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BGonline.org Forums
Clocks and Penalties
Posted By: Mike Main In Response To: Clocks and Penalties (Mike Main)
Date: Sunday, 12 September 2010, at 6:49 a.m.
I can't sleep 'cause there more I wanna say on this...
Backgammon is an ever evolving game. It's been that way for over 5000 years. Each generation adds (or takes away) something from the game. Apart from the basis game doing something that the human brain finds attractive, it is this finding out of new aspects of the game that keeps it vibrant. Obligatory Clock Play is only being proposed / (starting to be) used in top quality tournament backgammon. With clock play we are simply witnessing yet another new era of the game. One that will, most here consider, make it more interesting and better in our lifetime and hand it on as a better product to future generations.
In most walks of life one has the choice of sticking as one is or moving along into new domains. The upper echelons of mankind does not stick where it is. Why should the cutting edge of competitive backgammon (Tournament Backgammon) do so? Most of the posts written on this forum are by those who are within the upper reaches of backgammon so it is little wonder that this forum is a hotbed of those in favour of clock play coming into the sector of tournament play that they play in. But please note, they do not generally advocate (yet at least!) that clock play be universal across all divisions / flights / sectors of tournament backgammon.
All the above pales in comparison when this subject is viewed from the point of view of the event T.D. This person has a duty of care to ALL of the players that turn up to make the event as good as s/he possibly can. All players must play by the same rules, all players must be treated equally. This also means that no 1 player should be given the opportunity to mess about other players. By not having a workable and thought out method of keeping the event on schedule and allowing just 1 player to make a mockery of it (to the detriment of other players) the T.D. could be accused of dereliction of duty.
Likewise if a T.D. considers that a player is entering a higher sector than that player is qualified to play in - the player should (politely) be informed of this by the T.D. I don't think I know you (johnk) from Adam but, from what you have written these last 2 or 3 days, it sounds to me as if you're not yet ready for clock play. As such I think maybe you should currently be steered towards playing in the 2nd sector down in which clocks are only used at the mutual agreement of the two players concerned or if the T.D. deems the use of a clock (with something more than a 12 secs per move, 2 mins time bank allowance) necessary to keep the event on schedule.
Most people, before they have really given it a good go, are against clock play. The trick with clock play is to get into the groove of it. If you've got fluff on your stylus your record is not going to play well. I think you've hit a moment when you need to do a de-fluff session between sides of your record. I know it's a pain in the arse cleaning your fluff off your stylus but I'm sure you'll agree that they need to happen every so often and that you appreciate your effort when you listen to Side B.
De-fluff session equates to, in a few practise matches, giving all of yourself unto Clock Play. Though the repeated experience of playing on a clock play allow your body and brain the time it requires to realise that it makes the game play better, that your arms are moving in a more rhythmic manner which saps less of your energy and therefore gives your brain a better chance to do its internal functions and then yes, I think you'll come round to considering that clock play is better than non-clock play. Non-clock players need to put a little bit of effort in to get value out / see the bright white shining light.
Kind regards et bonne nuit,
Mike
P.S. Added bonus of Clock Play: Those blasted pre-mature rolls become a thing of the recent past. Who was it that was the right idiot that decided we should deviate from centuries of backgammon convention and play with 4 dice instead of 2 as those sensible fellows in countries where backgammon / tavla / sheshbesh etc. is considered a national pastime? Why did Mr/Mrs Idiot start playing with each player having a pair of dice? Did his opponent have dirty hands? Or did he have a cold that day and Mr I. didn't want to catch it? Or did he think it more flash to use 4 dice because it displayed his wealth? His "reign" has been long enough. Off with his head! Long live the new King! But I would like to know the name of the old King so where is the Resident Backgammon Historian? Bill Davis please. Or is this a question for Mr Bray?
P.P.S. Side B is, for those who know the band, better than Side A and gets better with every listen to it (Side B) too.
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