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BGonline.org Forums
Favorite board?
Posted By: Phil Simborg In Response To: Favorite board? (Seth)
Date: Wednesday, 3 February 2010, at 4:09 a.m.
Was the question what is the best board, or what is the best board for the money? Chrisloid is an excellent value if you don't mind spinning dice. But I don't think that's the question.
My definition of a better board is that it plays well; the dice are forced to turn or bounce, but not off the board; the checkers feel good and fit perfectly; the sound of the dice and checkers moving is pleasant, and they move easily but not so easily that they slide off the points; the board is solid and doesn't fall apart easily; it is attractive; the surface wears well; the weight is not unnecessarily heavy; the size is large, but not oversized; the bearoff trays hold the checkers so that you can readily see how many checkers are borne off; it closes easily and stays closed; there is a good place to put the cups and the dice and checkers so they don't flop around when the board is closed.
The checkers should not be so thin that you often get cocked dice, and of course, the old bakelite checkers really feel great, but they are hard to find and expensive and don't always fit perfectly. Now that I am addicted to the baffle box, I don't worry about cocked dice so I am using some thinner checkers and it's not a problem.
And yes, you don't have to mortgage your house to buy it.
For me, the best boards that meet this criteria is the FM board if you like the heavier wood, and when I want to travel lighter, it's a Zavoral Board.
I do have a Chrisloid board. It's been recovered with garish felt and has incredibly ugly checkers and I use it as a joke and for entertainment.
I also have a Brazilian board, which is very close to a Zavoral board, but for the money, not at all as good.
Last weekend, I had to borrow a board for one match, and Sean Williams from England was kind enough to loan us his portable board which rolls up into a bag. After the quality boards I am used to, it reminded me how much less enjoyable the game is on an inferior board.
And that brings up another point. I go to the trouble to buy (or obtain) a great board to my liking and shlep it to a tournament. Don't ask to borrow my board, because when you do, I may not get to use it when I have to play my next round. Get your own damn board. Many of these people have boards but just don't want to be bothered bringing them. Instead, they'd rather have me do it for them and keep me from using my board.
To quote Chuck, does that make me an asshole to say no and let my board sit there while I'm not using it for that match? Believe me, I've been called worse. I can take it.
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