2025 Tournament Rules and Conditions
As of 2018, all ABT tournaments are required to use the USBGF Tournament Rules (Post of Rules for 2024 will be posted soon; pending revisions)
The NY Metropolitan Open will be using the following rule variations in accordance with the USBGF Tournament Rules
Options:
- Dice Landing on Checkers
Rule: Dice that land on top of checkers are generally valid rolls.
*At NY Metro: “No dice on checkers: A die landing on top of a checker is not a valid roll.” - Legal Moves
Rule: Any illegal play must be corrected if noticed by either player.
*At NY Metro: “Responsible moves: The non-offending player may choose to condone an illegal move, or require its correction”.
*Please note: Players may use the standard rule for Dice Landing on Checkers and/or Legal Moves by mutual agreement.
PREFERENCE RESOLUTION TERMS
Required: use is required, no player choice;
Preferred: either player may insist on use;
By Roll: use is settled by the roll of high dice;
If Agreed: use only if both players agree;
Per Player: each player may make their own choice.
- Clocks – Skill #1 (Open, Masters, etc.)
Required (2/12) - Clocks – Skill #2 (Intermediate)
Preferred (2/15) - Clocks – Skill #2 (Advanced Beginner, Beginner, etc.)
If Agreed (2/15) - Clocks – Doubles
Required (3/15) - Clocks – All other
If Agreed (2/12) - Use two dice over four dice
Required (changed from Preferred) – players may not agree to use four dice - Use non-expiring clock over tapping to end turn
Preferred - Use baffle box over rolling from cups
Per Player - Use cups with baffle box over hands
If Agreed (changed from Preferred) – a player may not insist that cups be used
Other Tournament Conditions
- NY Backgammon reserves the right to refuse entry into the tournament and to refuse access to the premises with no reason required.
- No entrant will be allowed to play below his or her level.
- There will be NO phone conversations allowed in the playing room.
Please bring your own board and clock to the tournament.
CancelGammon Rules:
- You may force your opponent to re-roll once per game.
- Each player will start with a token indicating that they have one cancel remaining (any object can be used). Once they have used their cancel, the token is removed from the board and replaced at the beginning of the next game.
- Unused cancels do not carry over to future games in the match.
- You may not cancel cube actions, your own roll, or the opening roll.
- You may wait for your opponent to complete their play before using your cancel, but you are not required to do so. Once you have rolled or doubled, it is too late to cancel your opponent’s last roll.
- A player may double immediately after the opponent uses their cancel, before re-rolling.
- Clocks are optional in this event. If either player does not want to use a clock, clocks will not be used unless a match is unduly delaying the tournament. Players may, by mutual agreement, use a clock with more generous time settings than normal.
- All other backgammon rules apply.