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ruling in Madison

Posted By: Rich Munitz
Date: Monday, 14 September 2009, at 1:21 p.m.

In Response To: ruling in Madison (Gregg Cattanach)

Legal play is already codified. It is called the "Rules of Backgammon".

All people are suggesting is that those rules be followed ALWAYS. That the provision that specifically says that it is ok to allow an illegal play to stand be REMOVED. That the default if anyone notices an illegal play should be to correct it, not to allow it to stand. Whether or not someone can be forced to follow the rules is not relevant. Good sportsmanship is not enforceable. It doesn't mean it should not be expected, however the rules are written.

I am not saying at all that anyone who currently allows illegal plays to stand is not a good sportsman. They are acting within their right - today. But I am of the opinion that the dice rolls and the choices you make with them should govern the outcome of backgammon. Not someone's accidentally misreading the dice or accidentally putting their own checker on the bar. Making an illegal play is not a bad backgammon decision any more than someone that gets a flat tire running over a nail was driving poorly. It is just stuff that happens without intent, and it is a shame to see such an accident change the outcome.

If it were no longer allowed to condone an illegal play, and I observed a player that repeatedly managed to only spot illegal plays when it were not in their favor, I would consider them to be cheating the same way as if someone made a habit of making illegal plays only in their own favor. I would make no such assessment for an isolated failure to observe an illegal play any more than I would for someone making an illegal play. It is only the one-sided habit that is a problem.

I would be in favor of allowing anyone observing the game to point out an illegal play. Those people who attempt to cheat by making illegal plays in their own favor would lose much of their illicit edge if dozens of eyes are potentially watching their moves.

