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BGonline.org Forums
A Proposal
Posted By: Barry Silliman In Response To: This rookie tournament director's opinion (long reply) (neilkaz)
Date: Friday, 10 February 2017, at 10:11 p.m.
Of course there's always the baffle box. .. neilkaz ..
I've been given permission by John Klein to drop my demands and propose my solution to all of this controversy, the magazine cover of the dog was from 1973 so the dog is probably dead already anyway, and since your last statement is a perfect segue into it, my proposed solution to all of this controversy is simply this:
Make baffle boxes a player preference. If either player wants a baffle box, it is used. It has the following benefits:
1) If you are the sort of player who feels obligated to run your reserve time down to two minutes three games into an 11-point match, you will have very few cocked rolls using the baffle box.
2) If your opponent is Stick who threatens to aim every roll right at you to try to lodge the dice into the nooks and crannies between checkers, you can nip it in the bud by using the baffle box.
3) If your opponent does not shake the dice to a sufficient vigor that satisfies you, no need to call a director and dispute it, you can use the baffle box.
3a) Cups are preferred as well with baffle boxes. Some players prefer to place the dice in the baffle box with their fingers. Too bad. If your opponent wants you to use a cup, you use a cup.
4) If you suspect your opponent would try the pinkie finger trick as Neil describes, you can nip that in the bud, use the baffle box.
My assumption here is that we are using a properly constructed baffle box, preferably one that is made of clear material like the ones Phil Simborg has sold in recent years or the P40 scramblers, so that players and directors can quickly assess its legitimacy. If it is wooden it should be able to be disassembled or at least you should be clearly able to inspect it thoroughly for appropriateness.
I prefer the prior rule to the new 'flat on checker' rule but it isn't a big deal to me and besides if baffle boxes are preferred anyone who isn't a big fan of dice on checkers being valid can greatly reduce this occurrence by using the baffle box.
Feel free to comment on this suggestion and my list of benefits, but I won't address the comment "it's still possible to cheat with a baffle box" other than saying right now "It's still possible for the burglar to break into your house with your lock and your deadbolt locked but that doesn't mean you're going to leave your door wide open when you leave the house".
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