Monthly Tournaments
The New England Backgammon Club holds a monthly Sunday tournament throughout its September to June season. Separate draws are offered for Advanced (“Open”) and Intermediate players. Free coaching sessions for Novice players will be offered during the registration period at the start of the day, and everyone is welcome to attend at any time of the day to observe, learn the basics and play social games until they feel ready to step up to tournament play. All ages are welcome!
Event Location: KINGS Entertainment, 52 Second Ave, Burlington MA, 01803
Scroll down this page for details on entry fees, prizes, rules and more.
Annual Points Race
Players are awarded points for each match they win and bonus points for advancing to the semi-finals or further in each tournament. The top seven points-earners in each division engage in the seasonal playoffs, vying for the title of Club Champion (Open) and Player of the Year (Intermediate), and for cash prizes generated by entry fees over the course of the season.
Scroll down this page to view the current standings!
2024-2025 Calendar & Venue
Doors open at time indicated. Please note registration deadline. If you are running late, please text Rich Sweetman at (603) 858-4706 to secure a place in the draw.
Date | Event | DOOR Time / Place |
Sept. 8th | Monthly Tournament | 11:30 - KINGS Burlington Registration Closes at 12:00. |
October 6th | Monthly Tournament | 11:30 - KINGS Burlington Registration Closes at 12:00. |
November 10th | Bonus Tournament | 11:30 - KINGS Burlington Registration Closes at 12:00. |
December 1st | Monthly Tournament | 11:30 - KINGS Burlington Registration Closes at 12:00. |
January 5th | Monthly Tournament | 11:30 - KINGS Burlington Registration Closes at 12:00. |
February 2nd | Monthly Tournament | 11:30 - KINGS Burlington Registration Closes at 12:00. |
March 9th | Monthly Tournament | 11:30 - KINGS Burlington Registration Closes at 12:00. |
April 6th | Monthly Tournament | 11:30 - KINGS Burlington Registration Closes at 12:00. |
May 4th | Bonus Tournament | 11:30 - KINGS Burlington Registration Closes at 12:00. |
June 1st (provisional) | Club Championship Finals | 11:30 - KINGS Burlington Registration Closes at 12:00. |
KINGS Dining & Entertainment
Kings is a family-friendly bowling and entertainment center conveniently located with plenty of free parking at the upscale MarketStreet mall in Lynnfield. NEBC plays in the large lounge at the front of the establishment, which Kings is providing to us free of charge in exchange for our patronage of their food and drink offerings, so please do try to work in some refreshments during the course of the day.
NEBC runs a single tab for the entire room, so please tally your own purchases, figure in the 6.25% tax and add a generous tip, and leave your payment with the Tournament Director before leaving. NEBC tips the waitstaff 30% on top of the total bill.
Format & Prizes
The NEBC hosts a consolation-style tournament, which means all players are randomly placed in the Main tournament bracket, and anyone who loses before reaching the “money” round (typically the semi-final), is entered into a Consolation tournament bracket, still in the running for a cash prize and bonus points. Therefore all entrants are guaranteed to play at least two matches. Match lengths typically range from 7 points to 13 points in the Main and 5 in the Consolation bracket.
Entry Fees & Prizes
Entry fees for regular tournaments are $60 for Open, $30 for Intermediate.
Entry fees for the two annual ‘Bonus Point’ events (November, May) are $100 for Open, and the usual $30 for Intermediate.
90% of Open and 85% of Intermediate entry fees are returned in cash prizes for the current event. The remaining funds are applied to the year-end ‘Playoffs’ prize pool and pay for incidental club costs such as our MeetUp group. Organizers are unpaid and do not profit from entry fees.
In a typical tournament with 16+ players in the Main bracket, we will pay cash prizes to six players: 1st Place, 2nd Place, and both Semi-Finalists in the Main, as well as 1st and 2nd Place contestants in the Consolation bracket. With 14 or 15 entrants we pay four places. With 13 or fewer, three players will receive prizes.
Cash Prizes
90% of Open and 85% of Intermediate entry fees are returned in cash prizes for the current event. The remaining funds are applied to the year-end ‘Playoffs’ prize pool and for tipping the restaurant staff.
