Backgammon Online

12-May-2025
08:25 PDT

I agree with jart238.

BBL-29 was my first "blitz" tournament and I suspect my definition of "blitz" is wildly at variance with what's in the Oxford English Dictionary.

So not a good first impression. I'll give BBL-30 a go but if certain players are going to tick the "I promise to play quickly" box and then give the middle finger to other players then it's all a bit of a hollow exercise and I won't enter again.

This isn't a reflection on Leoton (thanks so much for your efforts in compiling these tournaments) but rather on end users talking the Mickey.

13-May-2025
22:31 PDT

Players should be able to finish their match in one setting in one day. Stay and play.

19-May-2025
12:48 PDT

Take out the word "blitz" in the name and then nobody can complain about it.
Or:
Put the members of each team in the same time zone so I don't have to get up at 3am to play someone.

19-May-2025
13:51 PDT

There is absolutely no requirement to finish a match in one setting. Our players live literally all around the globe and there is no need to get up at 3am to play.

At the same time, can we all work together to improve the speed of play? Absolutely. We have a great core group that played each other for several years now and we got to know each other a little. Let’s just connect with your opponent and figure out the timing when you both online, at least for a short period of time to make several moves… This alone would help a lot to speed it up.

BBL-30 is coming up. Let’s have a fast and fun tournament.

Thanks
Leoton

19-May-2025
22:25 PDT

Are there times when the games go a little slower? Sure. Did we have to wait longer this tourney? Yes.

Are we starting the next tourney on time, within the usual time frame. Yes.

I am not going to complain just because some games go a little long. Leo has been keeping track of players who consistently take too long, and he has conversations with them.

The key element is always relationship, not how fast the tourney goes. Keep it organic. Keep it simple. If a player keep us from keeping this schedule, then yes, Leo will take steps, and has already implemented them in the policies.

I'm just thankful that we have a tournament that we can organize outside of the ZE infrastructure.

19-May-2025
22:43 PDT

If two players are both online at the same time, STAY and PLAY.

20-May-2025
00:37 PDT

People come on, and they might have time for only a move or two that's why we do turned based instead of live. For the freedom and lack of compulsion.

20-May-2025
08:43 PDT

Sorry lilwarrior, due deference and acknowledgment to you for your impressive achievements here but on this one you're wrong and jart238 is right.

Fake news as the Donald would say.

If you're both online, you can finish a game in 15 minutes.

Don't go to the trouble of coming online, playing one move and then logging off. If you don't have time to spend any more than 45 seconds here then don't do it in the first place?

It's called "blitz league" for a reason  

20-May-2025
09:55 PDT

NackyG and Jart238 - looks like there is some disconnect here…

There is no hard requirement to complete the game in one setting. We all have different circumstances and commitments in life and we just cannot demand it.

At the same time, as I noted in my previous post, it is the best practice to connect with your opponent and discuss the time when you are both online to make as many moves as possible (or even complete the game - many players do!) to greatly speed up the tournament as much as possible.

Hope it helps.
Leoton

20-May-2025
10:17 PDT

What's fake news about it?? Although we don't agree on most politics, US or Canadian, I have to speak up & support my friend "lilwarrior" on this issue...

It's a voluntary tournament put on voluntarily by a very generous person (leoton) for the enjoyment of others. It's as simple as that!

Things DO happen that others can't stay online for as long as they (or their opponents) would like. Some people on here are playing between tasks, as time permits, at their jobs... and not everybody is retired. Even so, all have lives not beholden to the expectations of everybody else who plays on here - as in "for the freedom and lack of compulsion".

I just lost a loved one and I can only bring myself to make the minimum moves required in order to stay active without timing out my games. In time, It will change and I'll feel better - but it's better than going into vacation mode for days or weeks. Of course this doesn't affect a current BBL, but you just don't know what's going on with anybody on here, or when.

The arguments are valid that people participate from all over the world and from all time zones. That alone should merit consideration for those who would otherwise love to play on here according to your expectations. Please don't make stressful something we do for relaxation.

If the "Blitz" just isn't fast enough for you, then by all means find or create another tournament / website to your liking. There will be others who would gladly take your place!