Backgammon Online

26-Mar-2012
15:33 PST

Bah is in a tournament with 3 games in progress. He decides to go on vacation and is gone for 12 days, when he gets back, he plays the 1 game he is leading in and ignores the 2 games in which he is loosing. So now his opponents have been waiting 16 days to finish the 2 remaining games.

Is that a form of cheating???

27-Mar-2012
08:27 PST

A form of cheating? No Just a bad sportmanship

01-Apr-2012
01:18 PST

the situation has been resolved, the practice of playing only games in which one is ahead should be against the rules.

23-Dec-2012
18:21 PST

i got a guy who signed up.. started two games... i started completely trouncing him within a few moves... and then he stops making moves for 3 days and then postpones all his games 5 minutes before his game with me was set to time out.

now i have to wait another 6 days before he's given 3 days more to make a move???

you dont sign up start games and then postpone everything when playing on a rated site.. thats just poor form

12-Jan-2013
17:17 PST

Definition - Gamesmanship is the use of dubious (although not technically illegal) methods to win or gain a serious advantage in a game or sport.

I have recently started playing in the backgammon ladder and I am absolutely appalled to see how many people simply stop playing when they are losing. This is more apparent at the top of the ladder. And there are certain individuals who do this on an ongoing basis.

I thought the idea was to be competitive and enjoy oneself - not to win at all cost.
Gee - we are not playing for money.

Come on people - let's stop this practice.

13-Jan-2013
01:11 PST

is the posting of names for people who do this allowed?

Since this is truly poor sportsmanship which fouls an otherwise wonderful community gaming site and is not technically against the rules. Even if it was clearly stated as against the rules it would be extremely hard if not impossible to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Solution; community self policing. If a person is artificially holding on to rank one in a ladder (which is blatantly the case at this very moment.. dirty bird lovers  ) if all the peeps who have an active game with said person were to be aware of it and simply only make 1 move every 3 days, this persons rank would drop like a rock within 4-5 days

13-Jan-2013
02:40 PST

I agree that it's bad sportsmanship. Usually when I encounter a player who drags out losing games I put them in my ignore list but alas you can't ignore players on the ladder. I think naming and shaming is the way to go, then perhaps they would stop playing like that or with a bit of luck leave the site! The vast majority of players here play fairly and it is only a small minority who are fouling the site.

13-Jan-2013
05:01 PST

I had such cases a few times and there is not much you can do about it. Jamesnchina's approach seems to be worth a try.

13-Jan-2013
06:45 PST

Several other ideas to ponder:
- calculate and display average time per move for each player
- decrease allotted time per move in all ladders (most of us play everyday) to 2 day limit
- introduce one move per day leagues (speed-ladders) for players with average speed less than 1 move per game). Allow no more than one 3-day postpone in these leagues (we are not playing for money, right?)

I don't think naming names would help much - this is currently not against the rules, so it is what it is. But by introducing speedier games, we may get this game holding issue resolved. Personally, I'd rather play in the speed-leagues than ones we have now and I am sure many of us who play every day would do to.

Would love to hear your thoughts and discuss more ideas.

13-Jan-2013
08:23 PST

We will get a lot of different ladders with all these limits and speed ladders.
Personally i try as much as possible to play my games quick, but always put on my games max 5 days in case something unexpected happens.
In case people find it so important to be on a high spot, just let them and in case they have higher rank just dont invite them anymore and try to have all your ladder games full.

Since we are making suggestions for more ladders, my favourite will be live games, so you dont have to wait days for opponents to move.

But i still like it to play my games here due to another alternative. Lollll

Wshing everyone lots of luck when they play games with me and in case i have more luck i herewith already humbly apologise. Only way i am able to win is with lotssss of luck .

Have fun and enjoy