If you have ever sat at a backgammon board with experienced players, you have probably heard questions before the game such as “Are we playing Jacoby?”, “Is Beaver allowed?”, or “Are we using Automatic Double?” These questions show that Money Game is not simply ordinary backgammon with money added to it.
In Backgammon Money Game, each game has its own monetary or point value, and the doubling cube plays a more significant role in the outcome. And the story does not end with doubling. Rules such as Jacoby, Beaver, Raccoon, and Automatic Double can also come into play depending on what the players agree to.
Let's make one thing clear from the beginning: there is no single mandatory version of “official Money Game rules” that applies to every game. Some basic backgammon rules are established, but many Money Game rules are contractual. Players should agree before the game starts on the conditions under which they will play.
The WBGF also describes Automatic Double, Beaver, and the Jacoby Rule as concepts specific to Money Game and does not permit their use in tournament backgammon. The USBGF makes the same distinction in its guide.
What Does Money Game Mean in Backgammon?
In Match Play, players compete to reach a specific score, such as 5, 7, or 9 points. In Money Game, however, each game is an independent unit and the result of that game is calculated separately.
Suppose the base value of each game is 1 unit. Normally:
Single win = 1 unit
Gammon = 2 units
Backgammon = 3 units
If the doubling cube is on 4, these values are multiplied by 4:
Single win = 4 units
Gammon = 8 units
Backgammon = 12 units
The USBGF also explains Money Game scoring this way: the base amount or point value is multiplied by the cube value, while a gammon or backgammon doubles or triples it respectively. This is where Money Game becomes more serious. It is not only checker play that matters; the right Cube decision can sometimes be worth more than several good moves.
The Doubling Cube: The Heart of Money Game
The Doubling Cube is not an ordinary die. Its six faces usually show 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64, and it is used to indicate the current value of the game. At the beginning of the game, the cube value is 1. The 64 is usually placed face-up to indicate that no double has yet occurred.
The player whose turn it is may offer a Double before rolling the dice.
Suppose the game is still at 1:
Player A offers a Double.
Player B has two main choices:
Take: Accept the Double and continue the game at a value of 2.
Pass or Drop: Reject the Double and lose the previous game value, which is 1 unit.
So if the cube is on 1 and your opponent offers you a Double to 2, passing means you lose 1 unit, not 2.
Who Owns the Cube After a Take?
This is something many players get wrong in casual games. When your opponent accepts a Double, they also take possession of the cube. From that moment, only the cube owner has the right to Redouble at the appropriate time.
For example:
1 → Player A offers a Double → 2
Player B takes the Double and becomes the cube owner.
If the position later changes in B's favor:
2 → 4
This move is called a Redouble.
If A accepts this Redouble, ownership of the cube transfers to A.
The same cycle continues:
2 → 4 → 8 → 16 → 32 → 64
In theory, the value of the game can continue increasing in this way.
Take or Pass: The Decision That Changes the Game
When you receive a Double, the main question is not “Am I behind or ahead?” A better question is: “Is continuing the game at the new value mathematically worthwhile?” For example, you may have less chance of winning the current position than your opponent, yet taking can still be the correct decision. The reason is that passing immediately gives up the current game value.
In professional backgammon analysis, concepts such as Take Point, Cube Equity, and Market Loser are used for this decision. So not every weak position is a Pass, and not every strong position is necessarily the right time to Double. This is where things get a little complicated!
What Is the Jacoby Rule?
The Jacoby Rule is one of the best-known Money Game rules. Under this rule, until the cube has been turned, gammons and backgammons have no extra value and the result is scored as a single win. Suppose the game value is 1 unit and Jacoby is active. You gammon your opponent, but no accepted Double has occurred during the entire game.
The result? You receive only 1 unit, even though under normal conditions the gammon would be worth 2 units. The USBGF defines the Jacoby Rule for Money Game in the same way and explains that it is not used in Match Play.
Why Was the Jacoby Rule Created?
Suppose you have a very strong position and a high chance of winning a gammon. Without Jacoby, you might be tempted to leave the cube at 1 and simply play for the gammon. The Jacoby Rule discourages this behavior. If you do not activate the cube, you do not receive the extra gammon value. As a result, the player must choose between two real decisions:
Should I Double now and risk having my opponent Pass? Or should I leave the cube at 1 and accept the risk of continuing the game? This rule makes Cube decisions a more prominent part of Money Game. The USBGF also explains the purpose of the rule as speeding up play and preventing players from deliberately keeping the cube low while hunting for gammons.
A Simple Example of the Jacoby Rule
Suppose the cube is on 1 and you are playing with the Jacoby Rule. Your opponent still has all of their checkers on the board, and you finish the game. If no effective Cube Action has occurred:
Result = 1 unit
Now suppose you previously doubled, your opponent took, and the cube is on 2.
If you win a gammon:
2 × 2 = 4 units
If you win a backgammon:
2 × 3 = 6 units
So remember one important point: once the cube has been activated, the normal gammon and backgammon scoring rules apply again together with the cube multiplier.
What Is a Beaver?
Now we reach one of the more interesting parts of Money Game. Suppose the cube is on 1.
You Double your opponent:
1 → 2
Your opponent not only believes Take is correct, but also thinks that you should not have doubled at all and that their position is better than you believe.
They announce:
Beaver
With a Beaver, your opponent accepts your Double and immediately raises the cube by another level:
1 → 2 → 4
The important difference between a Beaver and a normal Redouble is that the player making the Beaver keeps ownership of the cube. This means they can Redouble again later when appropriate.
What Choices Do You Have After a Beaver?
