Clockwise vs anticlockwise play - Backgammon Forum - Discuss Backgammon Strategy, Clubs and Books

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Clockwise vs anticlockwise play

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03-20-2014 , 08:55 AM

SaurusDNA

newbie

Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 28

In competition backgammon, is it standard to play in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction, or is it up to the players. If so, what happens if the two players can't agree on a direction?

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03-20-2014 , 09:01 AM

Robertie

old hand

Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,954

If one player is playing clockwise, then his opponent is playing anti-clockwise.

If you mean which player gets to go in which direction -- disagreement is settled by each side rolling a die. High die wins and gets his choice. The same method settles the question of whose board is being used if both players want to use their own board.

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03-20-2014 , 09:14 AM

SaurusDNA

newbie

Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 28

I don't know if it's a brain-related pattern recognition issue, but when I'm bearing off to the right, I have a 1900 elo on XG, whereas in bearing off to the left I'm about 1600.

I learned BG bearing off to the right several years ago, and my mind can't seem to process the mirror image patterns properly.

Have you ever come across anything like this before?

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03-20-2014 , 10:29 AM

Robertie

old hand

Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,954

That's a new one. I'd suggest resetting XG and any other software to bear off to the left until you get used to it. Fortunately, almost all the books out there use Magriel's default, where the diagrams show the lower player bearing off to the left.

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03-20-2014 , 10:51 PM

TheRealFatboy

centurion

Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 165

took me a week (years ago) to be able to adjust to playing either way. however i''m dyslexic when it comes to right/left.

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03-25-2014 , 01:21 PM

uberkuber

veteran

Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3,032

When I play against my friend, he always plays counterclockwise and I play clockwise. Would we switch, I like to think it would throw him off more than it would for me.

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03-28-2014 , 12:35 AM

Frank the Tank

old hand

Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 1,458

I'm completely omni-directional. For me, once I got to the point where I didn't have to count each pip individually, it just all clicked.

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03-28-2014 , 05:57 PM

colin20g

enthusiast

Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 88

Backgammon is supposed to be played in both directions.
So:
Work out your weakest side.
When I realized that the majority of internet applications I've seen force the player to play anticlockwise, I've downloaded javafibs again and set it on 'cockwise' and stayed like that.
After some practice you don't feel the difference anymore imho.

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03-28-2014 , 06:17 PM

uberkuber

veteran

Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3,032

I think I prefer clockwise because I'm lefty.
Moving the checkers clockwise with the left hand seems more natural.
Go figure.

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03-28-2014 , 10:55 PM

#10

Taper_Mike

adept

Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,030

Whenever I find that I am developing the habit of playing one way or the other, I switch immediately.

Mike

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03-29-2014 , 04:39 PM

#11

TheRealFatboy

centurion

Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 165

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taper_Mike

Whenever I find that I am developing the habit of playing one way or the other, I switch immediately.

Mike

thats what i do as well.

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