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BGonline.org Forums
Meyer Dice Tube VIDEO, Randomness & Cheating
Posted By: Brett Meyer
Date: Sunday, 12 December 2010, at 2:24 a.m.
There has been a multitude of comments and concerns expressed regarding the use of the Meyer Dice Tube for Backgammon. One concern was whether the tube indeed produces random results. I think most everyone is convinced at this point that randomness is achieved. Several independent randomness studies have been conducted, verifying the achievement of randomness. I believe that Mr. Bob Koca also conducted his own study and agreed that the tube produces random results (I'm sure he'll correct me if I'm wrong). If you want to see some actual data, go to my site (www.BrettMeyer.com) and click on the "Statistical Data" tab. These are the raw data from a 3000-flips trial that my wife and I conducted several years ago using a tube with NO rods. If someone would like to actually "crunch" the data and report how the good (or bad) the results are statistically, that would be greatly appreciated. I have not processed the data, but I can say just by looking at the results that the numbers seem to be fairly tight.
One of the other major advantages of the tube is that it eliminates the possibility of dice-cheating. However, some Backgammon players are concerned that the potential of cheating using the tube still exists. The most popular concern involves a player flipping the tube, allowing the dice to settle in the bottom while the tube is still in the air, and then "slam" the tube onto the table (causing the dice to bounce and rotate, changing the outcome) if the player decided the original outcome was unfavorable, or gently setting the tube onto table so that the dice remain as-is if the original outcome was favorable.
This method of cheating would be a completely legitimate concern if the rules governing the use of the tube allowed such actions. As with any method of rolling dice, there are rules involved. If playing craps in a casino, you must reach down with only one hand and pick up the two dice. You may not transfer the dice to your other hand. You may not use both hands to shake the dice. The hand holding the dice must remain over the table so that it never leaves the sight of the box-man. You must toss the dice to the opposite end of the table from where you are standing. Both dice must contact the far wall of the table (the rubber-spiked randomizing pad). If either die does not contact the far wall, the box-man can deem the roll invalid by calling a "short" roll. Interestingly, calling a "short" roll is solely at the discretion of the box-man (i.e., if the "short" roll is favorable for the house, he can let the roll stand as valid). If the established rules are violated, a player may be issued a verbal warning from the box-man (or the pit boss), or the player may be banned from playing craps in their casino, or may even be banned from their casino (86'd).
Likewise, rules are in place regarding rolling dice using dice cups in Backgammon. I won't try to list all the rules, as most Backgammon players are thoroughly familiar with what is allowed and what is not allowed. Let's assume that your opponent is on roll. He lifts his cup, does not shake it at all, lowers the cup toward the board, slowly tilts the cup allowing the lip to contact the playing surface, and the dice slowly roll out of the cup, settling a couple of inches from the cup, having not contacted anything before settling. I think we can all agree that this was not a proper roll. This method clearly violated several established rules governing the use of dice cups.
Fortunately, there are very few (and simple) rules governing flipping the tube. As stated on my site (and on the document included with every Meyer Dice Tube): "The intent is that the action of flipping the tube be part of the physical motion of setting the tube on the table. Additionally, flipping the tube must be a quick and deliberate action, taking no longer than 1 second to complete. You are NOT allowed to flip the tube slowly."
The "1-second" rule is key, and is very easy to obey. Basically, the flip should be completed (tube resting firmly on the table) within one second of grabbing the tube to begin the flip. It's that simple! Initially, it may seem that the flip can not be accomplished within 1 second, but it can...and it's quite easy. You don't need some sophisticated timing device to determine whether or not you're complying with the "1-second" rule. We're all familiar with how to count off seconds fairly accurately (ONE Mississippi TWO...or ONE One-Thousand TWO). When you grab the tube for the flip, say "ONE Mississippi TWO". By the time you say "TWO", the flip is complete and you are moving your hand off the tube.
Simply stated, the "1-second" rule completely eliminates any possibility of dice cheating by ensuring that the flip is completed before the dice even reach the bottom of the tube.
So, what if your opponent is clearly violating the "1-second" rule? What do you do? Your response should be exactly the same as your response in the case of the improper roll using a dice cup (described above). It's exactly the same thing...a violation of established rules.
To clearly illustrate how this rule eliminates cheating, and to demonstrate the proper method of flipping the tube, I hired a videographer from a local TV news station to record several flips of the tube using the 1-second rule. He used a broadcast-quality ($13,000) camera, recording at 500 frames per second, so the video could be played in super-slow-motion. THE VIDEO CAN BE FOUND ON MY SITE BY CLICKING ON THE VIDEO TAB, OR BY GOING DIRECTLY TO YOUTUBE AT THE FOLLOWING URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uY23So2WbCg
While watching the video, take note of the technique used to flip the tube. The tube is grabbed near its center with the hand inverted. The tube is lifted about 1" to 3" off the table as the hand quickly rotates to its natural position. The centrifugal force created by the quick rotation of the tube keeps the dice in the end of the tube during the flip. As the flip is being completed, the hand is lowering so that it gently replaces the tube onto the table.
The video contains 5 segments which are played in super-slow-motion so the viewer can see what is happening as the dice tumble down the tube.
Segment 1 shows the first flip. Notice that neither die reaches the bottom before the flip is completed. Although 1 die reaches the bottom before the hand releases the tube, neither die has settled (still bouncing/rotating after the hand is removed).
Segment 2 shows the 2nd flip which is completed before either die is even half way down the tube, and the hand has released the tube before either die reaches the bottom.
Segment 3 is similar to flip #2 (notice how much dice action/rotation occurs after the hand is removed, and how high the dice bounce off the tube's bottom surface).
Segment 4 is the same flip in Segment 3, but the camera follows the dice down the tube.
Segment 5 is another flip where the camera follows the dice down the tube.
Hopefully, after watching the video, it will become clear that any ability to control the outcome of the dice using the Meyer Dice Tube is precluded by obeying the 1-second rule.
Brett Meyer
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