Cube life

How it works in play

Owning the cube is worth something only while it can still be used: a cube you can redouble at the right moment is live, one you never will is dead. Cube life measures that value, and Janowski’s formula estimates it; it is why the practical take point in a race sits a little below the textbook 25%.

Related terms

• Live cube — A cube that can still be re-doubled, as opposed to a "dead cube."
• Janowski formula — The standard formula for cubeful equity, blending the dead-cube and live-cube extremes.
• Take point — The minimum winning probability at which taking a double breaks even — about 25% in money play; score-dependent in matches.
• Cubeful / cubeless equity — A position’s expected value with and without future cube actions accounted for.

Go deeper

• Cube theory: cube ownership
• Cube theory: the 25% take point
• Backgammon strategy, from first roll to bear-off

In other languages

• العربيةحياة المكعب (Cube life)
• ΕλληνικάΖωή του κύβου (cube life)
• فارسیعمر داو (Cube life)
• עבריתחיי הקובייה (Cube life)
• РусскийЖивость куба (cube life)
• TürkçeKüp ömrü (Cube life)