In a typical tournament with 16+ players in the Main bracket, we will pay cash prizes to six players: 1st Place, 2nd Place, and both Semi-Finalists in the Main, as well as 1st and 2nd Place contestants in the Consolation bracket. With 14 or 15 entrants we pay four places. With 13 or fewer, three players will receive prizes.
Open or Intermediate?
An ‘Open’ Division is generally the strongest division at any backgammon tournament. it is ‘Open’ in the sense that anyone, regardless of expertise, is welcome to play so long as they pony up the entry fee. Part of the excitement of backgammon is that a player of moderate experience can beat a world-class master perhaps 30% of the time. So whether you rate yourself a very strong contender against any opponent, or whether you just want to “play in the bigs” and don’t mind the somewhat higher entry fee, the Open Division is for you.
The current NEBC ‘Intermediate’ Division is limited to players who have yet to develop sufficient mastery to place them on a competitive footing against Open-level players. There is quite a broad range of experience in this division, from those who are playing in their first tournaments to those who have several years of experience. NEBC would like to encourage and enable all players to improve their game to the Open level over time, but it is perfectly fine to treat our tournaments as a stimulating social pastime without getting too “serious” about it! So if you are a more casual player, or if you are an ambitious but less-experienced player, you are welcome to play in our Intermediate Division. The Intermediate Division is closed to players who have demonstrated expertise deemed by the tournament director to confer an inordinate advantage in that pool of players.
Players who are not restricted to the Open division may choose to play Intermediate one month and Open the next, as they like. However, bonus points earned in one division are not transferable to the other, so if you are interested in earning a spot in the playoffs at the end of the season, you will do best to stick to one division over the course of a season.
Newcomers to backgammon or players not quite ready to dive into to tournament play are welcome to drop by NEBC at any point during the day to watch matches, play socially, and learn about backgammon strategy at their own pace, free of charge.
Clocking Requirements
In order to keep the tournament moving at a reasonable pace, the following clock policies are to be observed.
OPEN DIVISION
“Clock Preferred” (A clock will be used if either player, or the tournament director prefers).
Time Settings: 2 mins per point bank / 12 seconds delay
INTERMEDIATE DIVISION
“Clock Required” (Clocks must be used in all intermediate matches)
Time Settings: 2 mins per point bank / 15 seconds delay
Penalty for Timing Out (both divisions): If a player times out, the tournament director must be notified. The timed-out player shall receive 1 extra minute of grace time. Should he or she run out a second time, the match is forfeited.
What Version of Backgammon?
Backgammon is one of the world’s most ancient games, and a standard game board can host a variety of similar but distinct games: Plakoto, Moultezim, Shesh Besh, Acey-Deucy, to name a few. NEBC plays the popular version of the game that has become standard in the United States and in the international tournament community, most akin to the game called “Portes” in the Middle East and Greece. The fundamentals of this version of the game can be found on the the USBGF website. Tournament play also includes use of the doubling cube, and employs the Crawford Rule in a contest to reach the number of points specified as the “match length.” These details are also explained in the USBGF primer cited above. Many newcomers arrive for their first NEBC tournament unfamiliar with some of these features of tournament play, but quickly learn the ropes from our friendly members — so don’t be shy.
Food & Drink
Some venues where NEBC holds events prefer for us to run a single tab so that wait staff don’t have to keep track of individuals moving around the venue during the course of the day. In any case, we ask that players patronize the establishment in order for us to earn our welcome for the free use of space, and that you tip generously.
When NEBC runs a single tab for everyone, we ask that you keep track of your purchases and pay the tournament director a total including tax + a 30% tip.
We encourage each player to keep score on paper even if a scoring flip-board is used. In the event of a scoring dispute, failure to keep score creates a presumption in favor of one’s opponent.
The third column on the scoresheet may be used to note wins and losses, cube actions, or other reminders of how the match progressed.
Rules
Tournament Rules & Procedures
NEBC employs a modified version of the popular Chicago Point “Rules & Procedures” guidelines, laid out here in sections. We have adopted the “Legal Plays” standard that is now widely followed at ABT events. We have not adopted the “dice on checkers” variation promoted in recent years by the USBGF.
