Backgammon Online

20-Jun-2012
05:22 PST

It can be aggravating when a tournament level grinds to a standstill as the few remaining players, for whatever reason, seem to need to take forever to complete their games. I also realize they are playing according to the rules and can take 3 days per move if that's what they have to do, even if it means prolonging the level for another month or more. Circumstances in their lives may not make it possible to get through games any sooner. Creating an option for real time play (RTP) might be a solution but is only possible if both players are online and onsite at the same time which is unlikely . Any RTP program would have to include a set of notification options that are enabled when a request is initiated by one player and accepted by the other. Something like this: Player 1 opens the game they want to play in real time and clicks a "Request to play this game in real time" link . Notifications are sent to player 2 the same way other notifications are sent. . Player 2 sees the request in their mail or on the game screen. If player 2 accepts the request a notification options window open allowing the player to choose how they would like to be notified when their opponent is online / onsite . ( Note: player 1 will get the same options window the next time they check their "my games menu" indicating acceptance) When either player sees/hears a notification that the other is online and/or onsite , the opposing player can choose to signal to their opponent that they are ready to play as well.A final "lets play" response opens the game for both players which is then played to completion. Of course this all works fine in my imagination but the reality may be more trouble than it's worth!

04-Jul-2012
12:15 PST

That wouldn't really resolve the problem of tournaments grinding to a halt because of players who take 3 days to make a turn. Part of it is because of the time difference but my experience is that the players who move every 3 days only come online for a very short time - they make their moves and disappear almost immediately. Therefore real time play in tournaments would only be more frustrating because the players who play regularly throughout the day will finish their games even quicker thus increasing the waiting time? A better option might be to have 'quick tournaments' as suggested previously, where players only sign up if they can make a move within 1 day?

17-Jul-2012
05:37 PST

I understand some dislike waiting. But, it is not like you can't play different games. So, there is no wait to play more backgammon. Also, the tournaments do not actually "standstill" nor "grind to a halt," except when the tournys end, which they all eventually do.

I guess what I am getting at is I don't get exactly what is troublesome about waiting. Is it the wait itself? or does it cause other problems I am missing?

21-Jul-2012
18:07 PST

Thank you for your input. After considering your thoughts on the subject, I'm inclined to agree with you both with regards to tournament play. I think what I was really trying to do was to use the subject of tournaments as another gateway to promote Real Time Game play. I first suggested this was the day after ZE started the site improvement thread and periodically since then when I can include it in a response to a forum post. I know ZE must have been considering it when they surveyed players about the subject last year. As I recall, the results were very in favor of RTGP, but that's as far as it got. I'm sure they have their reasons!. .

22-Jan-2013
10:22 PST

I wonder how many accept the HATU for tournaments. I do not think it's fair that a player with a high rating conquers a few points, zero according the difference, if he wins against a lower rated player. But if he loses the game loses a lot of points.
I accept this for skill games: chess, golf, tennis etc.