A rule, sometimes used in money play and Chouettes and never in match play. When automatic doubles are in effect, if the first roll (where each player rolls one dies) is a double, the cube is turned one level. Sometimes there can be a limit of, say, one or two doubles. This rule has no effect except to increase the stakes at random, which adds to the excitement of gambling for some players. Backgame A game where you hold two (or sometimes three) points in your opponent's board, and he has a lead in the race. You hope to make points in your board and eventually your back checkers make some of his rolls awkward to play, so you hit him one or more times and you have already made it hard for him to come back in. Backgames can often be won even though you are far behind in the race, but they also lead to many gammons and even backgammons when they are lost. (See also " Holding Game.")