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BGonline.org Forums
Touch moves
Posted By: Rich Munitz In Response To: Touch moves (Bob Glass)
Date: Tuesday, 9 March 2010, at 8:20 p.m.
Did anyone see the new issue of Chicago Point where it is shown that the decision that Touch Move is NOT the rule for backgammon was decided in an English court centuries ago?
I can see the merits of both arguments, but overall I do not favor a change aside from perhaps side events. Backgammon is indeed a visual game by nature, and the moves are not atomic (single operation) like chess and many other board games. There are reasonable remedies such as requiring offsetting of uncommitted checkers and full rollbacks of uncommitted plays to the original position before making a new play. And yes, many players simply find the visualization of their plays before committing to them helpful and enjoyable. How often in doubles or chouettes does someone proposing a play say "just move the checkers and look at it". Can I play with touch move? Yes. Would I find the game less enjoyable? Yes.
There is also the minor spectator factor. I believe it can be more insightful for viewers (particularly those learning the game) to occasionally see some of the candidate plays a player is considering than to stare at a static board and have a play appear at the end.
Having players at tournaments sit at computer screens and play their matches on a server will solve all of these problems and eliminate illegal plays and dice mechanics, etc. Some would prefer that this is the direction the game take since it is logically better and less conflict prone that way. Yet others find that it would detract from the playing experience of live play on a physical board with real dice and checkers. Just because something on balance avoids more irregularities than it creates does not mean it should become the law.
Use of clocks is in my opinion an improvement in play mechanics and problem avoidance over non-clocked play. But if that were the only advantage, I am certain that we would not be playing with clocks, nor would I be advocating the change. It is slow play and the unacceptable impact on events it creates and the impact on the enjoyment of the game by the most people that makes a radical change like clocks a necessity. The other advantages are just gravy. The benefits of touch Move is also just gravy. I see no big yummy pile of mashed potatoes to go with it.
Yes, checker shuffling can be mildly annoying and distracting if taken to excess, or if the player regularly cannot recreate the original position. And if it becomes truly problematic, the director should be called. But mildly annoying does not mean that the game is broken, and it does not mean it is time for a radical change in the way it is played.
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