tonyh: a match is a match, no matter how many games or points it takes to win it, so the answer is none

Vikings: That is interesting, because over at Goldtoken, they do add on extra points, although the basic rating points are lower (2 for a game).

tonyh:  That's kind of a sore point for the more sophisticated backgammon players among us.  Nearly every other backgammon site has a rating system that reflects the reality that multiple point matches are a better test of skill than one-point matches.  However, Fencer has refused to implement such a system here.

alanback: ..a new expression for me...exactly what does it mean?

Andersp:

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/sophisticated

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/backgammon

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/player

alanback: Thanks for the "links" :)...are you a sophisticated backgammon player?

Andersp:  Only sophisticated enough to know that the BKR system doesn't work well for backgammon :-)

alanback: I dont think that i am so sophisticated, but i think the BKR system should be more fair if all players played low rated players too 

Andersp:  If it is seen as a problem that higher rated players don't want to play
against lower rated players, then one solution is to improve the
ratings system.  The BKR system penalizes higher rated players harshly for playing against lower rated players.  A properly designed ratings system should not discourage higher rated players from playing against lower rated players, as the BKR system does.  Of course, the higher rated players should always prefer longer matches.  

Andersp: i think the BKR system should be more fair if all players played low rated players too

If there's a proper rating system put in place then you'll find a couple of players who prey exclusvely on the low rated players. Will you complain then as well, at these rating manipulators?

playBunny:  Do you think it would be a good idea to have one rating for you sophisticated players and one for us who play any player?

Andersp: No, it works fine having one site for you lot and another, sophisticated, site for us.

playBunny: at least one who is happy with the Fencer's system :)

Andersp: playBunny plays Ludo on here, I tend to believe he doesn't care much about the Fencer system.

gogul: LOL...yes..i just checked his profile...but he also consider himself being a top player in backgammon :)

Andersp: just checked his profile...but he also consider himself being a top player in backgammon

You've got to learn to read accurately. The top players at Dailygammon represent considerable expertise beyond mine. My profile says if you think I'm good (because I'm top rated here) you should consider that I'm only about the 50 mark at DailyGammon. "Top in backgammon" and "Top in ToyTown" are very different things!

playBunny: Sorry, my bad...but you agree that you are sophisticated? :)

Andersp: but you agree that you are sophisticated? :)
Reply (box)

Certainly I have my share of expertise. Having studied the game at the level of obsession for three years I should do! Yet I have a huge amount yet to learn, especially cube and equity mathematics. When I understand those aspects then I will consider myself sophisticated. But it's a relative term. Compared to someone who plays but doesn't study then you could say that I'm already sophisticated.

playBunny: So you study backgammon, but play Ludo?...was i right this time?

Andersp: So you study backgammon, but play Ludo?...was i right this time?

Yep, I just move the pretty coloured pieces around the track.

But I do have to admit that I've looked deeper into the game .. http://brainking.com/en/Board?bc=3160

gogul: The rating system applied to Ludo - that sucks more than with backgammon!!

Andersp: Wrong..i just suggested that we should have one rating for us brave players and one for the sophisticated....

Have you so conveniently forgotten that you whinge at every opportunity about high raters not playing low rated ones and have been doing so for at least two years?

cant be so fun to know that you keep your rating because you dont play any player, is it?

LOL. It sure seems to spoiil your fun, Mr "I Don't Care About Ratings"!

My lack of playing is a protest against the crap rating system. It's as simple as that. If you're so keen to see me play then get the Man's fingers busy changing the rating code.

Andersp: I didnt notice that you are on strike until today,

I've said it here several times in the past. It makes sense that you'd continue to complain about me not playing (you've certainly delighted in noticing that much) if you've never heeded my reasons.

Has "the Man" changed the system or does he spoil your fun?

No, no, getting the Man to make changes is your task and for your comfort and joy (at least so you won't have to complain). It used to spoil my fun until I discovered DailyGammon and made it my home. I don't care what he does anymore. I have my Ludo matches to play ... for the next twenty years. There's complete fulfillment in that.

Andersp: Hope you can accept my apology for not noticing what you've been up to...sorry .

Lol. Apology accepted if given. It's hard to tell with you when you're such the joker.

I wasnt thinking about you at all when i asked Alan about sophisticated, but all of the sudden you popped up.

You're the one who applied the "sophisticated" label to me. My contribution was about "High vs Low", specifically "players who prey exclusvely on the low rated players" and that could have been made by anyone. The rest was the usual you-and-me banter.

Andersp: Apparently happy with the rating system yet somehow desperately complaining about the high rated players!

playBunny: Wrong..i just suggested that we should have one rating for us brave players and one for the sophisticated....cant be so fun to know that you keep your rating because you dont play any player, is it?