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BGonline.org Forums
Slow play at local clubs. It is time for clocks at local play.
Posted By: Barry Silliman In Response To: post crawford cube (bob koca)
Date: Thursday, 14 August 2008, at 12:53 p.m.
Yes, Bob, I'm certain I know who you're referring to.
I've seen several posts on the board over the last several weeks regarding clocks in backgammon. I agree that they should be mandatory at the top two flights at the regional tournaments. I am also of the opinion that they should be strongly encouraged if not mandatory at local one-day tournaments.
I am leaning very strongly towards, starting in 2009, allowing clocks optionally at all of my local tournaments at Tysons. I'd been advised previously by a prominent bg player not to try to implement clocks at the local level, as an Atlanta club tried it without success.
The one difference between ABT rules I might make at the local level is to relax the time a bit; e.g. instead of 2 min. per pt/ 12 sec. move. Maybe 2.5 min/pt 15 sec. move or 2.0 min/pt 15 sec/ move. I'm not looking to see players lose on time but there's really no place for really slow play.
I brought my clock to Tysons last time I was there on July 27 and four of my five opponents agreed to use it at 2.5/pt / 15 sec/move. (Bob you can look at the July 27 brackets online and guess which one refused). Two of my matches were against Joe F. but he also has a clock and played one of his other matches with a clock against some new guy at the club named Ed O'Laughlin. (I might have to check into this guy's history as he's been having some success here). In not a single one of these matches did either player come even close to running out of time, in fact I doubt if either player even used half the time, so I think even a "newbie" shouldn't be intimidated by these settings.
I think locally we may lose as many players to 7:00 pm tourneys lasting till 1 am or 12:30 pm Sunday tourneys lasting until 7 pm as we'd scare away newbies with time controls, especially if they're a little bit more generous than ABT settings.
The only reason I'm not changing my club policy now is that I don't want to make a switch mid-year but I am bringing my clock now to every tournament and I will offer to play all my matches - even you, Bob- clocked.
For 2009 I will make it optional. That way, if you don't want to bother with the $40 expense -what's that in Euros, Bob? :-) - for the clock you don't have to, but you must use it if your opponent has one. I figure over time this will encourage anyone even semi-serious about the game to get their own clock.
What do y'all think about a getting clocks more involved in local play? I know even the tiniest local chess tourney would have all matches clocked. Backgammon should be the same.
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