enable you to manipulate gammon values in your favour.

Level 5 Grandmaster (Match Play 4a/4a ++ and 1296 RO): The position is only a huge pass for money because of the frequent backgammon losses. At the score the position is a take because backgammons don’t count extra and because the taker can redouble more aggressively thereby eliminating gammons altogether. The high take point for the redouble is crucial for the take.

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