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RULES OF PLAY

THE FULHAM BACKGAMMON CLUB

 

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RULES OF PLAY

THE FULHAM BACKGAMMON CLUB

UPDATE JANUARY 2024

 

(Note from WGBF below - see underneath in bold how this changes our rules) 

Earlier this year the World Backgammon Federation (WBGF) published a revised set of rules, which has already seen use at the World Team Championships and other WBGF-sanctioned events, and adoption by a number of other federations.  the UKBGF Board has decided to adopt them with effect from January 1st, 2024, in time for the 2024 UK Tour. You can download them here as a PDF.

We’ve had a long, quiet period on the rules front as the WBGF has composed a set of rules which will, hopefully, be accepted world-wide. This has been a significant effort to bring together a lot of disparate practices, and the value of having a single set of rules applicable everywhere is a significant step forward.

How did we get here?  The original UKBGF ruleset was originally drafted by Raj Jansari and Peter Bennet. This was then distributed around both the UK backgammon community and wider afield, and comments were invited. Various amendments were incorporated into what is now the current UKBGF Rules, and a Rules Subcommittee was formed to consider further updates.

Raj was then invited to join the EUBGF rules and ethics panel, and adapted the UKBGF rules to fit the EUBGF, and all member federations adopted them. The EUBGF then expanded to become the WBGF, and it became a goal to have a single unified ruleset – at least in part in order to be taken more seriously by global bodies such as the IOC. The USBGF and the tournament circuit represented by Arda Findikoglu could not accept the rules as they stood, leading to a significant disparity in practice. Over successive years detailed negotiations have been taking place to create a ruleset that all could agree on. This was largely achieved by allowing options in two key areas so that tournament directors could have the freedom to select options that reflect local practice while remaining within the scope of the unified ruleset. The intent is not for nations to pick and choose rules; rather it’s for local organisers to select what is appropriate for them. We would encourage TDs and club organisers to experiment and feed back their experiences.

There are two significant new options available to TDs:

  • Legal Moves / Responsible Moves. In Legal moves both players have an obligation to point out illegal moves before the next turn. In Responsible moves the player making a move has the obligation to correct any mistake that he may make, but the opponent is not obliged to point out a mistake.

  • Dice Not On Checkers / Dice On Checkers: In Dice On Checkers, a roll where either or both dice come to rest flat on the top surface of a checker is valid. In Dice Not On Checkers, the current UK practice, either die landing on a checker results in a cocked roll.

While we don’t intend to impose either option, to avoid any doubt if it is not explicitly stated which option is being used in either case, then it will be assumed to be that which maintains the status quo: Legal Moves and Dice Not On Checkers.

OTHER SIGNIFICANT CHANGES

  • Gesturing towards the cube: What constitutes a double? It used to be the case that gesturing towards the cube was assumed to indicate an intent to double, but that rule was somewhat vague (and on one occasion I’ve had an unrelated hand-wave interpreted as a double when it certainly wasn’t intended to be!). This has been clarified so that only unambiguous actions such as saying “double”, picking up the cube, or pointing at the cube, are deemed to commit you to doubling.

 

  • Premature rolls: It is currently the case that if a player rolls prematurely, his roll is deemed to stand and his opponent is able to complete the current move with the knowledge of the next roll. This has now been changed so that the opponent can choose between either making a move knowing the next roll, or asking for the dice to be picked up and rolled at the appropriate time, provided that that the premature roll is called out consistently each time. So, you can ask for a mixture of either option if the opponent repeatedly offends, but you can’t effectively condone premature rolling by remaining silent up to the point where the premature roll is a joker, and only then ask for a re-roll. The intention is to correct the undesirable behaviour, not to provide a means to game it for advantage. Using a single pair of dice even when not using a clock is helpful in reducing the incidence of premature rolls.

 

  • Checker-shuffling: The new rules forbid uncontrollable checker-shuffling – that is, any movement of checkers to try out positions (regardless of how long it goes on for, or the mechanics of how it is done) which is done in a manner likely to lead to the original position being lost. Players are advised to leave moved checkers clearly offset from the rest on the points where they are being moved to, so that it is clear what the move being considered is and how it should be reverted.

 

  • Incorrect starting position: This may now be corrected later in the game, by mutual consent.

 

  • In Dice Not On Checkers, either die landing on a checker results in a cocked roll.

  • In Legal moves both players have an obligation to point out illegal moves before the next turn.

  • Premature rolls:  if a player rolls prematurely, his roll is deemed to stand and his opponent is able to complete the current move with the knowledge of the next roll.

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The Tournament Director’s decision is final. All decisions will be made to ensure the fairest outcome.

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The Tournament Director reserves the right to change match length for any tournament at any time.

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Players are expected to behave in the spirit of the game which is to show generous sportsmanship, fair and considerate behaviour.

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Cut off for tournament entry is 7pm. We cannot guarantee entry to late arrivals.

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We only accept entry and registration fees in cash so please make sure you have enough for your desired level of entry. IOU’s or bank transfers will not be accepted.

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We ask that any opinions you may have about your opponents play be kept to yourself, unless your opponent asks for your viewpoint.

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Please do not handle you opponents chequers during a game. Please do not call your opponents rolls.

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We are a baffle box free club. 

 

 

PENALTIES

 

The Manager must record results fairly and completely. Any form of selective reporting of results, including at a player’s request, must be forbidden.

 

If you have to leave before starting your match then you will forfeit any subsequent matches. They will count as a ‘tie win’ to your opponent(s) for the tournament that night, but will not be reported as ladder matches and will not affect UKBG ratings.  

 

Any match in progress can, by prior agreement, be finished online that week. If the score is even (again subject to agreement by both players) the game can be decided by a roll of the dice. If there is no agreement the departing player forfeits the match. The leaving players score will be whatever was reached before departing.

 

We adhere to the UKBGF rules unless they conflict with any of the above:

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http://ukbgf.com/wp-content/uploads/UKBGF_Rules_Edition1.3.pdf

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