BACKGAMMON BY THE BAY

A Virtual Tour of a Backgammon Tournament - Rules


These Rules are presented as an underlying basis for a fair, sportsmanlike and enjoyable tournament. A situation not covered by these guidelines will be adjudicated by the designated director, and may be further clarified by the BackGammon By the Bay Ruling Committee. Remember, logic and fairness should determine your actions; they will ours.

CONDUCT

  1. Any infringement of the accepted standard of tournament behavior by a player may result in disqualification from the tournament.

PROCEDURE

  1. It is the responsibility of each player to be on time. A player must check to see that no deviations from tournament schedule have been introduced. Ignorance is no defense against penalty points incurred due to late arrival.
  2. All matches must take place in the playing room unless specific variance is permitted by a director.
  3. It is the responsibility of both players to see that the doubling cube is in the middle at the start of each game. In the event of dispute concerning the position of a cube, it will be deemed valid in its position at the time of the dispute. Obvious inconsistencies (i.e., cube at 64) will be adjudicated by a director. Once a player is doubled and accepts, the double is valid.
  4. Throughout the tournament, each player will be allowed two breaks during each match.
  5. Pencil and paper are provided for purposes of keeping score only. No written or mechanical devices may be used in play.

PLAY

  1. Choice of direction of play, color of checkers and seat location may be decided by a roll of the dice before play starts. Once decided, direction, color and seats shall remain constant during the match.
  2. To start the game, both players roll one die. The combined dice are then used by the player who rolled the higher die.
  1. Both dice must be placed in a dice cup and shaken vigorously before being rolled. Players may change dice before the commencement of any individual game.

    Once a game is in progress, dice may not be changed.

    Any player may ask a director for new dice at the conclusion of any game during his match, and the director reserves the right to change dice in any match, at any time, without prior notice.

    If a player mixes the dice in the middle of the game or throws one or more of the dice away, he may be subject to disciplinary action.

  2. Players must roll to the board on their right, except in a non-contact position where permission to roll on the left side is granted by the opponent. Such permission is applicable for one game only. Cocked dice must be re-rolled. When dice are picked off the table, even an eighth of an inch, at the conclusion of a move, the play is over. Both dice must come to a rest on the board.
  3. A player may double when it is his turn, before rolling the dice. To double, a player should move the cube from the middle (or in the case of a re-double, from his side of the board), and verbally communicate his intention to double. A player may accept a double or re-double by placing the cube on his side of the board and verbally communicating his intention to take. A player may decline a double or re-double by similarly verbally communicating his intention to pass.
  4. Automatic doubles will not be allowed, the Jacoby Rule will not apply, and settlements, cancellations and replays are not to be made at any time.
  1. A move is concluded when a player picks up one or both dice; however, with notice to his opponent, a player may reposition the dice on the playing surface to facilitate viewing the playing field or moving the checkers.
  2. No player may roll or double until his opponent has picked up his dice; however, the players may make rolling allowances for non-contact positions.
  3. In the event of a misplay: Once a player has picked up his dice, his opponent may point out a misplay and may demand that the move be played legally. If the opponent does not point out the misplay, and either rolls or doubles, the misplay stands. The intervention of any spectator relating to misplay is strictly illegal and will be deemed totally invalid.
  4. A player hitting a checker must remove that checker and place it on the bar. It is insufficient simply to tap the checker or indicate by movement of the hand that the hit is intended.
  5. If a checker is found off the board during the course of the game, before either player has reached the bear-off, the play continues with 14 checkers. The player with 14 checkers can still lose a gammon or a backgammon.

SCORE

  1. Gammons and backgammons will apply in all matches.
  2. The Crawford Rule will apply in all matches. When a player reaches one point away from match score (for example, four points in a 5­point match), for one game, and one game only, the doubling cube may not be used. Thereafter, in subsequent games, there will be normal use of the doubling cube.
  3. Match results are to be reported by the winner to the director. If a player inadvertently concedes a match, even though his opponent has not reached the requisite number of points, such concession shall be deemed valid once the name of the winner is entered in the tournament draw sheet. Scores must be kept by both players and compared after each game. In any dispute concerning the score, the player not keeping score will be at a disadvantage.
  4. Gammons and backgammons always count, whether or not the cube has been turned.

DISPUTES

  1. In the event of a dispute, the decision of the director will be final.
  2. In any dispute, all checkers and dice are to be left untouched and a director called to give a ruling.

TIME

  1. If a player thinks that his opponent is taking an unnecessary length of time to play, a protest may be lodged with a director. If after observation, the director determines that a player is contravening generally accepted time standards, a warning may be issued. If, in the judgement of the director, the offense still persists, the director may then penalize the offending player. One or more penalty points may be awarded the offending player’s opponent if the director deems warranted. A slow-playing player may be penalized in his following match at the discretion of the director.
  2. The director has the right to appoint a monitor to observe a match. The monitor may allot penalty points against one or both players under the conditions described above. This right may be invoked only if a given match is seriously retarding the progress of the tournament.

SPECTATORS

  1. Spectators must observe complete silence during matches.
  1. Spectators do not have the right to draw attention to misplays. If such a case arises, the offended player has the right to call for an official ruling.
  2. Any proven signalling between player and spectator will result in the player’s instant disqualification from the tournament and forfeiture of any prize money. The spectator will suffer the same penalty.
  3. Spectators may report suspected cheating to the director. The director may call upon a spectator for independent verification of circumstances in the case of a dispute.
  1. All players have the right to request that any spectator(s) leave the table, and it will not be necessary for the player to give a reason.
  2. The director (or a delegated official) may rule that a given match will continue without spectators.

BackGammon By the Bay,
Richard McIntosh
Beth Skillman

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