Sportsmanlike Conduct During Tournament Matches

There are no written rules on sportsmanlike conduct with regard to backgammon tournaments. You may read a few bits here and there but there is just no collection of how we should behave during a match. A code of ethics in matches should be just as important as other tournament rules. Not everyone wants to be rude during a match but there are times when innocent little habits or gestures may be taken as being unkind.

Here are a few things that we can do that will be deemed as proper sportsmanlike conduct in a match. Following after that will be a list of a few things we should never do as they are deemed improper conduct during the games played in a tournament. Of course, if you play online you will hardly have any use of these rules of etiquette except when you use a chat feature.

It is considered sportsmanlike to be friendly to any opponent you face. Therefore, greeting your opponent in a friendly manner before the start of a match is perfectly fine. You can shake hands if you wish, say hi, and wish each other a good match before the game starts. It will be considered rude to simply just sit down totally ignoring the other fellow and just start rolling dice.

After a match you can say goodbye and thank your opponent for playing with you. You will not be obliged to comment on the match if you think your opponent played it bad. Commenting on your opponent after a loss simply adds insult to injury. Even a simple comment on a player's luck is not an acceptable sportsmanlike conduct. Comments made during the match also falls into this category. A reasonable goodbye will usually be sufficient.

When doubling, simply turn the cube and place it gently at the center of the backgammon board. If you're being doubled and you take just say "take" and put the cube on your side. If you drop the offer to double just say "drop" or "pass". There is no need for any elaborate moves in the cube action during a match.

Both players are supposed to keep score of the match for every game and each player should acknowledge the score after each game. Crawford games should also be announced prior to making any dice rolls.

Never be disruptive when it isn't your turn to make moves. Shaking your dice while your opponent is thinking on his next move is considered improper conduct. This also goes the same for handling the cube. Never handle the cube if you have no intention of using it or it isn't your turn to move.

These are very simple rules on sportsmanlike conduct in a backgammon tournament. These may not be hard fast rules but they are as valuable as the tournament rules themselves.