In a message dated 11/10/2006 6:53:49 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,
vpmail2@yahoogroups.com writes:
<<<If there is an unambiguous rule (such as a chess game using the touch
rule where if you touch a piece you must move it) then it should be
enforced.
If there is no unambiguous rule, then I suppose it falls back on the
director's judgment and/or ability to ascertain whether the pickup was
truly absentminded (is it possible to gain some sort of advantage by
picking up the cube to try and gauge your opponent's reaction before
deciding whether to double or not?)>>>
I guess the key word is "unambiguous". Online backgammon doesn't permit
illegal moves, live backgammon does. Tournament rules are not the same when going
to different live backgammon tournaments.
The upshot was the ruling was made that the absentminded pickup by P1 had to
be enforced. The next day, a tournament rule was added so that a player in
the lead could not double past match if the cube was already at match.
The real issue was sportsmanship. In the past, I remember not enforcing the
"touch" rule in a critical chess match when my opponent was reaching for a
piece & accidentally touched another. Many of the backgammon players told me
they would not have enforced the rule against P1. But there is a cadre of
players who will use every rule in the book to win at all costs. Thus encouraging
others to do the same. This is in a game with declining participation. For
the novices who don't know the rule book, this was a chilling reminder not to
come back next year.
We see similar examples of the dark side of people every day. It's hard not
to take advantageous situations when they fall into your lap. I've done it &
I haven't been proud of it. In small ways, we're used to breaking the rules
like getting extra drawing tickets, putting pressure on your host for comps
that you know you're going to stiff her for. When it get bigger & directly
affects others adversely, what side comes out? When you first read this, did you
remember if you felt sympathy for P1 or didn't care & that the rules should
be enforced? It's just something to think about.
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