Here is an essential backgammon position. It becomes a benchmark position when you make it so, by thoughtful study.

Before rolling the dice, White doubles Black in a cash game. Should Black take the cube or pass?

A cube position establishes a memorable scene, often complete with dialogue. A gem of a cube decision lurks below in the details. Consider the reference take point RTP_550 for example … White has just doubled.

Yet Black is ahead in the footrace, should the black blot escape the solid White 5-prime. Only Black’s dice rolls B61s (2 shots in 36) can currently escape, or B63s when on the bar facing the open White 3pt. If White either makes the full prime (W55s, W35s) or points on the black blot (W66s with W46s, W45s, W56s slight errors) then Black is instantly worse off after most of these ten shots.

Sly’s Rule (Race, Structure, Threats) for strategic game plan says Black has a running advantage and a strong home board but useful only upon escape and White has the bigtime attack and the bigtime blockade. Because of Black’s strong home board White will attack gingerly and carefully. Black’s partial and diminishing run compared to White’s growing threat of attack and block. A poor deal for Black.

When game plans go askew however, neither White nor Black is particularly susceptible to losing a gammon. That helps Black slightly.

Black’s take of the doubling cube thereby enters the dangerous sweet zone: an equity haven from gammons, alone with the thoughts of a possible late hit of a fictional white blot into a crumbling black board.

To win this game Black needs to escape the white prime now, but White is on the roll. Only trouble? White’s marvelous prime. Only with a white dancer does Black’s home board work as a prime. When White immediately puts Black on the bar, at least time and the crumbling black home board is paused. When White makes the full prime, Black’s board and game plan crumble. Damned either way.

Some tactical evidence? Would White ever hit Black loose after the white roll of a six? Probably not. Since there are few gammons to be had, the loose hit has too much downside.

Pass this cube. The position in fact is a reference Take, so Black loses one point on average, whether Black takes or passes.

But pass this cube. The reason? About 2 out of every 3 exchanges (White rolls then Black rolls) are market losers and the volatility is low. It is easy for White to correctly finish this game. Most White checker plays are easy to get right by both experts and average players. Positions with few gammons for either side are easier to play well. And time is money. Start a new game instead.