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Definition of $ (Slot)

Posted By: Taper_Mike
Date: Wednesday, 28 March 2012, at 1:08 a.m.

In Response To: Definition of $ (Slot) (Nack Ballard)

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I find the current wording to be a little confusing.

You “slot” by moving a checker down, and putting it, or another checker, onto a vacant offensive point. [commas added]

It has bothered me from the very first time I read it. After I stopped, and carefully parsed it a second time, I understood that is was correct. But it required some work. I think the problem is that the first item mentioned is playing down: “You slot by [playing] down...” Certainly, that is true, but it misses the definitive aspect of a slotting play, the fact that you slot.

Contrast this with the definition of splitting. In Nactation, both Split and Reverse split require playing down, but neither definition begins, “You split by playing down...”

By the way, in an interior paragraph, I very much like your wording:

You slot by playing one checker to/within the outer board (or entering, or playing a forced portion of a move), and putting it, or another checker, onto a vacant offensive point. [commas added]

So long as they follow an initial paragraph that emphasizes the slotting aspect of a slotting play, I have no problem with either of your slotting definitions.

I did not understand your first and second objections to my alternative, but I am guessing they can overcome by inserting the phrase “all or part of a roll.” My intention in the original was that this phrase was implied. Slotting rules, rather than a definition of what plays are in the Slot family, establish the relative ranking of 13/5 vis-a-vis 13/11 13/7, and so on.

As to your third objection, I agree. It is easily addressed.

How is this?

You slot by using all or part of a roll to move a checker onto a vacant offensive point. If only part of a roll is used in slotting, the balance must be played down (i.e, to or within the outer board), unless it is played as part of a forced move (e.g, entering from the bar).

I am not sure what wording might be best. I am certainly not saying my proposal is best. I remain dissatisfied, however, with the current wording. The main point of my proposal is that slotting, rather than playing down, should be mentioned first.

Mike

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