[ View Thread ] [ Post Response ] [ Return to Index ] [ Read Prev Msg ] [ Read Next Msg ]

BGonline.org Forums

illegally borne off checker rule

Posted By: Rich Munitz
Date: Saturday, 22 August 2009, at 12:35 a.m.

In Response To: illegally borne off checker rule (TarHeelFan)

"I'm not convinced that a player who bears off while still having checkers outside his home board can still be gammoned."

Since by definition a player must have all checkers in the home board in order to bear off a checker, it cannot be a borne off checker in this case any more than a player who starts the game with fewer than 15 checkers and whose opponent doesn't correct it has gotten off the gammon.

Regardless, the intent of the rule governing illegal removal was specifically to remove this ambiguity by stating that any checker removed in a non-bear-off situation is out of play but the possibility of gammon still remains.

The trigger for this clarification was a situation that occurred during the Consolation semis in Michigan in 2007 where I was playing Neil and unintentionally removed his checker from the board rather than placing it on the bar in an essentially gammon-gin position. Neil pointed out the impropriety and raised the possibility that he could argue he was off the gammon, but as the great sportsman that he is, simply shook my hand and said nice match. Much discussion ensued afterwards. While I believe that the rules also clearly state that only the player can bear off their own checker, and that I therefore could not have borne off my opponents checker, the rule change eliminates the debate.

In the posted position, the player on roll is in fact eligible to bear off checkers and it was unquestionably his intent to bear off the checker, but I see no ambiguity in the rule - the checker was removed from play illegally and therefore not borne off for purposes of gammon avoidance. Of course if condoned, the player only has to bear off 14 checkers, and the opponent had better inform he player of the situation before continuing and call the director if there is any disagreement from the player. I cannot imagine any director ruling 30 moves later that the player with one checker off who doesn't remember making an illegal play is gammoned. It really sucks to be the player making the illegal play, but no more so than if he had simply played his checker off the 6-point onto the bar. Another reason to play "legal moves".

Messages In This Thread

 

Post Response
Your Name:
Your E-Mail Address:
Subject:
Message:

If necessary, enter your password below:

Password:
 

 

[ View Thread ] [ Post Response ] [ Return to Index ] [ Read Prev Msg ] [ Read Next Msg ]

BGonline.org Forums is maintained by Stick with WebBBS 5.12.