Mandatory doubles, Optional Doubles
Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 12:43 pm
We all know what a mandatory double is right..If you are trailing, once you get past the crawford game, you are turning the cube immediately at the start of each new game. But sometimes at the score of 2 away, 2 away (ex. 5 pt match score 3-3) YOu may have noticed that the bots double as if it is a mandatory double. Above is an example of such a position, score is 3-3 tied 5 pt match. The bot rolls a good opening roll 6-1 and makes her bar point. But the analysis shows that you could double here (optional double) How can this be?
Well.. it turns out that the match score of 2 away 2 away has some characteristics that make an early double correct. When both you and your opponent are 2 away the correct cube action is almost always a take if you are doubled. Why? Because you dont want to drop and face a crawford game. The player who leads out also wants to double early because they dont want to miss a chance to get the cube turned while they have the advantage. So it turns into a double take no matter what the rolls are. So if both players know what they are doing, they both realize this match score is the last game of the match as the cube will be turned and a take is the only correct play. You can get into more technical aspects like early double penalty if you are interested but the point is that at this score, you can expect to be doubled straight away and your action is almost always correct to take so this is why 2 away 2 away is almost the same as a mandatory post crawford immediately double strategy.