As A Rule, I Say This ... #2
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS on the often tricky matter of fair and legal play
- By Michael Crane
At the UK finals in December 1998, Brian Lever (Black) playing against John Clark (White) had to move a 33 in this position.
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| Black to play 33 |
Brian played his runner all the way round to his 6-point but didn't pick up the blot on the 9-point and place it on the bar, he thought that John would pick it up for him, and John didn't! John then rolled a 21 at which time Brian realised the mistake and said to John, "You are on the bar," to which John replied, "No I'm not, my man is on your 9-point." As you can imagine this caused a little friction and I was called in to adjudicate.
Upon learning the facts and actions leading to the contested 21 I pointed out to Brian that although the 33 could not possibly miss the blot it is not his opponent's job to move checkers during his turn; in fact Rule 4.3 Moving, clearly states that, "No player shall move any checkers during an opponent's turn," and this meant that John was under no obligation to place his own man upon the bar.
Clearly John was within his rights to accept the status quo and carry on with his 21 and make his open 2-point. However, John Clark is a sportsman not a gamesman and he agreed, with my full support, to accept Brian's mistake and to enter with this roll from the bar.
It is encouraging that players of such high calibre are sporting enough not to capitalise upon an opponent's error in these circumstances, John is to be commended for such behaviour. Brian's faith in assuming that John would place the checker on the bar for him is not that uncommon. We are all guilty of allowing our opponents to make a move for as and we are all guilty of moving them for our opponents.
Brendan Burgess (Irish Open organiser) has the perfect solution to stop an opponent from making a move for you, he calmly ignores his opponent's totally illegal move and goes on to play his own legal move! Within the rules his opponent doesn't have a leg to stand on - he shouldn't touch or move his opponents checkers at all during his opponent's turn. Listen and learn - Brendan's no fool!
At a tournament in Brighton I had to make a ruling on the use of the doubling cube in the Crawford game. The match was to 3 points and the score was at 2-1. The player on 1 point doubled and his opponent took and subsequently prior to his next roll, re-doubled to four. It was at this point it was noticed by the leading player that it was in fact the Crawford game.
The trailing player claimed it was a valid double and he knowingly took at Crawford condoning his opponent's mistake. I ruled that the doubling cube cannot be used in the Crawford and that in effect meant that the cube didn't exist. This ruling was questioned and I selected a committee of three top players and sought their opinions. After a little debate they all agreed with my decision. In a Crawford game the cube does not exist.
I also had to adjudicate on a premature roll, but this was an easy one as the rules [4.6 Premature Action] quite clearly state that premature rolls must stay. As I said earlier; I don't know why no other tournament circuit uses this easy ruling; since it has been in use by Biba I have had hardly any problems at all.
- Michael Crane
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