Backgammon Cheating

Cheating

Premature roll and late pick-up

From:   Ian Shaw
Address:   ian.shaw@iee.org
Date:   25 February 2002
Subject:   Re: I'd like to know how to cheat :>
Forum:   rec.games.backgammon
Google:   3c7a5166$1@rti-ns1.runningtide.com

> I'm a writer working on a book set in the 16th century--before the > doubling cube, BTW. > I need to show a cool way to cheat, something clever. Have you seen or > read of any such thing? I already have read Gambling Scams by Ortiz. I > cannot use any sort of cheating involving the cube. I'd recommend a trawl through the backgammon newsgroup archive at http://www.bkgm.com/rgb/rgb.cgi?menu Another form of cheating is the "premature roll", and its counterpart the "late pick-up". These are everyday occurences in the excitement of a fast moving backgammon game, and a cheater can sometimes use them as ploys to gain an advantage. The Premature Roll is when you roll before your opponent has finished his turn by picking up his/her dice. If it's a bad roll, simply apologise for rolling too soon, pick 'em up and roll again. Modern etiquette gets round this in one of two ways, (A) by allowing the other player the choice of whether a roll should stand or be re-rolled, or (B) by allowing him to complete his move in the knowledge of what the upcoming roll will be. Both systems are in use today; A is common in Europe and the Americas, B is the British tournament ruling. The more subtle Late Pick Up exploits this ruling. If the other player is rolling hot on the heels of you picking up your dice, you can put your hand over your dice as if to pick them up, but not actually raise them from the board. If you can induce a Premature Roll you can enforce the prevalent ruling and thus gain an advantage. You may decide they are a bit too tied up in the modern etiquette for shaking and rolling for you to use, but you might enjoy perusing some of the articles in the Rules section of the archive. Hmm, I'm not even sure if old backgammon sets would have had two pairs of dice, which would rule out these ploys. Also at GammonVillage, Mark Driver's The History Of Dice - Part IV contains some interesting info about various dice for cheating; shaped, loaded & tops. Regards Ian Shaw

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