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Allaying concerns about dice hacking.

Posted By: phil simborg
Date: Sunday, 3 April 2016, at 4:22 p.m.

In Response To: Allaying concerns about dice hacking. (mamabear)

Mary, I always seem to find analogies between backgammon and life, and that is one of the reasons I find backgammon such a wonderful game for children and for all of us. We can apply so much of what we learn about risk and reward and maximizing your chances for success in life by using the same reasoning we use over the board.

In your example, Mary, it is true that there is a possibility that someone might find a way to cheat and hack the program and affect the rolls using electronic dice. And that would seem like a reason to discount using electronic dice.

To me, this is the same thing as looking at one candidate play and ruling it out because of the potential downside. And if that is all you look at, then you should not make that play.

However, there is also an upside to that play...some benefits that might well be worth the risk of the downside. So that must also be considered.

But what also must be considered is the upside and downside of alternative players. And in this case, while there is an opportunity to cheat with electronic dice, there is also the possibility of cheating with real dice....I am sure I don't have to tell you the many ways you can cheat with real dice.

In fact, as of today, the possibility that someone will cheat with real dice is far greater than the possibility of a backgammon player being able to cheat electronic dice. But even if they are equal, then that does not negate the reason to use electronic dice. A cheater will find a way to cheat no matter what you use, and we simply need to a) assume most people don't cheat; b) watch diligently to see signs of possible cheating and take action when we see it; and c) try to find ways to minimize the chance of someone cheating.

Or as my grandpappy used to say, "Trust everyone but cut the cards."

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