newbie questions about backgammon tourneys
Edward D. Collins
I've played in dozens and dozens of chess tournaments in the past five
years, but I have yet to play in a single backgammon tourney. My
longtime interest in backgammon has recently been renewed and I'd
definitely like to play in one some day. I have a couple of what are
probably considered "newbie" questions:
1) Does everyone record their moves like we do in chess tourneys? Even
when I was a kid I started recording my moves in my chess games, even
when I was playing offhand chess games. Any yet I don't think (heck,
I'm SURE of it) that I've EVER recorded one of my backgammon games. It
seems as if it would take considerably longer (and more work) to record
a backgammon game than to record a chess game. True?
2) Does one use a "chess clock" when playing in backgammon tourneys? In
chess tourneys we're given x amount of minutes to make x amount of
moves. I'm curious if there is any kind of a time limit when playing
backgammon in local tourneys.
3) How often do arguments arise when playing? For example, when playing
offhand games, every now and then I misread the dice. I'll make a move
as if the dice were 6-3 when in reality they were 6-4. If I make my
move and then pick up the dice before my opponent can stop me, it's hard
to prove, one way or the other, that I did indeed roll a 6-4. I'm
curious how often disputes arise in backgammon games. (Chess disputes
are very rare.)
4) How many matches does does a typical tournament consist of and how
long do they last? By comparison, a typical weekend chess tourney, held
over three days, may consist of just 5 games. (One on Friday night, two
games on Saturday and two on Sunday.) Larger tourneys, held over
holiday weekends, usually are a little bit longer. Each game usually
lasts between three and five hours although they can also be shorter or
longer, depending upon the game and the players.)
5) After playing in tournaments, is one given a rating similar to our
chess ratings? If so, who is the governing body that regulates and
oversees these ratings? (I've never heard of anything called the United
States Backgammon Federation but us chess players have the USCF.)
Thanks in advance to all who answer.
Best regards,
|'-''-'| ___ __ _
|______| (_ _/ _ _ _/ / ) / ) //' _
|====| /__(/((/(// (/ /(_/. (__()((//)_)
| |
| | ecol...@inficad.com
|____|
|====| Edward D. Collins proudly presents...
/======\ his very own homepage!
(________) http://www.inficad.com/~ecollins
Donald Kahn
<ecol...@inficad.com> wrote:
>Greetings,
>
>I've played in dozens and dozens of chess tournaments in the past five
>years, but I have yet to play in a single backgammon tourney. My
>longtime interest in backgammon has recently been renewed and I'd
>definitely like to play in one some day. I have a couple of what are
>probably considered "newbie" questions:
>
>
>1) Does everyone record their moves like we do in chess tourneys? Even
>when I was a kid I started recording my moves in my chess games, even
>when I was playing offhand chess games. Any yet I don't think (heck,
>I'm SURE of it) that I've EVER recorded one of my backgammon games. It
>seems as if it would take considerably longer (and more work) to record
>a backgammon game than to record a chess game. True?
Donald Kahn answers:
I don't think it would take very much longer even if the players
recorded, but it is very seldom done, except in the semifinals and
finals of important tournaments, and then it is done by an observer,
so that it does not delay the game at all.
>
>
>2) Does one use a "chess clock" when playing in backgammon tourneys? In
>chess tourneys we're given x amount of minutes to make x amount of
>moves. I'm curious if there is any kind of a time limit when playing
>backgammon in local tourneys.
>
A few important tournaments have adopted the use of the chess clock.
Time is alloted depending on the "target" score to be reached.
>3) How often do arguments arise when playing? For example, when playing
>offhand games, every now and then I misread the dice. I'll make a move
>as if the dice were 6-3 when in reality they were 6-4. If I make my
>move and then pick up the dice before my opponent can stop me, it's hard
>to prove, one way or the other, that I did indeed roll a 6-4. I'm
>curious how often disputes arise in backgammon games. (Chess disputes
>are very rare.)
Unless dealing with an out-and-out cheat, which are now rare, one
hardly ever sees a disputed move.