Suppose you doubled from 1 to 2 and your opponent Beavered, taking the cube to 4. Under the common version of this rule, you now have several choices. If you accept the Beaver, the game continues at 4 and your opponent remains the cube owner. If you Drop, you lose the cube value before the Beaver. In our example, that means 2 units.
And if you have also agreed to Raccoon as part of the game rules, a third option enters the picture. This is exactly why Money Game rules should be established before the first roll. The middle of a game is not the right time to debate what Beaver means!
What Is a Raccoon?
Raccoon is the continuation of the Beaver sequence.
Suppose:
You Double:
1 → 2
Your opponent Beaver:
2 → 4
If the Raccoon rule is active, you may immediately increase the game value again:
4 → 8
This move is called a Raccoon.
The interesting point is that even though the cube has reached 8, ownership of the cube remains with the player who declared the Beaver.
The USBGF defines Raccoon in its glossary as an “immediate redouble in response to a Beaver.” Reputable backgammon instructional sources also emphasize that Beaver and Raccoon must be made immediately, with no roll or checker play taking place between them.
What Is an Otter?
If you think the animal sequence ends here, it does not! In some Money Game circles, another rule called Otter also exists. The sequence may continue like this:
Double → 2
Beaver → 4
Raccoon → 8
Otter → 16
These rules are specific game agreements and are not universally used. Even Beaver and Raccoon must be agreed upon in advance, let alone Otter. So seeing this term in one game does not mean it automatically applies to every Money Game.
What Is an Automatic Double?
Automatic Double is another optional Money Game rule. At the start of backgammon, each player rolls one die to determine who starts the game. If both players roll the same number, under the Automatic Double rule the game value is doubled before the first move.
For example:
Initial value = 1. Both players roll 4 on the opening roll. The cube is placed on 2 and remains in the center. Because the cube is still centered, both players retain the right to make the first normal Double later. Many players limit the number of Automatic Doubles, for example to only one per game. Make this agreement clear before starting, because several consecutive matching opening rolls can increase the game value very quickly.
Is an Automatic Double the Same as a Normal Double?
No. In a normal Double, one player offers a Double and the opponent chooses between Take and Pass. An Automatic Double, however, is triggered by the initial agreement and the result of the opening roll. No player offers the Double to the opponent. Another important difference is that after an Automatic Double, the cube normally remains in the center. Therefore, neither player has exclusive ownership of the cube yet.
What Is the Difference Between Money Game and Match Play?
The visual similarity between these two formats can sometimes confuse beginners, but the logic of the cube is not the same in both. In Money Game, each game is independent and the monetary or point result of that game matters. In Match Play, players compete to reach a final score, such as being the first player to reach 7 points.
In a match, the match score directly affects the value of decisions. For example, a position that is a Take in Money Game may be a Pass at a particular match score. On the other hand, Automatic Double, Beaver, Raccoon, and the Jacoby Rule are not part of standard Match Play. The WBGF explicitly considers Automatic Doubles, Beavers, and Jacoby to be specific to Money Game.
Does the Crawford Rule Apply to Money Game?
No. The Crawford Rule applies to Match Play. When one player is exactly one point away from winning a match, the next game is the Crawford Game, in which use of the Doubling Cube is prohibited. Money Game does not have such a final match score, so the Crawford Rule has no meaning in it. This is one of the main boundaries between Money Game and Match Play.
What Should You Agree on Before Starting a Money Game?
You do not need to sign a multi-page contract before every game! But a few quick questions can prevent many disagreements.
Before starting, agree on:
What is the value of each Point?
Is Jacoby active?
Are Beavers allowed?
Are Raccoons also allowed?
Are Automatic Doubles used?
Is the number of Automatic Doubles limited?
Are Settlements or agreements to end the game early allowed?
If the game is played in person, what rules apply to cocked dice, illegal moves, and recording the result?
These few points are enough to prevent someone from saying in the middle of the game: “I thought we weren't playing Beaver!”
A Complete Example of a Money Game
Suppose each Point is worth 100,000 tomans.
Agreed rules:
Jacoby = active
Beaver = active
Raccoon = active
Automatic Double = once only
On the opening roll, both players roll the same number.
Automatic Double:
Cube = 2
A little later, Player A doubles:
2 → 4
Player B thinks the Double is a mistake and Beavers:
4 → 8
Player A also Raccoons:
8 → 16
If the game continues with the cube on 16, even a single win becomes worth a substantial amount.
Single win:
16 × 100,000 = 1,600,000 tomans
Gammon:
32 × 100,000 = 3,200,000 tomans
Backgammon:
48 × 100,000 = 4,800,000 tomans
This example clearly shows why agreeing on risk limits and Cube rules before the game is important. Several consecutive decisions can multiply the value of an apparently small game many times over.
Common Mistakes in Money Game Rules
One of the most common mistakes is assuming that Jacoby is a mandatory backgammon rule. It is optional and is specifically used for Money Game. Another mistake is changing cube ownership after a Beaver. In a Beaver, the player who makes the Beaver keeps the cube.
Some players also assume that Raccoon is automatically part of Beaver, whereas Raccoon must also be included in the game's agreement. And perhaps most importantly: do not mix Money Game rules with tournament rules. Jacoby and Beaver are perfectly normal in a Money Game, but they have no place in standard Match Play.
Final Thoughts
Backgammon Money Game is not simply an ordinary game with money added to it. Once the Doubling Cube, Jacoby, Beaver, and Raccoon enter the picture, deciding the value of the game becomes a skill of its own. The key principle is simple: agree on the contractual rules before the game begins.
The value of each Point, Jacoby, Beaver, Raccoon, and Automatic Double should be clear to both players. After that, there is no room for disputes, and the real decisions can be made at the board, exactly where they belong.