Backgammon Online

26-Feb-2010
08:18 PDT

cmichalopo,

As I mentioned once in my earlier comments, I believe designing a software for the ZE server to choose certain players to punish (or getting someone to manually do it!) shouldn't be cost-effective if not impossible at all.

But on the other hand, since this phenomenon happens more frequently than normal (at least from the losers' point of view), I think maybe they try to keep the balance by periodically focusing on one of the players and manipulate the dice for him.

What makes me believe in this (half-jokingly of course) is the fact that I can't understand how for instance I lose every single game I play in a period of 1-2 days no matter how accurate or low-risk I play, without getting any rescue rolls or back to back doubles while bearing off, and then suddenly the 180 degree opposite story happens and I find myself winning impossible games and gaining 100-150 points in 1 day.

Check my performance graph for the second week of February. Bev001 and Steelerhead experienced such a distinctive roller coaster effect also.

Of course I can't prove this theory, but that's why I feel there should be something abnormal going on with the random server of ZE.

Who cares after all?
Personally I just play backgammon to put my mind on neutral mode for a few minutes every day to deal with stress, so maybe it's just better not to add another stressor to my life.

27-Feb-2010
15:16 PDT

I find exactly the same pattern of wins/losses as you Artin, though I have no particular conspiracy theory to offer.

I am currently in the middle of what I anticipate is a 2 day losing streak, where my opponents are consistently getting rescue rolls, hitting unlikely blots and generally rolling 'perfect rolls' at critical phases of the games, meaning that whether I play conservatively or aggressively I'm punished either way.

I'm also being zugzwanged atrociously often by unlikely rolls (ie rolling the only roll in 36 that leaves me forcibly exposed to likely blottage).

When I'm on the bar, it frequently takes me several (4+) rolls to hit any one of 3-4 numbers and I have several times rolled 66 when the only spike covered is 6. When my opponents are on the bar they seem almost unerringly to hit the only 1 or 2 empty spikes and then often continue with their second dice to roll the perfect number to hit the only exposed blot within range, thus scoring a hefty pip advantage.

As I haven't studied these roll patterns in any great detail though, I can't offer any opinion as to the validity of the dice-rolling engine that ZE are employing.

Maybe my luck's about to turn again? Another seven game winning streak would be nice, ZE *wink*

06-Jun-2010
17:13 PDT

It is one of the best combacks I ever made... See the link-
http://zooescape.com/backgammon.pl?v=200&gid=175314 and start on Turn 18.... when you see that part, it looked like I am going to lose for sure with almost ZERO chance to win.... but amazily, I won this game! Best comeback of 2010 so far?? Good game, Maidann!

06-Jun-2010
21:45 PDT

Steelerhead,
No one can deny that you are one of the luckiest players on this site (at least against me you are a natural killer) and you also back it up with some brave spirit and fighting-to-the- last-drop-of-blood-left kind of style.
The game IS amazing, but Maidann's #22 move (5/2) was a terrible mistake/
But then again, who could see what was coming?
Good job

06-Jun-2010
22:19 PDT

I, like many others, have been stunned by the miraculous rolls of my opponents, and obviously my suggestion for a score adjustment when the winner rolls three or more sets of high doubles while bearing off has been ignored <sigh>.  

I think part of my frustration is wondering if the "random" roll generator is connected somehow to this site's Sudoku 'random' puzzle generator, which has a very clear pattern.

07-Jun-2010
12:43 PDT

The rolling of the dice is not connected to the Sudoku puzzle generator. (Our Sudoku puzzles are generated offline and on a different computer, and the 'clear pattern' in some of the puzzles has nothing to do with the 'random' function but everything to do with how the transformations and transpositions are applied when generating the puzzles.)

Any game with dice involves risk because the roll of the dice is beyond one's control, and even though something is not likely to happen, it will still happen eventually if you play enough games. Please refer to FAQ #27.

07-Jun-2010
12:51 PDT

2nd amazing comeback in two days! See the link and start at Turn 27! ( http://zooescape.com/backgammon.pl?v=200&gid=184446 ) I supposed to lose this game but somehow, I got nice rolls... That is why I always believe- don't say impossible until you are 100% sure! Patrick played well but he was unlucky on that game.... made 60 turns!

09-Jun-2010
12:47 PDT

Finally I could produce a game in your class:

http://zooescape.com/backgammon.pl?v=200&gid=189447

09-Jun-2010
18:22 PDT

Patrick was too greedy against you, Steelerhead. Of course you were playing a back game (you had to), so he should have avoided checker circulation. Still, amazing game  

By the way, in my opinion, you were never doomed to lose - that's exactly how a back game plays like  

20-Jun-2010
04:26 PDT

My friend it has been quite sometime seen we have played the game in question, but I assure you whatever happened in that particular game, I am sure all of us have seen... the good the bad and the ugly well OK this was definitely the ugly but we all have been there!???