Speed of the game

evilari · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 17

I’ve been having a problem lately when I play backgammon online. I am relatively new to the game, so I am not as fast a player as some of my opponents, although I am certainly not playing at the speed of a snail. Sometimes other players gripe and complain when I take as long as ten seconds to make a move! I don’t feel like ten seconds is long at all, considering my eyesight and reflexes aren’t what they used to and I am getting used to the different software interfaces. I feel like most people are insisting on play that is impossibly fast for me. Anyhow, it really takes the fun out of the game when your opponent keeps complaining about my speed. Can anyone make any recommendations for me?

Kleinman · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 14

10 seconds isn’t generally that slow. If I was playing you, I might get a little annoyed if you took that long on EVERY move, but I wouldn’t complain to you, I just wouldn’t play you after we finished the game or match.

However, there are a lot of jerky players out there who will complain and complain… just tell them nicely that you are playing as fast as you can and the if they have a problem with it they shouldn’t play you anymore.

teklanika · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 6

I am also a somewhat slow player and I used to have this problem as well. I added to my preferences/profile a statement that said “Medium Speed” and these speed demons have stopped playing me and all is well. Maybe you should try something like that.

A lot of people have a problem with slow play because it makes them paranoid. Ten seconds would be enough to check what your best move would be with a bot like snowie or gnu. Taking time to make moves is the biggest sign of cheating, which may be why some people are over sensitive about it. There isn’t really much you can do, as you can’t force yourself to play faster. Faster playing will come with time and practice. I do agree that it may not be a bad idea to add something to your preferences that says that you aren’t the fastest player so if someone is looking for fast play you are not the opponent for them.

ellyssian · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 18

Some backgammon websites include clocks in their software. The clocks are there to limit the time people take to play. I believe that if you are staying in the limits of the clocks then your opponent has no right to complain and I think it’s extremely rude that people are complaining when you are only taking ten seconds. I have played games where my opponent has taken up to thirty seconds to make each move. This can get frustrating, but ten seconds is nothing, especially if you are a beginner! Just keep playing at the speed you feel comfortable and if anyone has anything to say about it, just let them know you are doing the best you can.