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Baffle Box Update

Posted By: Phil Simborg
Date: Saturday, 21 July 2012, at 4:09 a.m.

In Response To: Baffle Box Update (TarHeelFan)

First, with or without a baffle box, if a player throws his dice on the floor, why should he be able to stop the clock (unless there is an extended delay and the dice cannot be found)? Should the player be expected to keep the dice on the table or get the dice into the box?

I suggest the rule not stop the clock UNLESS the die cannot immediately be found. 99.9 percent of the time it won't matter if the clock runs a little, and if you are short on time, then make sure you don't roll like an idiot!

However, that is just what I think the rules should be. Since the current rules allow for stopping the clock, I see no difference when using a baffle box or not.

Yes, it is possible to miss the box and throw the dice on the floor, but that usually happens when a player is not used to using the box, and that means it is at the beginning of the match when he has plenty of time and losing a little time to pick up the dice won't kill him. And if the clock keeps running, he'll be more careful in the future.

If you are using a dice tube, should you stop the clock if you accidentally knock it over, or knock it on the floor? All of these things that are not covered in the rules are open for interpretation and debate, and THEY WILL CAUSE UNNECESSARY CONFLICT when players and/or directors disagree. So why not eliminate the potential for conflict and disagreements by simply setting rules covering these, and dozens of other gray areas not covered in the rules, and putting them in a guide so that we all know what the rules are, or, when they come up, at least we will have a place to look it up and see that the rules are enforced in a uniform manner around the world?

There are many rules I don't like, but at least I know what they are so I can live by them and expect my opponents to as well. What really bothers me is the many rules we don't have and we all have to guess what is right and what is fair to hold ourselves to and to expect from our opponents. We are working on the solution, and I am sorry if I sound "preachy" but this solution is long overdue and has been resisted by the "powers that be" and if the directors and associations and federations won't take tournament backgammon policy and rules and sportsmanship to a higher level, maybe it's time the players do.

Messages In This Thread

• Baffle Box Update
  Phil Simborg -- Thursday, 19 July 2012, at 1:18 p.m.
  • Baffle Box Update
    Art Grater -- Thursday, 19 July 2012, at 8:19 p.m.
    • Baffle Box Update
      BenF -- Friday, 20 July 2012, at 5:10 a.m.
      • Baffle Box Update
        TarHeelFan -- Friday, 20 July 2012, at 11:49 a.m.
        • Baffle Box Update
          Phil Simborg -- Saturday, 21 July 2012, at 4:09 a.m.
          • Baffle Box Update
            TarHeelFan -- Saturday, 21 July 2012, at 10:59 a.m.
            • Baffle Box Update
              Phil Simborg -- Saturday, 21 July 2012, at 11:07 p.m.
    • Baffle Box Update
      Neil Robins -- Friday, 20 July 2012, at 1:48 p.m.
  • Baffle Box Update
    rew -- Thursday, 19 July 2012, at 8:33 p.m.
    • Baffle Box Update
      Justin N. -- Thursday, 19 July 2012, at 11:56 p.m.