A Change of "Pace"

[LuvChild]

I know there are a lot of backgammon players who also play poker. This post on Backgammon Strategy relates some of what I've learned in Poker Theory, as well as general game theory, and was hoping to get some outside opinions on the matter.

In any game where one player has a significant skill advantage over another (Backgammon, Poker, even sports such as Basketball) the generally assumed truth is that the longer something is given a chance to play out, the more likely it is that the better player/ team will succeed.

To counteract this, I have seen countless efforts to change the pace of the game, making the variances that come with smaller samplings have more of an impact on the final outcome. This is why bad teams will "slow down" play- fewer posessions by each team gives them a better chance to win in theory. It's why poor poker players push 'all-in" when heads up rather than see flops- less skill is involved when there are fewer hands played- i.e.- you may only have to win one hand to win the tournament.

So finally to my question: When a player feels/ knows they are at a significant disadvantage in a match is there a "break(even) point' where it makes sense for the poorer player to simply offer the cube after their opening roll in every game of the match, right from the start? Thereby effectively "shortening" the match. FIBS ratings even recogonize this, making the results of shorter matches less impactful on changes in a player's rating; understanding that in a 1 or 3 point match the poorer player will win more often that they would, on average, in a 9-point match.

Outside of the obvious "ethical" merits of such play... any thoughts?

[Simborg]

There is no question that the shorter the match, the better chance the weaker player has. Relating to backgammon, books have been written on the subject of how the better players should take advantage of the poorer player, and visa versa. It is certainly correct that the poorer player actually increases his odds by gambling more with the cube...taking a cube or giving a cube that would be a wrong take or give against an equal or worse players.

The problem is, most of the time, it is wrong. Even with the difference in skill, when you give a cube you should not give or take a cube you should not take, even considering the difference in skill, you are giving your opponent even more of an advantage.

It actually takes a great deal of skill to know when to make this gambit, and few people have that skill.