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+--- Thread: The Pace of Play. (/showthread.php?tid=60)
The Pace of Play. - hank - 05-27-2024
When playing online it's often difficult to keep in perspective there is real person staring down at the board, focused an concentrating on the competition at hand.
There's nothing more frustrating for people to have to wait long periods for you to play, especially at times when your move decision seems straight forward.
If you are playing someone who is chronically taking too long to roll, too long to complete a move, you can make polite communication in the chatboard. Example:
Quote:The pace is too slow for me. Are you having issues playing now? Do you want to pause and pickup later? I don't want you to rush. I want your best game. But not every move needs more than a few seconds to complete. Can we pick up the pace please?
Tips to help you keep the pace:
You can use the "wrench" icon below the play board (or keyboard "A") to toggle on/off the Dice "autoroll". You can do this at times it makes sense. The only downside to "autoroll" is that it will trump your ability to use the double cube at the start of your turn, since the double-cube needs to be played before rolling. At times when the cube is out of play, or you don't intend to use it, enabling the dice "autoroll" helps keep the pace of the match moving. Especially when you're opponent has you blocked on the bar with a full home board block.
Be courteous:
If you find yourself playing a "focused" match with your opponent, That is, you and your opponent are making moves steadily and consistently, this is when you need to recognize the responsibility you have are in focused-play mode with your opponent. Both of you are currently engaged in the match. This is when you need to play at a respectable pace (most moves in backgammon can be completed in just a few seconds, less than 13 seconds on average) and you need to communicate as needed in the chatboard if you need to step away, and even mention when you expect to return. A quick "brb 15 minutes" in the chatboard means you'll "be right back in about 15 minutes".
If you make a pattern of playing slow and aren't able to recognize when you're engaged in focus play, this will become your reputation and likely you'll be unable to play some opponents as they will avoid you. And that will be a bummer for everyone.