Messages In This Thread

• ruling in Madison
  Chuck Bower -- Tuesday, 8 September 2009, at 1:37 a.m.
  • ruling in Madison
    Daniel Murphy -- Tuesday, 8 September 2009, at 2:02 a.m.
    • ruling in Madison
      Bob Koca -- Tuesday, 8 September 2009, at 2:33 a.m.
      • ruling in Madison
        Phil Simborg -- Tuesday, 8 September 2009, at 3:01 a.m.
        • ruling in Madison
          Bob Koca -- Tuesday, 8 September 2009, at 3:34 a.m.
          • ruling in Madison
            Jason Lee -- Tuesday, 8 September 2009, at 4:20 a.m.
            • ruling in Madison
              mamabear -- Thursday, 10 September 2009, at 6:31 p.m.
              • ruling in Madison
                Chuck Bower -- Friday, 11 September 2009, at 4:05 p.m.
      • ruling in Madison
        Daniel Murphy -- Tuesday, 8 September 2009, at 3:48 a.m.
        • ruling in Madison
          Bob Koca -- Tuesday, 8 September 2009, at 4:20 a.m.
          • ruling in Madison
            Daniel Murphy -- Tuesday, 8 September 2009, at 5:14 a.m.
  • ruling in Madison
    Gregg Cattanach -- Tuesday, 8 September 2009, at 2:04 a.m.
    • ruling in Madison
      neilkaz -- Tuesday, 8 September 2009, at 3:08 a.m.
      • ruling in Madison
        Bob Koca -- Tuesday, 8 September 2009, at 3:30 a.m.
        • ruling in Madison
          Stick -- Tuesday, 8 September 2009, at 11:21 a.m.
    • ruling in Madison
      Rich Munitz -- Tuesday, 8 September 2009, at 5:00 a.m.
  • ruling in Madison
    Chiva Tafazzoli -- Tuesday, 8 September 2009, at 6:11 a.m.
  • ruling in Madison
    Stick -- Tuesday, 8 September 2009, at 11:25 a.m.
    • ruling in Madison
      Coolrey -- Tuesday, 8 September 2009, at 3:22 p.m.
      • ruling in Madison
        Stick -- Tuesday, 8 September 2009, at 3:51 p.m.
        • ruling in Madison
          Joe Russell -- Wednesday, 9 September 2009, at 11:31 a.m.
      • ruling in Madison
        Phil Simborg -- Thursday, 10 September 2009, at 4:21 a.m.
        • ruling in Madison
          Gregg Cattanach -- Thursday, 10 September 2009, at 12:54 p.m.
          • ruling in Madison
            Phil Simborg -- Thursday, 10 September 2009, at 2:18 p.m.
            • ruling in Madison
              Jason Lee -- Thursday, 10 September 2009, at 2:53 p.m.
              • ruling in Madison
                Phil Simborg -- Friday, 11 September 2009, at 3:55 a.m.
            • ruling in Madison
              Gregg Cattanach -- Thursday, 10 September 2009, at 4:04 p.m.
              • ruling in Madison
                Chuck Bower -- Thursday, 10 September 2009, at 4:18 p.m.
                • ruling in Madison
                  Gregg Cattanach -- Thursday, 10 September 2009, at 5:22 p.m.
                  • ruling in Madison
                    Chuck Bower -- Thursday, 10 September 2009, at 9:25 p.m.
                    • ruling in Madison
                      Gregg Cattanach -- Friday, 11 September 2009, at 12:40 p.m.
                      • ruling in Madison
                        Jason Lee -- Friday, 11 September 2009, at 1:52 p.m.
                      • ruling in Madison
                        Matt Cohn-Geier -- Friday, 11 September 2009, at 7:53 p.m.
                        • ruling in Madison
                          Gregg Cattanach -- Monday, 14 September 2009, at 12:22 p.m.
                          • ruling in Madison
                            Rich Munitz -- Monday, 14 September 2009, at 1:21 p.m.
                            • ruling in Madison
                              Bob Koca -- Monday, 14 September 2009, at 5:08 p.m.
                              • ruling in Madison
                                Gregg Cattanach -- Monday, 14 September 2009, at 5:57 p.m.
                                • Surely you jest!
                                  Rich Munitz -- Monday, 14 September 2009, at 7:24 p.m.
                                  • Surely you jest!
                                    Gregg Cattanach -- Monday, 14 September 2009, at 8:27 p.m.
                                    • Surely you jest!
                                      Rich Munitz -- Monday, 14 September 2009, at 10:59 p.m.
                                  • The real issue with kibs shouting out
                                    mamabear -- Monday, 14 September 2009, at 9:13 p.m.
                                    • The real issue with kibs shouting out
                                      Rich Munitz -- Tuesday, 15 September 2009, at 3:37 a.m.
                                      • Monitors and Recorders
                                        mamabear -- Tuesday, 15 September 2009, at 7:34 p.m.
                                        • Monitors and Recorders
                                          Rich Munitz -- Tuesday, 15 September 2009, at 8:23 p.m.
                                          • Monitors and Recorders
                                            Jason Lee -- Tuesday, 15 September 2009, at 8:51 p.m.
                              • ruling in Madison
                                Tom Keith -- Monday, 14 September 2009, at 6:00 p.m.
                              • ruling in Madison
                                Chuck Bower -- Monday, 14 September 2009, at 9:13 p.m.
                          • ruling in Madison
                            Matt Cohn-Geier -- Monday, 14 September 2009, at 7:39 p.m.
                      • ruling in Madison
                        Phil Simborg -- Saturday, 12 September 2009, at 4:36 a.m.
                        • ruling in Madison
                          Tom Keith -- Saturday, 12 September 2009, at 2:42 p.m.
                          • ruling in Madison
                            Matt Cohn-Geier -- Saturday, 12 September 2009, at 5:48 p.m.
              • ruling in Madison
                Matt Cohn-Geier -- Thursday, 10 September 2009, at 7:02 p.m.
                • ruling in Madison
                  Gregg Cattanach -- Thursday, 10 September 2009, at 8:13 p.m.
                  • ruling in Madison
                    Matt Cohn-Geier -- Friday, 11 September 2009, at 5:51 a.m.
              • ruling in Madison
                Tom Keith -- Thursday, 10 September 2009, at 8:13 p.m.
                • ruling in Madison
                  Gregg Cattanach -- Thursday, 10 September 2009, at 8:27 p.m.
                  • ruling in Madison
                    Matt Cohn-Geier -- Friday, 11 September 2009, at 5:58 a.m.
              • ruling in Madison
                Phil Simborg -- Friday, 11 September 2009, at 3:45 a.m.