Andersp:
Oops! my bad! I didn't realize it was a 5 game match and not a 5 point match. That makes all the difference in the world. I guess I was having a blonde moment so to speak and was looking more forward to the rare backgammon... My apologies!

Today I learn that you could avoid a backgammon by resigning the game as my opponent did in this game.
Backgammon (LionsLair vs. AlliumCepa)
Thus only giving up one point instead of 3. I'll have to use this info for future reference when I find myself in that situation. Tis a sad way to play in MHO, but if the system lets you... as the old saying goes, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em!

I have an idea for a new variant I would like to propose be added to Brainking
...it's rather simple actually and I call it "backgammon choice"
the idea is to have a player choose his/her (2) die from a 3 die roll....
... given that more double die will be an option, I found it best to limit the # of doubles a player can use... (3) works best in my opinion, and after a player has used his/her 3 doubles in a game they are forced to use the non double combination... the only exception to this rule would be if all 3 die are identicle... in which case the player passes and losses his/her turn...
I have found this to be an interesting variant that I have tested only here at home, and would like to see it here so I could play it with people that have many different strategies to the game...
...an added note is that I have found that after a player uses his/her 3 doubles and it is in a race situation, that it is alot harder to lose to an opponent that is clearly behind and you get killed by doubles in the ending moves of a game, something I'm sure many players would like to see...
...other than that, the rules are the same for a normal backgammon game...
...and yes, a coubling cube can be used...
...any thoughts? do you think I should submit this to fencer?

as always, happy gaming!

an interesting variant thus far...
what I'd like to see is feedback,suggestions, or requests about the other cloning variants...
...did Fencer open the door for this?...are we going to see 'cloning nackgammon' or 'cloning race'?.... I think 'cloning hyper' or 'cloning anti-' would make great variants myself...
...any thoughts before I start a crusade on the "feature request board" to add these variants?
as always, happy gaming!

alanback: I must have been having a BALD moment!!

alanback: duh, ...brain ____! I reread what you wrote...I don't know what I read the first time... thanx

alanback: ... so if I had rolled a 3-5 and not a 5-3, then I would have had to use the 3 because it was first?
...I could only use one but not both...

... in a situation where a player can only use one of his/her die but not both,yet capable of using either one, why doesn't the player get the choice of which die to use?(no swap dice option) ...is the protocal to use the higher die, or the first die?
...I was only able to use the first die(the higher roll), is the reason I ask, but would have prefered to use the lower #, which was the second die....

alanback: yes, that looks very familiar... I seem to remember this and other theories on the cube when I started fine tuning my gammon skills, with better knowledge of the cube (when to offer/accept/decline)
... for anyone that wants to better their play and/or knowldge on the subject,this is great reading...(understanding simple mathmatics helps too!)
...thanx for dredging that up!

alanback: great points that you and Hrqls have made on the cube... however as you both know this only skims the surface on the 'theory of the cube'....
...alanback, a few years back you had a link to a very informational 'cube theory' article... I must say I was enlightened on many things by reading it and it explained things in more far more detail than either of you posted here... I don't know if you still have it , or even remember it, but it explained why one should offer the cube, and when to offer it... it also explained the advantages of cube possesion, and why one should accept early in a game...
if you remember this link, or still have it, I think it would be great reading for the enquisitive minds interested in better knowledge of the cube, or simply for someone that wants to better their gammon play and/or experience...

alanback: congrats! looks like you are setting the bar pretty high! I'll need to tighten up my boot straps and play a bit harder to catch you...
...again, well done! :o)

alanback: 6th!, now thats amazing!! you are who I am trying to catch!, or at least concidered to be in the same class as yourself, I have read a few of your articles over the years and have learned alot from you... you have made me challenge myself to be a world class gammon player...
...a BKR of at least 2000 is quite an accomplishment as well, ... I (being the student) will have to try to accomplish this as well... I love a challenge!
...congrats on your accomplishments... and keep an eye out, one day the student may best the teacher! ;o)

can I brag a minute, without sounding arrogant?
...it has taken me awhile but I finally made the top 25 in ALL 6 gammon variants!!!
...I'm not stopping here though, my goal is to be in the top 5 in all of them! that might take a bit longer with a bit of luck as well!
...and of course I realize I just put a target on my back, but I think I'm up to the challenge, so anyone that would care to play a game, send me an invite...
...as always, happy gaming!

Hrqls: main reason for that was because of the lack of a doubling cube back then, and the 'luck factor' in a single game, as I'm not the one the luck is always with! :o)

Marfitalu: guess I'll need to complete 6 more b'gammon games to make this list then... :o)

Hrqls: I take it this is all 'established BKR' rankings?

Hrqls: I remember this list...it is one of the main reasons I started playing regular b'gammon, as I wanted to be ranked with the likes of the top players as well, but never played in all 6 variants to even get recognized as one of them...

alanback: leaving on top is a good thing, but given a little bit of time(because I haven't completed as many games as yourself) I think I can make it into the top 5-10 players in 6 of 6 of the gammon variants(including anti-)
...and if not, the level you raised the bar to will be fun trying to accomplish...

I just recently noticed while looking at my finished games, that I am showing 2 draws in anti-backgammon...
I have neither offered a draw or accepted a draw, so I looked a little further... the games in question were part of a stairs match that my opponent and I split( a win, and a lose)...so why does it count as a draw? because it is part of a 2 game match? ...seems a win and a lose would be sufficient for the record books(bkr ratings) ...I think a draw would only count in a game where there is no clear winner...

...pardon to the powers that be if they feel this should be posted on the stairs board :o) ...it was perplexing to decide where to ask a gammon-stairs question...

bumble:
duh.... brain fart!

LionsLair: oops! this game
http://brainking.com/en/ShowGame?g=1046552

I should be forced to move out of my opponents home in this game, however if I want to cheat I can move the 5 and NOT the 3... what's up?

I'll probably get the usual "please make post of this nature on the BG board" type of reply/post on the FR board... so I'll repost it here, so I don't tick the moderators off for posting on the wrong board.... :o)
http://www.bkgm.com/variants/Chouette.html
another link about 'chouette' variant... those interested should look at the bottom of the page and find many more variations of 'gammon games and maybe direct the powers that be on BK in this direction. if BK ever wanted to cater to their gammon players, as they do to their chess players, this would be a good place to get some ideas... :o)

BIG BAD WOLF:
too cool! ...guess I'll become a member now!
...been waiting a couple years for this, call me a hard sell, but I just never felt good about jumping on the bandwagon when the site didn't work right for the games I prefer to play...
cuddo's to fencer! :o)

BIG BAD WOLF:
ok, thanx... I understand, I just haven't seen anything about it...
one other thing, I gather from vague skimming of other posts that the 'bug' has been fixed in the dice program?... meaning that whenever possible that both dice must be used?

BIG BAD WOLF:
...would it be a problem or is it just not implimented yet to list games with the cube as "pro" games...?
...I realize it would be alot of extra space to list new BKR ratings for each "pro" game of the 6 existing 'gammon variations... but the fact is a good "pro"gammon player may only be an average 'normal' game player... an average player may only win 40% of the time in a normal game and yet win 65% of "pro" games...
... :o) just a suggestion since you're taking them!

Fencer:
thank you for the thown bone! ;o)
it is and will be appreciated by many!