Backgammon Etiquette

Etiquette

Moving hit checker first

From:   Timothy Chow
Address:   tchow8@hotmail.com
Date:   11 October 2009
Subject:   May I put a checker on the bar before moving my own?
Forum:   BGonline.org Forums

Is it acceptable (according to the rules that most people play by), if I make a move that hits, to pick up the hit checker first and put it on the bar before I move my own checker?

Neil Kazaross writes:

Please don't, or at least don't do this very often.

Daniel Murphy writes:

Rule 4.3 says: "MOVING. A player shall move the checkers in an unambiguous manner, using only one hand." Unambiguous: clear, having no uncertainty or ambiguity, in a manner which leaves no doubt. Rule 4.3 sets a high standard. In my experience, a player who "makes a habit" (as I said) of moving my checkers without moving his is among those that we're going to have a disagreement with, eventually. Jason Lee asks: > What, precisely, is your objection to this method of moving checkers? (1) If you haven't moved your checker yet, what did you hit my checker with? (2) I'm going to avoid disputes about where checkers were by insisting that moves be done as clearly as they need to be to be clear. It's not sufficient that the final position be legal. I want no disputes about where my checker was, if opponent (a) lets a long time pass between picking up my checker and moving his, or (b) ends up making some other move that doesn't even legally hit my checker. I've experienced both (a) and (b).

Richard Munitz writes:

I think that the relevant US rule here is the following: 4.3 MOVING. A player shall move the checkers in an unambiguous manner, using only one hand. This rule implies to me that there is more that matters when making the move than simply where the checkers have wound up at the moment when the dice are lifted. Any action moving the checkers that can cause confusion as to what is being done should be avoided. In this case, the rules are pretty clear that an opponent's checker is hit when the player's checker touches down on it. Clearly it cannot have been hit if none of the player's checkers have been moved. However, in practice, I think I would be generally tolerant of this kind of thing in certain situations. The situation where I think it is most acceptable is when a checker is on the bar and is going to enter on top of the blot. It is clear to all that the checker on the bar must be the first checker moving and particularly if the hit is forced, I see no ambiguity whatsoever. I would also be tolerant of this kind of play if the hitting checker is going to be left on the point the blot was occupying. Placing it on the bar first is then more a matter of making room on the point for the hitting checker. In all cases, I'd expect the hitting checker to be placed on the point without delay.

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