BGonline.org Forums

BGO OLM (Online Match) -- Call for participation, please respond if you are interested

Posted By: Jason Lee
Date: Thursday, 28 September 2023, at 7:07 p.m.

A few days ago I made a post with a vague subject line which poorly communicated what I was after, and I hope that is the reason there was only one response (I saw yours, Frank Berger!). I am reposting with a better subject line.

If you are interested, please post a response.

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In response to a suggestion from Timothy Chow, I want to gauge the interest in reviving the BGO OLM (Online Match).

Format in broad strokes: Two teams of roughly equal size play a match at the (approximate) pace of one move per day, no stakes... just for fun. When your team is on the clock, you cast a vote for your preferred play. At the end of a 24 hour period, I tally the votes and move the match along to the next move.

Your votes should be cast in a non-consulting manner, meaning that you should make your posts with a vote WITHOUT seeing what anybody else has voted for. After you have voted, you may read other posts and discuss freely.

My role: I establish the rules, moderate, roll out positions (and post said rollouts), post the positions each day, and settle arguments among the inmates. I will not be on a team. However, I will actively think about the backgammon positions and join in on discussions. I have an extensive resume of running an OLM, both on BGO and with the USBGF.

If this is going to fly, I want to see a minimum participation of 10 people (team sizes at least five) -- I doubt I would be interested in doing this with fewer. By signing up, let us say you are committing to participating at least half the time a vote comes up. Provided you check in a minimum of once every 24 hour period, you will not miss casting a meaningful vote. You can drop out whenever you like, although it is best to do so at the end of the match (barring that, at the end of a game). All skill levels welcome. This will be more interesting when errors get made.

As a matter of backgammon interest, I find the concept of the Hive Mind in backgammon to be fascinating. A group of backgammon players, none of whom might be even close to world class level, can, through their collective ability, play at an incredibly strong level.

JLee