BGonline.org Forums

White to the right?

Posted By: Daniel Murphy
Date: Wednesday, 20 August 2008, at 10:40 p.m.

In Response To: White to the right? (Stick)

I think Stick's pegged it -- Dan's chouette pal's recollection of white to the right is a probably a misapplication from chess.

Foster's Complete Hoyle published 1896 (p. 547) states the old custom:

"In setting up the men the inner table is always placed toward the light whether it be a window or the gas."

Two diagrams for the opening setup are shown. In one White moves counterclockwise and bears off to the right (towards the light), and in the other White moves clockwise and bears off to the left (towards the light).

The convention that disagreements on color and direction should be settled by a roll of the dice is also old, if 1930 is early. Elizabeth Clark Boyden's The New Backgammon states:

The old custom to set up the men with the inner tables nearer the light is still followed. But in these days where the direction of the light is of so little importance, I venture to suggest that the player throwing the high die shall be given the privilege of deciding whether he prefers the black or the white men and whether he prefers the men set up so that his inner or home table is at his right or left.

Messages In This Thread

• White to the right?
  Dan Pelton -- Monday, 18 August 2008, at 9:05 a.m.
  • White to the right?
    garyo -- Monday, 18 August 2008, at 11:59 a.m.
  • White to the right?
    jdg -- Monday, 18 August 2008, at 1:34 p.m.
    • White to the right?
      Chuck Bower -- Monday, 18 August 2008, at 4:53 p.m.
      • White to the right?
        Daniel Murphy -- Tuesday, 19 August 2008, at 1:57 a.m.
    • White to the right?
      Dan Pelton -- Monday, 18 August 2008, at 11:46 p.m.
      • White to the right?
        Keene -- Tuesday, 19 August 2008, at 4:29 a.m.
  • White to the right?
    Stick -- Tuesday, 19 August 2008, at 5:31 a.m.
    • White to the right?
      Daniel Murphy -- Wednesday, 20 August 2008, at 10:40 p.m.