Backgammon Etiquette No-No’s

Tommo · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 14

I’m new to backgammon online and I have managed to upset one or two players at my favorite backgammon site because of some comments I made about their playing. They were obviously unintentional, but I am wondering whether more experienced players can tell me what they find particularly irritating so that I know what to avoid doing in the future ☺ Thanks.

Deuce · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 38

OK – here is a list of seriously irritating things that I would consider a breach of backgammon etiquette:

- When the player takes his or her time over a game that is WAY past reasonable. Moving checkers back and forth and trying every possible move combination is definitely something that gets to me.
- When the player comments on how lucky I was after a game or match that I won. I’d much prefer a comment on my skill, or nothing at all.
- Players who distract me with silly chit-chat while I’m trying to contemplate a tough play or count pips. I consider that a form of cheating.
- Players who use the ‘I-told-you-so’ tactic. For example, if I try a daring move that doesn’t work in the end, the player who tells me that he wouldn’t have tried such a move really grates on my nerves.
- Players who are gleeful or who smirk when I throw a bad roll.
- Players who leave the game in the middle because ‘something more important came up’ – especially if it’s obvious that I’m going to win the game.
- Players who use uncommon abbreviations in their texts so that I am distracted by asking what he means. Keep abbreviations to the really obvious or take the time to write out the word.
- Players who swear at me! We’re supposed to be having a friendly game of backgammon here – not a war of words. Don’t be a bad loser and keep profanities to a minimum.
- Players who think that I’m a target for their home-based business. When I go online to play backgammon, I don’t become an instant magnet for advertising and spam. I don’t want to hear that you build websites cheaply and that you’ll give me a good price….

If I could summarize what I consider good backgammon etiquette, it would be this: Greet your opponent in a friendly way, keep unnecessary chat to a minimum, thank him for the game at the end of the match and congratulate him if he wins.