BGonline.org Forums

Speed Backgammon Time Controls

Posted By: Mike Main
Date: Wednesday, 3 February 2010, at 9:07 p.m.

In Response To: Speed Backgammon Time Controls (neilkaz)

Re: Also, I'd like 0.5 min per point reserve time with 8 sec/move provided cocked and split board dice rules are relaxed so that dice that are flat anywhere on the board or flat on checkers count.

Ummm, I think there is a danger in introducing such a rule (flat anywhere on the board or flat on checkers count) that flies in the face of normal procedure. The idea of Blitz Gammon (Speed Gammon)* is to introduce a new fun form of play rather than alter the established mechanics of the game we play. 10 seconds per move IS sufficient even though I agree that the player rolling on the bear-off side is at a disadvantage due to a checker congestion. I really do not like the idea of "anywhere on the board." "Flat on checkers" has more merit especially if the checkers are thin checkers that are less than 1/2 the height of the dice being employed but,,, umm, I'm still not keen.

An "8 secs per move" clause is I think going to put people off from trying this sort of play and will thus kill it before it has a chance to gather any momentum. Neil, as somebody who has tried it, you are now a "convertee" to its merits. Many people who have not tried it are against it in principle but soon agree that it has merit when they have tried it - now where else have we witnessed that sort of thinking? During the introduction of Clock Play. I like to learn from the lessons history gives us.

*Speed Gammon / Blitz Gammon: Can we settle on one universal name for this type of play please? We currently use "Blitz" in Europe while you seem to use "Speed" in the US. So which? Who invented it first? I'm not sure but I think this should be the criteria.

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.