Forum Archive : Tournaments

Clocks--Arguments against them From:   Timothy Chow Address:   tchow8@hotmail.com Date:   19 January 2011 Subject:   Why use clocks? The other side of the argument Forum:   BGonline.org Forums Although I've never played in a backgammon tournament with clocks, I have played other board games with a clock and favor clocks in backgammon tournaments too. However, in an attempt to give a fair hearing to the other side of the argument, I've listed below a few old BGOnline posts that present some concerns about clocks. The titles are my own attempt to summarize the concern in question, rather than the original titles of the posts. Brutal Losses on Time. Bob Koca writes: There were at least two. I witnessed one just after it occurred. The player had about a 90% position and timed out. Complained that he didn't realize his time was low and that there should have been some warning. Appeal denied. The other one I only heard about. The player is down to 11 seconds but has an overwhelming position. The other player makes his play but does not hit the clock and he grabbed the dice. That incurs a 30 second penalty and thus he timed out. There was no disputing the facts and it was not a case of a fake. Clocks should be imposed only on proven slow players. Lenny writes: This year in this forum we've been told of major blowups caused by spilling drinks with clocks then being inadvertently left running, and a ludicrous argument over dice shaking which occured because clocks were involved. And those incidents don't address the unjust result of a difficult- decision type match being defaulted because of time controls inadvisedly chosen. And the ripple effect such an incident can cause. As to "singling out": yes, chronic slow players should be identified to the director community, and that's where proactive actions should be taken. A word to the wise would be better than a mechanical approach which creates a sterile and hypertechnical atmosphere. Clocks are perceived by weaker players to give stronger players and advantage. Frank N Stein writes: One of the well-respected giants of our game has stated he believes the clock settings are where they need to be. My point is this, he plays the game second nature and sees the board in ways I don't. He is capable of playing his very best and should not be concerned about timing out against me. On the other hand, in order for me to beat the giant I must focus hard and make sure I see alternative plays in order to make a good playing decision. How can I ever hope to defeat him if I do not do this? I can not rely on the luck of the dice to do it! Don't you think the giant has a twofold advantage with the current clock settings? (1) He is a stronger player and in order for me to think things through I am prone to timing out. (2) The giant sees my clock is running low and chooses to shift gears and play very complicated positions that he can play second nature while I have to scratch my head causing time to run off the clock or make blunder after blunder from not thinking clearly. New ways to play unfairly that are enabled by the presence of clocks. Lenny writes: Isn't it delicious that there is a cocked-dice-manipulation variation of the clock minefield? "Because then if I was low on time I would purposely cock my dice to finish my pip count, my match equity considerations, or even how to play my upcoming roll." Or that in one of the characteristically excellent Simborg interviews, backgammon's current leading citizen would volunteer as his specific example of unethical behavior that: "Some people don't tell an opponent that he forgot to hit his clock and they pretend to be thinking while their opponents clock is running. You should not take advantage of it when your opponent forgets to hit his clock." One possible problem with clocks. Bill Riles writes: "There was a potentially awkward clock situation in Novi during the Michigan Masters final between Brent Cohen and myself. Sam had set the clock at the table prior to my arrival. All the prior rounds had been to 11 points and the clocks were correspondingly set at 22 minutes. Here again, the clock was set at 22 minutes, however, the final round was 13 points and the clock should have been set at 26 minutes. As it happens, I noticed the error when I sat down and reset the clock to to the correct 26 minutes. With Brent leading 11-9 to 13 and me involved in the backgame from hell (with ten checkers back and three of his home board points at one time) trying to win the game and, very definitely, trying to make sure to save the gammon/match I was also trying to further complicate the game as much as possible as Brent was precariously low on time. It was around that time that Sam realized he had wrongly set the clock and was unaware I had reset it. He brought CJC to the table to discuss what to do. With Brent having only 28 seconds remaining, CJC requested we stop the match midgame and asked us into the hallway for a private conversation. She explained their worry and we explained we had correctly reset the clock prior to beginning play. I appreciate the action they took. Had his time expired only for us to discover we had more time, the ramifications to play and result for both of us could have been even more substantial."   Did you find the information in this article useful?           Do you have any comments you'd like to add?

