Internet Backgammon Tournament Rules & Procedures
General Rules For Play For All Tournaments
INTERPRETING RULES
The Tournament Rules and Procedures cannot, and should not, regulate all possible situations that may occur during a game. No set of rules should deprive the Directors of their freedom of judgement or prevent them from finding a solution that is FAIR and compatible with the circumstances of a particular case.
ENTRIES
All entries must be members of GamesGrid upon entry into each tournament and entries are subject to the approval of the Tournament Director. Reasons for exclusion need not be stated. Where more than one Tournament Division exists, an entrant may be restricted from playing in a lower division.
ASSISTANCE DURING PLAY
Once a match is in progress, neither player may use mechanical or written aids, i.e., Jellyfish, backgamon books to assist in the play of the match. In addition, neither player may receive assistance from another person in the play of the match. Violation of any of these will result in an automatic forfeit of the match.
SPECTATORS
Spectators must remain silent while observing a match. Spectators have no right to draw attention to any misplays or comment on plays. Player may request Officials/Director to bar one or more spectators from viewing their match and if necessary direct the player to gag (remove) the observor from the match.
REGULATIONS
SLOW PLAY. Players are expected to play at a reasonable pace. Officials/Director may warn a slow player and if need be a time clock may be used to monitor excessively slow matches unless the cause is due to server or internet problems. Unless extenuating circumstances occur, all matches must be completed in one session.
MONITORS. Officials/Director may appoint a monitor to observe a match on his/her own initiative, or at the request of a player. Monitor shall have full powers to protect each player against opponent's irregularities.
LOCATION OF PLAY. All matches to be played on GamesGrid.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF MATCHES. Round matchups with start date/time will be emailed prior to the start of each round to each player and in addition will be posted on the individual tournament bracket for that particular round. Matches must be completed by the time date/time set by the Tournament Officials/Director. It is up to each player to contact his/her opponent by EMAIL and finish the round in the allocated time. Requests for time extensions, forfeiture due to non-show of opponent will be made by the Officials/Tournament Director only. No one is allowed to record a win without actually having played and won a match.
SCHEDULED MATCHES. Players must make every effort to be ready to play their match at the scheduled time chosen by both players in the match. If either player repeatedly is not available at the scheduled time to play their match, it will be the Official's/Director's discretion to make a ruling to forfeit that player.
COMPLETION OF GAME. Games must be rolled and played to completion so that the results are showing in the players match record. No game may be cancelled and replayed, or settled. Matches must be played to the appointed length.
BEGINNING MATCH PLAY. Before starting any matches, players must first confirm with each other that the match is being played as part of the Official GamesGrid designated Tournament and agree upon the designated length of the match.
REPORTING RESULTS. Final score shall be reported
electronically on our web page by the match winner. Director/officials can verify and post a correct result if need be. In the event the web page forms are unavailable results shall be reported by e-mail to tournaments@gamesgrid.comDEADLINE. If an opponent has not responded by email to either his/her opponent or to the Officials/Director of the tournament by the date and time of the deadline, he/she will be automatically forfeited.
EMAIL ADDRESSES. If a player is emailed by an Official/Director and the email is returned as undeliverable, it is the discretion of the Officials/Director to forfeit the player from the tournament. If a player has a change to their email address, they MUST notify the Director at
tournaments@gamesgrid.com of their change.SCORING/DOUBLING. The Crawford Rule will apply to all matches. When a player reaches match point (e.g., 8 points in a 9 point match), the doubling cube will be out of play for one game. In subsequent games following the Crawford game, the cube may be turned at the first legal opportunity. Jacoby Rule, Holland Rule, Beavers, Raccoons and auto doubles are not allowed.
CONTENTIONS
DISPUTES. To assist in determining rulings on disputes, it is adviseable for all players to record their matches. If a dispute arises between two opponents during a match, every effort must be made to contact an Official/ Director. If they are not available, the match then must be recorded and the player/players must email an Official/Director and continue the match at a later date when a ruling has been made by an Official/ Director.
TESTIMONY. Any player may argue issues of fact or rule. Spectators, except to report cheating, may testify only at Director's request.
APPEALS. Player may appeal Official/Director's ruling, but must do so promptly, while timely redress may still be obtained. To resolve an appeal, Official/Director shall convene a Committee of three knowledgeable and disinterested backgammon players/tournament directors. The Committee shall hear relevant testimony and arguments and may overturn the Tournament Director's ruling by majority decision. This exhausts the player's right to an appeal.