| |
BGonline.org Forums
Variants/answers
Posted By: Phil Simborg In Response To: Variants (Martin)
Date: Thursday, 9 June 2016, at 9:12 p.m.
All good questions, and the answer to all of them depends on the written rules and in some cases, how the TD interprets rules. I will answer what I personally think should be the answer if the rules were what I think they should be, and then I will try to tell you what the answer would be under most current rules.
A) Player A has a checker on the bar and rolls 66. Player B has a five point board with only the 6 point open. Player A mistakenly thinks that he cannot play and hits the clock. Player B does not notice the mistake (or pretends not to notice) and carries on playing. A spectator informs the TD, who arrives at the board two moves later.
A. Answer: The rule SHOULD BE that the guy who didn't notice that he could come in and screwed up should simply lose his turn, and it doesn't matter who was watching. Under the current rules, if you play Legal moves, both players are supposed to point out such errors. If you play legal moves and this happens, and a spectator informs the TD, the TD should confront both players and ask if indeed what the spectator saw happened. IF they agree it did, then the spectator should ask the other player if he noticed. If the player answers honestly that he did, then the TD should remind him of his responsibilities, roll the game back to that point, and give the player his 66 play. If the other play said he didn't notice, the TD should say that while he doesn't question his honesty, if he continues to "not notice" things he is supposed to notice, and only happens to notice when it is to his advantage, he is violating the intent of the rules and is demonstrating poor sportsmanship and could be penalized. At the same time the TD should tell the other player that he should be more careful, as opponents are not always diligent or honest about helping their opponents.
While this is not how most of us think the game should be played, it is what must be said and done to be consistent with the intent of playing Legal Moves.
Now, let's address that point about a spectator calling the director. According to all the current rules I am aware of, spectators not only can, but should call the director whenever they see something going on they believe is against the rules or questionable in any way. In fact, I believe it is everyone's obligation to do this. If I see someone cheating someone, or breaking rules, or abusing his opponent, I would be remiss not to let the director know, for the good of the game and the protection of the players in the room, not just his current opponent. Neither Michel Lamote or anyone else who objected to the spectator has a valid argument in my opinion. Further, if you see two players playing a match to 7 instead of 9, even if they both agree, that is against the rules. The players do not have the right to conspire to change the rules without permission. A spectator has the responsibility to inform the director and allow the director to handle it.
B) Player A still has 10 seconds on his clock. After making a fairly obvious play, he sits back and acts as if he finished his turn, but forgets to hit his clock. Player B does absolutely nothing. 10 seconds later, Player A's time has run out and Player B claims victory. Player A calls for the TD.
B Answer: No matter what the rules, if the player times out on his play, he looses. How am I supposed to know if the guy is still thinking about changing his move or has truly finished his play. Anyone who doesn't hit the clock when his turn is over should be penalized in any reasonable rules.
C) Player A forgets to hit his clock several times while Player B is on the bar against a closed board, and Player A loses on time. When questioned by the TD, Player B says he was not aware that it was a legal moves tournament. The printed (american) rules were not to be seen in the tournament room.
C. Answer: Not being aware of the rules is no more an excuse than not knowing the speed limit, or not knowing they don't allow murder in this town. You are responsible to know the rules and if you violate them, you pay the price. Every time he continued playing and didn't hit the clock and then rolled and move again an illegal move was made and BOTH players are supposed to stop that from happening when you play legal moves. Now, if it was a non-legal move tournament, the player who timed out is SOL. D) Player A forgets to hit his clock several times while Player B is on the bar against a closed board, and Player A loses on time. Player A accepts the loss and congratulates his opponent. A spectator reports the facts to the TD, but when the TD arrives, Player B has already started his next round against an opponent who had already been waiting for him.
D. Answer: I believe, again, that the spectator has acted appropriately by calling the director. As for the ruling, it depends on whether or not you are playing legal moves, whether the other player admits that he saw illegal moves were being played (and whether his statement is "plausable" give the situation and the reputation of the player), and then, it is the TD's call.
The fact that the next round has started might well be an issue as rolling back the clock could hold up a lot of people in a swiss event or an event where timing is bad. Since both players did things wrong and the offender conceeded and the next match started I would probably rule that the match had ended and warn both players that further intentional or accidental non-compliance with rules would result in penalty points, at the very least, and possible ejection from the tournament. Again, here there is leeway for the TD to decide what is "fairest" to all the players and the game.
| |
BGonline.org Forums is maintained by Stick with WebBBS 5.12.