 

Tournaments

Adjusting to face-to-face play  (Paul Epstein+, Feb 2006) 

Adjusting to face-to-face play  (Daniel Murphy, June 1999) 

Avoiding disputes  (Kit Woolsey+, Oct 2007) 

Baffle box to roll dice  (Ken Bame, Mar 2012) 

Calcutta auctions  (David Moeser, Nov 2001) 

Calcutta auctions  (Roland Scheicher+, Dec 1998) 

Calcutta auctions  (Anthony R Wuersch, Oct 1994) 

Calcutta problems  (Marty Storer, Dec 2002) 

Clock ethics  (Patrick Gibson+, Mar 2009) 

Clock rules--Digital clocks  (Chuck Bower+, Oct 2003) 

Clock rules--End of turn  (Carlo Melzi+, July 2001) 

Clock rules--How do they work?  (Gregg Cattanach, Oct 2002) 

Clock rules--Illegal move  (Brendan Burgess+, Feb 2000) 

Clock rules--Why forfeit instead of penalty points?  (neilkaz, Sept 2010) 

Clocks and older players  (Stick+, July 2010) 

Clocks--Arguments against them  (Timothy Chow, Jan 2011) 

Clocks--Common arguments against  (Chuck Bower, Feb 2006) 

Clocks--Losing on time  (Jason Lee+, Mar 2004) 

Clocks--Pros and cons  (Michael Strato+, Jan 2004) 

Clocks--Should they be part of the game?  (Kit Woolsey, June 1995) 

Clocks--Why use them  (Stick, Jan 2011) 

Compensating for byes  (Hank Youngerman+, Dec 1998) 

Factors that affect attendance  (Stick, Oct 2009) 

"Fighter's bracket"  (Chuck Bower+, Sept 2010) 

First backgammon tournament  (Mislav Radica+, May 2007) 

First backgammon tournament  (Ed Collins+, Dec 2006) 

Hedging  (Jason Lee+, Apr 2009) 

Hedging  (Marv Porten+, Feb 2009) 

Hedging  (Tad Bright+, Jan 2003) 

Hitting clock instead of rolling  (Bob Glass+, Mar 2010) 

Keeping score during a match  (Gregg Cattanach, June 2007) 

Links to tournament rules  (Daniel Murphy, Oct 2009) 

Major tournament attendance 1998-2008  (Daniel Murphy, July 2008) 

Making notes during play  (Randy Pals+, Aug 2008) 

Manually recording a match  (Kevin P+, Apr 2007) 

Manually recording a match  (gammonus+, Feb 2006) 

Manually recording a match  (Daniel Murphy, Aug 1999) 

New U.S. Rules  (Gregg Cattanach+, Dec 2007) 

Newbie questions  (Donald Kahn, Oct 1999) 

Playing at Monte Carlo  (Achim, July 2007) 

Playing-off 3 remaining players  (Gregg Cattanach+, Apr 2007) 

Recording matches  (Robert Maier, May 2009) 

Recording matches  (Chuck Bower+, Sept 2003) 

Recording matches  (Sean Dakin+, Aug 1999) 

Round robins  (Hank Youngerman, Nov 2001) 

Rules for doubles play (with a partner)  (steve+, May 2012) 

Seeding  (Roland Scheicher+, Dec 1998) 

Skill level  (Kirk J. Rupnik+, Nov 1998) 

Skill levels  (Leonardo Jerkovic, Aug 2012) 

"Stop pots"  (Chuck Bower+, Sept 2010) 

Swiss format  (Osman Guner+, May 2001) 

Swiss format  (Osman Guner, Oct 1998) 

Swiss format  (Hank Youngerman+, Mar 1998) 

Tournament formats  (MikeMadMonk+, May 2003) 

Tournament rules  (Daniel Murphy, Apr 2001) 

Tournament rules links  (Daniel Murphy, Oct 2009) 

Types of events  (Daniel Murphy, Nov 1997) 

Uniform rules and procedures?  (Michael Crane+, Mar 2003) 

Variable side pools  (Art Grater+, July 2011) 

Vegas trip report (fall 2004)  (Gregg Cattanach, Nov 2004) 

Vegas trip report (spring 2005)  (Gregg Cattanach, May 2005) 

Videotaping matches  (André Nicoulin+, Nov 2000) 

What is a "Monrad format"?  (Daniel Murphy, Sept 2000) 

What is a "side pool"?  (Daniel Murphy, Nov 1997) 

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