Lady Luck has an interesting side hustle going.

Not only does the playful Lady navigate the game against world class fakers at world class stakes, but little Miss Luck herself uses her rare foresight and ample wit to subtle advantage, thereby on average demanding only correct odds in every backgammon situation — first Black rolls and then White replies, and lastly Black accomplishes some petty little thing with the lowly checkers. Then a blot hit and back to the start: all at the correct odds, on average, guaranteed. That’s part of Lady Luck’s job as backgammon ambassador, to keep the game fair, statistically speaking.

Of course, Lady Luck is permitted to bank some volatile fluctuations in chance, under the table so to speak, allowed to save that volatility in her Gucci purse for the after-party of a future roll. Undetectable by the statistical KS test but judiciously repaid for large N.

Example: Need miracle sixes to resuscitate the prime? Then a brief twiddle of the law of averages. Well within the uncertainty principle. Lady Luck, the backgammon advisor, the social media influencer, and the keeper of the sacred laws of probable outcomes. Running a short con with the fluctuations, all the while keeping the dice rolls kosher in the long run, probability-wise.

Which brings the side hustle to its denouement — the final reveal of a complicated Byzantine plot.

“And now, direct from a gig in Las Vegas, the Lady herself”:

The Doubling Cube

Please take a good look at this cube decision below.

Black is on the roll but tempted to cube.

Peculiar position says Lady Luck.

Very peculiar position indeed.

Neither Black nor White has made any new points? A home point, no. Outfield point, no. No anchors yet made. Nada

Then there are those blots. Lots and lots of blots. Four white blots spread everywhere, vulnerable. And Black, the lone black runner and the two reckless outfielders. Thus, Black has a slight structural advantage.

Black has a running advantage too. About three rolls ahead.

With the initiative, attacking is even more enjoyable for Black — the “don’t cube on a shaky promise” platitude may sometimes be overlooked in a position. Or not.

Black doubles and White takes? Or Black waits then rolls the dice? Both are acceptable.

Perhaps cube the human White player but wait and roll the dice against a devious Lady Luck in her wedding dress.

Paranoid? — You Bet.