The PRAT Backgammon Strategy for Doubling

One of the most difficult decisions a backgammon player has to make is when he should double. If he uses the backgammon doubling cube too early he not only loses position of the cube but also allows his opponent sufficient time to recover. If he leaves the use of the backgammon doubling cube for too late then the opponent will refuse the double and the backgammon player will not get any advantage.

The backgammon strategy for doubling has been difficult because most systems involve numerical estimations of factors like equity or early/late ratio or chance to win. This is next to impossible for the novice backgammon player. The novice player needs a backgammon strategy for the backgammon doubling cube that is easy to implement. This is where PRAT comes in.

PRAT asks the backgammon player to make an assessment of the backgammon game on three counts: Position, RAce and Threat. The backgammon strategy is that the backgammon player should use the backgammon doubling cube when he is ahead on two of the three counts. If the backgammon player is ahead on only one count then it is too early to double because he has not yet reached a position of sufficient strength. If he is ahead on all three counts then he has left the use of the backgammon doubling cube till too late. The opponent would very likely refuse the double.

How does the backgammon player imbibe the PRAT backgammon strategy for doubling? Many backgammon books give game positions and provide the answer based on other strategies for doubling. The novice player can apply PRAT to those positions and check if he gets the same answer.