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BGonline.org Forums
Separate Clock for Breaks
Posted By: Bill Riles In Response To: Separate Clock for Breaks (Rich Munitz)
Date: Thursday, 16 September 2010, at 2:23 p.m.
I agree with Rich -- I think it just further complicates an already touchy issue (clocks).
One break of reasonable length and no more -- except in the case of medical and/or gastrointestinal emergencies. Cigarettes, though perhaps medical emergencies of another nature, do not pass the test. This might be reasonably relaxed if a very long match -- high number of points to be played or high number of actual games -- or if the match duration is inconsequential, such as in a final or a last match of the day. Abuse of breaks should still not be allowed.
I've only seen one substantial case of 'break' abuse in many years of playing tournament backgammon. A guy in Vegas a couple of years ago had 'to go to the bathroom' during the course of a very long match and with a very critical cube decision for himself ongoing -- the offered cube was on the board !! After perhaps 20 minutes the female opponent asked me to check the nearby mens restroom to see if the guy was there, dead or otherwise. She actually thought he might be off checking a bot. He was in the elevator lobby engaged in what appeared to be yoga stretching exercises. Finally, after about 30 minutes, he returned. The match was already long and Howard put a clock on it at this time. The lady ultimately lost, but the match had lasted so long they had already closed the rebuys -- she would've liked to have bought back in but their first round 'advanced/intermediate' match had lasted 4+ hours.
That is abuse. I think players must be more assertive in demanding proper behavior from their opponents. One should not hesitate or be intimidated about summoning the tourney director for flagrant assault to behavior, rules, etc.
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