Backgammon clock rules

Blitz · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 18

Last night I played a friendly game of backgammon with a friend of mine and we were playing with a clock. I had just done a pip count, seen that the game was in my favor and decided to double. However, I accidentally hit the clock before I had a chance to offer the cube. Oops!

I figured that the ruling in a case like this would be simple—by hitting the clock I had finished my move. It doesn’t matter if it was accidental or not, now that the clock had been hit it was my friend’s turn and my loss.

My friend however, being a gentleman, insisted that I should be allowed to take my turn and switch the clock back. I thought it was awfully nice of him but I couldn’t help thinking that if this had been a serious match and I had been in his shoes I would have insisted that it was my turn now that my opponent had hit the clock and that he would miss his turn and I would play. Any other opinions?

Shaker · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 20

The truth is that your opponent has the option to choose in a case like this—he can decide whether or not to let you have your turn if you accidentally hit the clock. In many situations it would be to your opponent’s advantage NOT to let you roll and make your move. However, many players will allow you to play just because it’s the nice thing to do. You are lucky that you have a nice friend who let you take your turn. However, you may not always be so lucky.

Sappertone · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 17

In my opinion, it is never smart to “be a gentleman” and let your player re-play his errors. Especially if you are playing for money it is always good to quietly accept your opponent’s silly errors and illegal moves.

Sometimes an opponent may misread the dice and make a play that is worse than what would have been possible if he had moved legally. In this case you can let the move slide by without comment. However, you are always free to point out illegal moves as well.

The point is, whenever your opponent makes a mistake you always have the choice of whether to point it out to his or not, so before pointing out an opposing mistake always check before you point it out whether or not it is advantageous to you.