Backgammon Money Play: The Initial Stake

Backgammon money play is a style of backgammon competition. Each game is played individually, rather than in a series, and the participants wager on the result of each game. Therefore, while the outcome of the game is not determined, backgammon play does predetermine the bet. At the end of each backgammon game, the loser pays the winner an agreed initial stake, multiplied by the value of the doubling cube. Players can decide if they want to place certain amounts on each point within the game, or on the outcome of the game itself.

Backgammon money play is usually played with the Jacoby rule. This rule speeds up the play by eliminating situations where a player avoids doubling in order to play on for a gammon, where the losing player has not even managed to take any of his pieces off the board. Other rules in backgammon money play may include automatic doubles and beavers. In automatic doubles, if both players throw the same number on the first roll, the stakes are automatically doubled. These are usually limited to one per game. In the game of backgammon, a beaver means a player may accept a double and immediately redoubles the stakes. The opponent then has a choice, to refuse and forfeit the game, or accept and continue the game at quadruple stakes. This type of game can be played both live or via the internet.

While the initial money play does determine the wager of each participant, the chance of the dice may still mean that the stakes may become much higher, adding to the thrill of the game.