>4) How many matches does does a typical tournament consist of and how
>long do they last? By comparison, a typical weekend chess tourney, held
>over three days, may consist of just 5 games. (One on Friday night, two
>games on Saturday and two on Sunday.) Larger tourneys, held over
>holiday weekends, usually are a little bit longer. Each game usually
>lasts between three and five hours although they can also be shorter or
>longer, depending upon the game and the players.)
>
The number of matches to be played depends of course on the number of
entrants. Very typical in a good tourament is 6 matches in the "main
event", which therefore accommodates up to 64 players. Those
eliminated play in a consolation event. The best application of the
latter is the "progressive" consolation, where players are placed in
the consolation draw with a degree of advancement depanding on how
many rounds they won in the main event.
A six round event in a 3-day format will usually have 2 rounds the
first day, usually 15 or 17 points.
On the second day play the 3rd and 4th rounds of the main event, 19
and or 21 points, and start the consolation. Play should start early
and continue until they are only four players left in both the main
and the conso.
On the third day the semis and finals of these are played, 23 or 25 in
the main event, 15 or 17 in the conso. Everybody else plays in a 5
point series "last chance." Money prizes are usually given to four
each from the main and conso, and two in the last chance.
>5) After playing in tournaments, is one given a rating similar to our
>chess ratings? If so, who is the governing body that regulates and
>oversees these ratings? (I've never heard of anything called the United
>States Backgammon Federation but us chess players have the USCF.)
>
There is no governing body that assigns ratings. Kent Goulding kept a
ratings book, but sadly his data base was destroyed.
MLeifer
Edward,
Answers to newbies' questions about bg tourneys are at
http://www.got.net/people/beth/virtualtour.html
Mel Leifer
Gammon Links
http://www.chicagopoint.com/links.html
Art Grater
>when I was a kid I started recording my moves in my chess games, even
>when I was playing offhand chess games. Any yet I don't think (heck,
>I'm SURE of it) that I've EVER recorded one of my backgammon games. It
>seems as if it would take considerably longer (and more work) to record
>a backgammon game than to record a chess game. True?
A few players record their most or all of their matches. This is done either
by a fellow player (sometimes by hire, sometimes by acquaintance) or by
videotape. The match can then run through computer analysis. Note: setup can
be tricky, in part because dice can be hard to see on, say, standard VHS
tape. Or on any resolution if you film at an angle and the dice are hiding
in a corner.
Recording is still very much the exception, though at Las Vegas this last
week, I had several players ask me about my recording gear.
>2) Does one use a "chess clock" when playing in backgammon tourneys? In
>chess tourneys we're given x amount of minutes to make x amount of
>moves. I'm curious if there is any kind of a time limit when playing
>backgammon in local tourneys.
>
Used on occasion when a particular competitor is excrutiatingly slow (this
is rare) or when a tournament is running behind. November's Backgammon poll
will address this question (the poll is available at
http://www.back-gammon.com ).
>3) How often do arguments arise when playing? For example, when playing
>offhand games, every now and then I misread the dice. I'll make a move
>as if the dice were 6-3 when in reality they were 6-4. If I make my
>move and then pick up the dice before my opponent can stop me, it's hard
>to prove, one way or the other, that I did indeed roll a 6-4. I'm
>curious how often disputes arise in backgammon games. (Chess disputes
>are very rare.)
With some frequency, though it is almost always resolved quickly. For
example, the offended party will point it out and the offending player will
either agree quickly on some reflection (usually it's a misplay rather than
a misread) or a kibbitzer will be called upon (only when both parties agree
to third-party commentary.) It's not a big problem, since there are often
observers when equity is large. And then there's the occasional
controversies when weird situations or weirder behavior occur.
Some of the best commentary on fairness in tournaments is from the
backgammon writer Danny Kleinman.
Art Grater
Michael Crane
If you reside in the UK then check out the Biba (British isles BG
Association) web site at:
http://www.cottagewebs.co.uk/biba/
Michael Crane - Biba Director