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BGonline.org Forums
Onetime shuffle rule
Posted By: Rich Munitz In Response To: Onetime shuffle rule (Nack Ballard)
Date: Wednesday, 11 November 2009, at 4:11 a.m.
I am in the Steve Mellen camp. I really don't think it is broken. Backgammon is a very visual game and while I could certainly play touch move, I would not find it as enjoyable. Frankly, it would slow down my play and the play of many other players as people would get extra cautious about moving the checkers to double and triple verify that the play works as visualized before committing to it. I like the generally fast nature of backgammon, and would hate to see that taken away because a player can't just start to make the obvious play as they continue to scan the board and then notice something elsewhere and then be able to correct it.
The existing rules, if actually enforced would largely eliminate any problems. Being required to move with one hand is a big help. It could be ruled that any non-final play in which the moved checkers were not clearly distinguishable from the non-moved checkers (i.e. by leaving them higher up on the pips), or failing to reset to the original position after each candidate play, all constitute ambiguous play. I too have gotten annoyed with checker shuffling, but almost always due to these kinds of protocol violations rather than the actual methodical consideration of legitimate move choices.
Finally, as much as shuffling could be distracting to the opponent, we must not lose sight of the fact that backgammon is and should be an enjoyable spectator sport. I have always enjoyed seeing some of the interesting plays that a top level player considers before making the final play. While they may ultimately settle on the boring or obvious play, I am sometimes intrigued and find considerable merit and on occasion preference for plays I might not have otherwise considered. And I think that intermediates and beginners who tend to consider even fewer creative choices can find it instructive to peer into the working mind of the expert.
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