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Speed Backgammon Time Controls

Posted By: Mike Main
Date: Wednesday, 3 February 2010, at 5:40 p.m.

In Response To: Speed Backgammon Time Controls (Stick)

10 seconds per move, 2 1/2 minutes time bank for a 7 pointer.

Speed (known as Blitz in Europe) should be look, see, move backgammon play.

The 10 seconds sets the tone of the match, the 2 1/2 mins is caculated at (very nearly) 12 seconds per possible point played for.

I find that Speed Gammon is best placed towards the end of a weekend by which time most players are fed up with doing pip counting, equity tables etc. This is on the basis that those players that are available for a Speed Gammon Tournament are those who are now knocked out of the Main, Conso or Last Chance; all that "doing the maths" didn't profit them so they are now ready to just play the game without all the palava of them or their opponent having the time to do all (as they now view them) "the extras."

It's also a good idea for an event to finish on a high for as many players as possible. Speed is a form of a high. As a guide to this listen to players playing Speed Gammon; they are more vocal as their emotions need to pour out quicker than they do in normal play. They might win or they might lose but at least they've gone home with a smile on their face.

Sure, I do not expect the equity caculating players to like Speed Gammon but they should be the players who are still involved in the Main, Conso or Last Chance. That's you MCG.

P.S. Why 7 pointers? I find that 5 pointers (10 secs per move, 2 mins time bank) are better because it keeps the tournament moving along at a good pace as players who are knocked out can buy back in again swiftly (i.e. it's more in keeping with the target of the tournament.)

Messages In This Thread

• Speed Backgammon Time Controls
  Stick -- Wednesday, 3 February 2010, at 12:34 p.m.
  • Speed Backgammon Time Controls
    Chiva Tafazzoli -- Wednesday, 3 February 2010, at 1:27 p.m.
    • Speed Backgammon Time Controls
      Bill Riles -- Wednesday, 3 February 2010, at 3:04 p.m.
  • Speed Backgammon Time Controls
    David -- Wednesday, 3 February 2010, at 4:43 p.m.
    • Speed Backgammon Time Controls
      Matt Cohn-Geier -- Wednesday, 3 February 2010, at 4:58 p.m.
  • Speed Backgammon Time Controls
    Bill Riles -- Wednesday, 3 February 2010, at 5:03 p.m.
  • Speed Backgammon Time Controls
    Mike Main -- Wednesday, 3 February 2010, at 5:40 p.m.
    • Speed Backgammon Time Controls
      Matt Cohn-Geier -- Wednesday, 3 February 2010, at 6:22 p.m.
    • Speed Backgammon Time Controls
      neilkaz -- Wednesday, 3 February 2010, at 7:42 p.m.
      • Speed Backgammon Time Controls
        Mike Main -- Wednesday, 3 February 2010, at 9:07 p.m.
        • Speed Backgammon Time Controls
          Chiva Tafazzoli -- Thursday, 4 February 2010, at 12:52 a.m.
          • Speed Backgammon Time Controls
            Matt Cohn-Geier -- Thursday, 4 February 2010, at 3:05 a.m.
            • Speed Backgammon Time Controls
              Chiva Tafazzoli -- Thursday, 4 February 2010, at 5:17 p.m.
          • Speed Backgammon Time Controls
            Rich Munitz -- Thursday, 4 February 2010, at 4:40 a.m.
          • Speed Backgammon Time Controls
            Gregg Cattanach -- Thursday, 4 February 2010, at 1:29 p.m.
          • Speed Backgammon Time Controls
            neilkaz -- Thursday, 4 February 2010, at 6:24 p.m.
        • Speed Backgammon Time Controls
          neilkaz -- Thursday, 4 February 2010, at 6:27 p.m.
    • Speed Backgammon Time Controls
      Chuck Bower -- Thursday, 4 February 2010, at 5:27 p.m.
      • Speed Backgammon Time Controls
        Matt Cohn-Geier -- Friday, 5 February 2010, at 5:40 a.m.
  • Speed Backgammon Time Controls
    Robert Maier -- Thursday, 4 February 2010, at 9:53 a.m.
    • Speed Backgammon Time Controls
      Gregg Cattanach -- Thursday, 4 February 2010, at 1:32 p.m.
    • Speed Backgammon Time Controls
      David -- Thursday, 4 February 2010, at 3:58 p.m.
      • Speed Backgammon = Generated Rolls?
        jdg -- Friday, 5 February 2010, at 2:23 p.m.
    • Speed Backgammon Time Controls
      Chiva Tafazzoli -- Thursday, 4 February 2010, at 5:14 p.m.