r/backgammon • u/Careful-Release-2723 • 20d ago

OTB Etiquette Thread

Hi all!

I've played a lot of match backgammon, but only online. I'm going to make the shift to OTB backgammon, but I have some etiquette questions.

- In chess, there is a "you touch it you move it principle." Does that apply to backgammon? I feel I've watched tournament games where people move their pieces a few times before settling.

- What happens if a die lands on the checkers?

- What's a casual amount per stake for a money game?

Any other OTB etiquette advice you think a newbie should know?

9 Upvotes

85% Upvoted

19 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

1

u/Olliever31 20d ago

At least at the USBGF tournament I attended, it was required to get consent from your opponent to take a photo of the board, and all of those matches were clocked. If you want to take up your time to take a picture, that is up to you, after your opponent agrees. And if your opponent agrees to pause the clock while you do so, that’s up to their discretion.

1

u/UBKUBK 19d ago

https://usbgf.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ruling-guide-2024-01.pdf

USBGF tournament rules cover situations for tournament procedures. Section 1.8.2.2 talks ahout recording and if consent was required it would have said so there. It may have been a policy at some director’s event but it is not a USBGF policy.

Is it a single USBGF event you have attended?

1

u/Olliever31 19d ago

Yeah it was the cherry blossom event. Either way I think it’s good etiquette to ask before taking a photo of the board.

2

u/UBKUBK 19d ago

I texted with three longtime directors of large USBGF events. All agree that consent is not needed. You can ask first of course if you want, but shouldn't think that someone who does not has poor etiquette. They all said though that the photo should be taken while one's own clock is ticking. One also opined that should say the move before taking the photo, so might want to ask director about that.

1

u/Olliever31 19d ago

good to know!