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BGonline.org Forums
Tourney resistance to computer improvements
Posted By: Stanley E. Richards In Response To: gnubg and pipcounting (Bob Koca)
Date: Saturday, 31 May 2008, at 8:52 p.m.
Bob Koca's contention that board numbering and pip counting would be an illegitimate aid may be the opinion of many tourney backgammon players. His desire to remove these aids as he practices on GNU is logical for tourney players. Yet, these computer improvements could benefit backgammon tournaments. Speed is fun. Slow play is not so much fun. Tourney matches would be far less time consuming if played with board numbering, pip counting, and a computer timer. I can envision in the future where most tournaments would be played with two players facing each other. Each player is before his laptop computer and is using a backgammon server such as TrueMoneygames or Play65 to conduct their match. The personal contact and collegial atmosphere of the backgammon tournament would continue. Yet, the play would be more enjoyable due to a crisper, faster flowing game.
For instance, I watched Stick win a doubles tourney in Chicago a few months ago. A difficult decision occurred which could greatly affect the outcome of the match. Please excuse me, but I forgot Stick’s partner’s name. The two discussed the option and made a move. Stick decided to return all the pieces to their original position. His partner and he began to count the pips. Afterwards, they moved the pieces again. The time required for this move would be greatly reduced with computer play. Pip counting ability is truly inferior to the skills required for proper checker and cube play. Backgammon is not harmed or lessened by removing this bean counting exercise.
I used Stick as an example because he plays quickly and very well. Thus, nobody could take this as an insult of any particular player. Yet, real boards without board numbering, pip count, and computer timers causes significantly slower play even for brisk players.
I also watched players engage in an open match with timers. They spent much time punching their clocks and moving their checkers. Even this type of real board play is considerably slower than computer play.
The first paragraph stated that computer backgammon presented many improvements. I recognize that this is my personal opinion. I suspect that many tournament backgammon players may disagree with me. I would not be insulted or surprised if most tournament backgammon players disagree. However, I am positive that the number of matches that could be played would increase dramatically with backgammon tournaments using computers. Perhaps, the match activity could double or more. I’m sure 64 slot tournaments could increase to 128 slots. At this time, backgammon tournament directors need not worry about this. The number of participants at backgammon tournaments can be handled with real board play. But if we are lucky, if backgammon enjoys a huge surge in popularity, and if backgammon tournaments become much more popular, tournament directors may have to consider computer run matches.
Personally, I hope that this happens. I believe backgammon should be so popular that three to four times as many people attend tournaments.
Stanley
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