Backgammon Online

07-Mar-2010
22:24 PDT

I'd like to make a suggestion regarding the calculation of ratings, especially now that the doubling cube is in effect. I haven't thought this through entirely, but wanted to open it up for discussion.

Right now, ZE uses the Elo Formula to calculate the rating change when the game is over. If two players have the same rating, E will end up being 0.5. The S is either 1 for a win, or 0 for a loss. Therefore, with an arbitrary K value of 10, this means that R'A = RA + 10(S-E) will be either +5 for a win, or -5 for a loss. I think we can all pretty much follow the above scenario.

The complexity comes into play when a gammon or backgammon or the cube are in effect. Using the Elo Formula does NOT produce a linear change in the E value. The new tool to see what the various combinations of multipliers will do to your ratings is helpful, but it also brings to light the uselessness of the cube in its current state.

My suggestion is to lower the K value even further, to 5 for example, and use the Elo Formula AT THE BEGINNING OF THE GAME to establish the WAGER for that particular game. That is, the number of rating points that the game will be worth for players with the same rating will be 2.5. Good players will still be risking more than weaker players on the same scale as now based on ratings. However, from that point on, a gammon will be worth TWICE the wager, a backgammon is worth THREE times the wager, and the cube multiplier is on top of those.

Obviously, there would be a larger fluctuation in ratings, but everyone would know what they were risking by accepting the cube. As it is now, it is hardly a risk to accept it. (Especially if you get to see what your opponent has rolled before deciding to accept it or not.)

Ok, I'll get down from my soapbox now. Thanks for listening.

08-Mar-2010
09:25 PDT

This post was deleted by ScionRafa on 09-Mar-2010, 06:03 PDT

09-Mar-2010
06:05 PDT

I agree - right now the cube and/or gammons/backgammons are almost useless. It's as if the rules are forcing us all to play DMP at all times.

09-Mar-2010
07:11 PDT

In case anyone is wondering . . .

DMP = Double Match Point: When both players are either one away or two away from the end of the backgammon match.

21-Mar-2010
15:11 PDT

Love the post Pokhra. Great suggestion. I backgammoned someone recently, who was near to me in ranking, and received a whopping 7 or 8 points. It was weird. Now a typical win is worth 5, and a gammon 6. A game doubled on the cube is worth 6. It's not worth it. My inclination when someone doubles me is to simply accept, because there is so little risk.

I think your idea works. ZE?

22-Mar-2010
10:20 PDT

I know that somebody on your end has to read these things...

If there's a possibility, or even if there's not, a reply would be appreciated. As it is now, the cube is fun thing, but not much more. And the little "shaky 5's dance" that the dice do during the rolling is annoying. A half-second of it would suffice.

Thanks for continuing to improve the site.

22-Mar-2010
10:39 PDT

Indeed we are here! We are 'letting the dust settle' and taking in the feedback. We will respond to the ratings change soon.

As far as the dice rolling, it really depends on your internet connection speed and the number of requests being made to the server at that time (during the dice rolling animation, your web browser is sending data to our server and then our server responds, much like when you actually navigate to a new page, but without refreshing the page).

22-Mar-2010
11:16 PDT

Thanks for the reply. I'll toss it out again, but if you need a beta tester to try out a new product, let me know and I'll be happy to offer some feedback.