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BGonline.org Forums
ABT Clock rules, revised
Posted By: Daniel Murphy In Response To: ABT Clock rules, revised (Stick)
Date: Saturday, 2 October 2010, at 8:38 p.m.
You're right, its not worth an argument. "Obligatory" matches "optional." But "obligation" matches "preference" so maybe I'll change "optional" to "option" :) Or "preference" to "preferred". :)
Once and not again I refer to the first line in WBA/Nordic rule 3.5.1: "Backgammon matches with the use of a game clock may occur as an option, preference, obligation or penalty." The sentence could be more pleasingly written, but there's nothing wrong with its use of "option, preference, obligation or penalty," terms the rule goes on to define.
Moving on -- why did I put this data together? To find out the true status of clock use in American backgammon tournaments. You could get the impression from some partisans that American tournaments were way behind their European counterparts, and from some anti-partisans that a small vocal minority were trying to force clocks where they weren't used, needed or wanted.
The fact, though, is that as of now clocks are being used either in all matches or at one player's request, in at least 16 of 17 Masters flights; at least 13 of 18 Doubles flights; and in at least 12 of 18 Open flights at ABT tournaments. They're obligatory in 10 Masters, 10 Doubles, and 7 Open competitions. It's possible that the greater use of obligatory clocks in Masters flights is because a greater number of master players prefer clocks. But with a view to keeping tournaments on schedule, I would have thought that delays in the Open, not the Masters, were more likely to cause inconvience to more players. In any case, where clock preference is now the rule, players who prefer clocks can ensure that nearly all matches are played with clocks by exercising their preference.
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