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BGonline.org Forums
Clock settings - sound and alarm?
Posted By: Chuck Bower In Response To: Clock settings - sound and alarm? (Henrik Bukkjaer)
Date: Saturday, 1 December 2012, at 9:27 p.m.
1. Do you know if any rules allow sounds or dictate muteness? What do you prefer yourselves? I'm thinking about both the alarm that warns a player 5 or 10 seconds before he runs out of time (depending on clock manufacturer). And on the actual End of time event (clock displays 0:00, a "flag", or starts blinking or beeping)? In the (hopefully rare) occasion that neither player notices that the clock has expired before BOTH clocks show zero, then (short of the standard director's discretions of querying spectators) I don't see what else you can do but put a small amount of time back on the reserve times (e.g. 30 s.) and requiring the players to finish under those confining conditions.
2. If a player (A) runs out of time, opponent doesn't see this, and the player (A) then either wins the match, or comes to a gin position, who would you then rule as the winner? If YOU run out of time, and your opponent doesn't notice this, do you then stop the clock and extend your handshake? (backgammon gentleman-ship vs. classic chess clock rules adoption).
(I've numbered and concatenated your questions, but otherwise repeat them verbatim. Here are my personal feelings.)
1. I'm not aware of a written rule explicitly for or against a warning sound or flash. I did discuss this with Bill Davis (informally) at a weekend tournament both of us attended. I won't tell you what he said because I'm not sure I even remember it correctly.
IMO, both an indicator that time is running short and an indicator that time has expired are positive aspects of standard clocked play. (I'm less opinionated regarding "speed backgammon" as that's not my cup-of-tea and I've never played it. Maybe there are different reasons for/against these aspects in that form of competition.) The purpose of standard clocked play is to see that an event moves along at a reasonable pace for all involved. The purpose is NOT to add an extra dimension of skill or awareness. I'm sure there are players out there who enjoy winning a match on time but I've never heard anyone say that -- just the opposite, in fact. Still, the reason for standard clock usage is a good one and the resulting forfeiture if a player fails to manage his/her time is, from what I've seen, a necessary result when that occurs. A warning that time is short doesn't defeat the purpose of the clock being used and is applicable (equitably) to both players. If it's merely a courtesy, that's fine with me. I have great respect for courtesy and people who practice it.
It follows that an indicator (I prefer the flashing light method) that a player's time has expired (and thus the match is over) is a plus. The players agreed (whether gleefully or otherwise) to the conditions of contest. One of those conditions -- the first player running out of time before the match goal score is reached loses -- is part of that agreement.
2. As far as whether or not a player should call a forfeit against himself, I just gave the reasoning for that. Players agreed (explicitly or implicitly) that the expiration of the clock ends the contest. What changed in the meantime?
Regarding chess or other competitions, they have their reasons for allowing (if they in fact do so) play to continue until the offended player notices that time has expired. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt that those reasons are well founded in their own rules and ethics. That doesn't mean they have to fit mine when it comes to backgammon.
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