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BGonline.org Forums
Speed Gammon Stats & Baffle Box
Posted By: Chuck Bower In Response To: Speed Gammon Stats & Baffle Box (Phil Simborg)
Date: Tuesday, 21 May 2013, at 1:53 p.m.
I believe the .5 extra seconds it takes to roll (with a baffle box)...
Under what conditions and what are the details of the experiment (including statsig or sufficient data to calculate this) that came up with this number?
And a question: if a die is thrown off the table, does the clock stop? If so, I think that is wrong, as why should a player who rolls poorly be able to get a break and have more time to think? (Another reason for the baffle box.)
I'm a huge proponent of baffle boxes (as everyone here likely knows) and use one often. Sometimes (particularly when using a dicecup in conjunction with the bb) a die misses the bb and makes it to the floor. Occasionally a die cocks (either at an angle, against a checker or wall) or lands on a checker (current standard rule is to call the latter 'cocked').
It is likely that both these kinds of misfires (averaged over many players) occur less often than without bb's. Again, I'd like to some data.
Does the time spent crawling around on the floor really reward someone with extra thinking time? If that's the case this player must be a hugely efficient thinker and already displays that edge in a game of speedgammon (or even standard BG). Besides, don't both players gain while the clock is stopped?
Some arguments have the potential of damaging the reputation of baffle boxes or lead to deeper contrary attitudes among detractors and decrease the likelihood they will become accepted. I can't say this is one of them, but I find it a bit over-the-top. Meanwhile, punishing players who cock the dice encourages poor shaking and rolling. I can't imagine any (honest) player wants that.
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