American Backgammon Rules ChangeDirectors of the American Backgammon Tour (ABT) have collectively agreed to change the US Backgammon Tournament Rules & Procedures in order to meet with the rules commonly accepted in other parts of the backgammon playing world. On the new version, a player, whose opponent had rolled prematurely, may ask for a reroll.
Official backgammon rules in the US will be change starting on January 1st, 2009 with the addition of the following paragraph:
4.6. PREMATURE ACTIONS. The opponent of a player who rolls prematurely
shall complete his turn and then either let the premature roll stand
or require a reroll. The opponent of a player who doubles prematurely
shall complete his turn and then pass or take.
Previously, players in US backgammon tournaments and championships, had no official authority over misbehaving opponents who would hurry and toss the dice before the end of the players' turns. By adding the rule on premature actions, the North American backgammon tournament managers straighten with their colleagues from other continents.
The modification of the US Backgammon Tournament Rules & Procedures, first set in 1990, may be a step towards international, standardized backgammon rules, which, in turn may even lead to one, untied backgammon authority. The wish to establish an international backgammon authority was recently brought up by the director of the PartoucheGammon Tour, held annually in France, after the latter had to cope with backgammon cheater on the final table of the event.
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