Bg in London Rule Changes
26th March 2008
Some slight amendments to rules mostly to bring Bg in London in line with other backgammon organsations that have recently altered their rules.
 
Premature Dice Rolls and Cube Actions:
 The biggest alteration is to the every problematic pre-mature dice rolls and cube action rules. In this we are adopting the new Biba rule:



4.6 Premature Action (new rule)
All completed premature actions (see below) shall stand or be re-rolled at the opponent's discretion. An opponent who has yet to complete his turn or act upon the cube, may then do so with the foreknowledge of the premature roller's dice throw or cube action.
If you premature roll and pick up your dice before any number was seen, you must roll again.
If one number was seen, the other die must be rolled.
If both numbers were seen, then the dice are replaced on the board with that number.
If cocked dice are prematurely rolled, then another roll must be completed and that roll is the premature roll.
Any premature handling of the cube or verbal references to doubling is deemed to be a cube action.
 
Baffle boxes:
There are only a tiny minority of players that like to use baffle boxes and majority dislike them. To be frank if using precision dice and lipped cups is not sufficient for players to feel that they are “playing on a level playing field” then they have not entirely understood the ethos of Backgammon in London. Using precision dice though lipped cups and then a baffle box is just a step too far for most. So we are altering our rules to the U.S. rules that states "A baffle box may be used by agreement of both players or by requirement of the Director."

Maximum size of boards when space is restricted:
The Bg in London Hector-Saxe boards are just less than 30” across. The rule on the maximum size of boards if space is limited until now has been 21”. Given that the majority of boards used at Bg in London events are 30” across this rule is now plainly just silly. Therefore the rule is altered to maximum 30” if space is limited.

 

3.1 Equipment (new rule)
Either player may demand that both use when available and approved by the Director, precision dice (over any others), and/or lipped cups and 21” tournament sized boards. A baffle box may be used by agreement of both players or by requirement of the Director. After the start of a match, equipment can only be changed by the Director. NB: When playing space is restricted, boards greater than 30" will not be allowed in the main playing room.
VIEW THE FULL RULES