A formula for help making doubling
decisions in pure race situations
in backgammon games.
It enhances the basic pip count by accounting
for elements of checker
distribution.
Each player's Thorp count
is his pip count, plus 2 for each of his checkers still on the board,
minus 1 for each of his
occupied home
board points, plus 1 for each checker on his one-point.
Then the player on roll increases
his count by 10 percent if it is more than 30.
Dr. Thorp advises:
Double any time your count does not exceed the
opponent's by more than 2;
Redouble any time your count does not exceed
opponent's by more than 1;
Accept
the double if your count does not
exceed doubler's by more than 2.
It was devised by Dr.
Edward O. Thorp.
See post by Simon Woodhead. For a comparison with other methods, see
article by Tom
Keith.
Dr. Thorp is the same who
wrote the 1960’s best selling book on Blackjack “Beat the Dealer” made
Blackjack most popular casino game in the U.S.