Classic backgammon · Cube

Taking or dropping a double

When your opponent doubles, the game pauses. You must choose: take and keep playing for the new value, or drop and concede the current value. Imagine Black has built a strong lead here and doubles.

5 min · 5 steps

This is the written edition of an interactive Boardgammon lesson — in the app, the coach narrates while you play every move on a live board.

Step 1 · Cube offer

2423222120191817161514131211109876543212

When your opponent doubles, the game pauses. You must choose: take and keep playing for the new value, or drop and concede the current value. Imagine Black has built a strong lead here and doubles.

Coach narration

Step 2 · What does take mean?

Black has offered a double to 2. If White takes, what happens?

Choose what Take does.

Quick check

  • Continue the game for 2 points
  • Decline without losing anything
  • Start a new game immediately
Show the correct answer

Correct answer: Continue the game for 2 points — Correct. Take accepts the double and keeps the game alive.

  • Decline without losing anything — Dropping still loses the current cube value. The offer matters.
  • Start a new game immediately — A take continues this same game at the doubled value.

Coach narration

Step 3 · Cube ownership

2423222120191817161514131211109876543212

After White takes, the cube sits on White's side at 2. Only White can offer the next redouble.

Coach narration

Step 4 · What does drop cost?

2423222120191817161514131211109876543212
On the board: Offered to 2

Now consider the other reply. If White drops Black's double instead of taking, what does Black win?

Choose what Drop pays.

Quick check

  • Black wins the current 1 point
  • Black wins 2 points
  • Nobody scores
Show the correct answer

Correct answer: Black wins the current 1 point — Correct. Dropping a first double loses 1 point, not 2.

  • Black wins 2 points — The 2-point value applies only if White takes and keeps playing.
  • Nobody scores — A drop ends the game immediately and the doubler scores.

Coach narration

Step 5 · Drop ends the game

So the choice is practical: take to continue for the new value, or drop to end the game at the current value.

Coach narration

What you learned

You can now answer a double: take to continue for the new value, or drop to concede the current value.

Coach narration