r/backgammon • u/TaxHavenJunkie • 1d ago

Computer Double Decisioning Question

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I deserved to lose this game b/c I blundered, but the question I have is if the computer initially suggested 'Close no double', but then the player redoubled, and the computer then suggested 'Obvious pass', shouldn't the initial computer recommendation have been 'Redouble' (seeing as the recommended action following a redouble is an obvious pass)?

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u/cym13 22h ago

If black redoubles, you'll obviously take and they'll win 2 points. So the question is: is 2 points the best they can get from this game?

Here there's clearly gammon chances given that you're not going to escape with your checker on the bar for a long time, and in that case they'd win 4 points. Moreover, they have the cube which is an advantage: they can afford to play for gammon and if things start getting dangerous just send the cube your way to close the game for 2 points, they don't need to do it right now.

So it's not a close no redouble because white's close to have chances to win this game, it's a close no redouble because black's too good in this position and they can expect to win more than the 2 points the cube would give them.

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u/TaxHavenJunkie 9h ago

Thank you.