| |
BGonline.org Forums
Clocks at the Vegas tourney?
Posted By: Rich Munitz In Response To: Clocks at the Vegas tourney? (Jason Lee)
Date: Monday, 23 February 2009, at 4:50 p.m.
FWIW, I sent the following email to Howard Markowitz. I think directors who take steps forward with regard to clocks - even small steps should get positive feedback from the players, and I wanted to do my part.
Howard, I saw the April tournament description on the nvbg.com site after seeing a posting referencing it on the bgonline.org forum.
I wanted to give you some positive feedback that I am happy to see that some of the events, particularly the doubles are being clocked. It is a start.
I was also pleased to see the language that you chose regarding clocks in the Super Jackpot – that it is a clocked event, but may be played without a clock if both players agree. This is good because there is the presumption of a clock and a player not wishing the clock must then be the “bad guy” and try to get his opponent to agree to play without a clock, rather than the other player being the bad guy by “insisting”.
I just got back from Pittsburgh. While not giving official preference to clocks in any event, it was very clock friendly. It got a lot of talk and encouragement by the director, the auctioneer and Neil at the ABT presentation. There were lots of matches played voluntarily on clocks, and almost all players asked to play with a clock agreed. The director was also aggressive in clocking matches that were bottlenecks, regardless of whether the players were “slow”. I strongly encourage this. Nobody to my knowledge questioned this. I sense that people are seeing that clocks are here and part of the game rather than a weapon pulled out as a punishment. And there are a ton of players with clocks now so they are always available if needed.
I spent a few minutes at the beginning of the event to teach a novice how to use a clock. He actually purchased a clock from Carol and at the end of the event he approached me to thank me and tell me how much he felt that playing with a clock had improved the playing experience, and how he had come to see that some problems he actually encountered during the tournament (in this case an illegal play followed by lifted dice followed by dispute on what the roll was) would not happen with a clock. This shows me that clocks can and will be embraced by all players, not just the Open players.
I recommend that you add a statement to your web page something like the following: “Voluntary usage of clocks in all events is strongly encouraged.”
Anyway, kudos again for showing some leadership in helping to do what is needed to improve this game and the tournament experience. Clock friendliness will weigh heavily in my decision on which future tournaments to attend. I’d like to see another step forward for the November Las Vegas tournament.
See you in April.
Richard Munitz
| |
BGonline.org Forums is maintained by Stick with WebBBS 5.12.