Backgammon Fun and frustration

Fun and frustration

The square thing

From:   David B. Sandler
Address:   westfall.talbott.woods@worldnet.att.net
Date:   29 June 1996
Subject:   The Square Thing With the Numbers On It
Forum:   rec.games.backgammon
Google:   4r4c8l$eqf@mtinsc01-mgt.ops.worldnet.att.net

First, thanks for the overwhelming response to my 'toggle bell' problem. Since I've recently begun playing on FIBS, I've noticed that, in most of my matches, a large square with a '2' on it appears on the screen out of nowhere, always interrupting my opponent's next roll ( I'm sure this is annoying to them) and usually when I'm not doing very well, like when I have 5 or more blots scattered about the board.(It's almost as if FIBS can sense my predicament). Since one of my earliest, helpful opponents told me that I can't even finish the game unless I type 'accept',I always do, in order to see whether my game gets better. Usually it doesn't, and my matches don't seem to take very long(contrary to the many FIBS players who complain on r.g.b. about FIBS matches taking forever). This has left me feeling a bit helpless! In my last match, however, my opponent let on (I think accidentally) that, once I 'accept' the FIBS square, I can 'get back' at FIBS by changing the '2' to '4', the '8' to '16', etc. This helped me feel less passive and vulnerable - a feeling of power, if you will. Here's the problem. At game's end, it was bad enuf that I was gammoned when the square said'256' ( although I did manage to barely escape my 6th checker from my opponent's inner board, thus saving the backgammon). What really got under my skin, however, was when my opponent told me that, at $5 for each # on the square, I needed to mail him a check for $2560 (remember the gammon!) and 'kibitzed' his P.O.Box to me.(My computer bell STILL doesn't ring when my opponent kibitzes). When I told him I didn't recall such a bet, he assured me it was standard FIBS etiquette, and that players usually ignore match balances under $100, but he couldn't because of his sick mother, etc. After mailing the check, I began wondering about this. Had I known about this unwritten rule, I probably wouldn't have engaged in my attempted one-upsmanship of FIBS on this 'square issue'. However, having done so, I ask you more seasoned FIBS players: 1) how long before I can expect to recoup my losses, based on your own experience, and 2) anyone interested in match play at a discount until I learn to play better, say @ $3 per square number? Thanks in advance for any help. I'm trying to learn to love the game, despite my initial setbacks. :-) (bar_ky on Fibs)

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