1.0 PROPRIETIES
1.1 INTERPRETATION. The Tournament Rules and Procedures cannot and should not regulate all possible situations that may arise during a match. No set of rules should deprive the Director of his freedom of judgment or prevent him from finding the solution dictated by fairness and compatible with the circumstances of a particular case.
1.2 SCOPE. Except where otherwise specified, the commonly accepted rules of backgammon apply.
1.3 STAFF. The NEBC organizer administering the draw shall assume the responsibilities of Director. The Director may consult with other organizers in delivering rulings and managing irregularities in the course of the tournament.
1.4 ENTRIES. All entries are subject to the approval of the Tournament Director. Reasons for exclusion need not be stated. Where more than one Tournament division exists, an entrant may be restricted from playing in a lower division.
1.5 AIDS. Once a match is in progress, players shall not use written, mechanical or electronic aids except to keep score.
1.6 COMMUNICATIONS. The official Tournament language is English. Speech in any other language will not be permitted between players and/or spectators while matches are in progress. Players may not use cell phones or other electronic communication devices except during authorized breaks.
1.7 SPECTATORS. Spectators shall remain silent while observing a match. Spectators have no right to draw attention to any misplays or comment on plays. Spectators who observe improprieties or irregularities during a match should discuss them in private with the Director. A player may request the Director to bar one or more spectators from viewing his match.
2.0 REGULATIONS
2.1 PLACE. Matches shall be played in designated Tournament areas.
2.2 TIME. Matches shall start promptly at the appointed times. Each player may take one 5 minute recess (between games) in a match not exceeding 13 points in length. The Director may permit additional recess time in longer or especially important matches.
2.3 PENALTY POINTS. Unless excused by the Director, a late player shall be penalized by points awarded to the opponent. The first penalty point shall be awarded 15 minutes after the appointed starting time and accrue thereafter at the rate of 1 point for each 5 minute delay. When the penalty points awarded exceed half the number needed to win the match, the absent player loses by forfeit. To avoid penalties, a player shall obtain the Director’s consent when leaving the Tournament site for more than 10 minutes. Not having alerted the Director of intention to return, a player who does not appear for a Consolation match within 10 minutes of his opponent becoming available shall forfeit his match.
2.4 SLOW PLAY. Players are expected to play at a reasonable pace. The Director may require a time clock to pace slow matches.
2.5 MONITORS. On his own initiative or at the request of a player, the Director may appoint a monitor to observe a match and protect against irregularities during play.
3.0 PRELIMINARIES
3.1 EQUIPMENT. Either player may demand that both use, when available and approved by the Director: (a) precision dice (over any others) and/or (b) lipped dice cups (over unlipped). By mutual agreement, players may use a single pair of dice, signaling the end of each play with a finger tap or other signal. So long as a single pair of dice are agreed upon, either or both players may choose to use a baffle box. The Director may require mutual use of a baffle box, or of a single pair of dice.
3.2 PREFERENCES. Prior to the commencement of a match, the backgammon board, direction of play, checker color, seat location, and baffle box location (right or left side) may be decided by rolls of the dice. If only one player uses a baffle box, he or she will choose which side to place it on.
3.3 EQUIPMENT CHANGES. The Director may replace equipment at any time. Otherwise the equipment initially selected shall be used throughout. Either player may demand a mixing of the four initially selected dice prior to the start of any game. To mix the dice the demanding player shakes the four dice together in one cup and rolls them out. The opponent selects a die, then roller, then opponent, with roller taking the last die.
4.0 PLAY OF THE GAME / IRREGULARITIES
4.1 RANDOM ROLLS. Dice are strictly a means of obtaining random numbers; any other use violates the rules and the spirit of backgammon. A legal roll consists of shaking the dice vigorously in a dice cup and then simultaneously tossing them out at a discernible height above the playing surface, allowing them to bounce and roll freely. Both dice must leave the cup before either die contacts the board; otherwise they must be rerolled. Between turns the dice shall remain in the dice cup with the cup kept in plain view. Alternatively, players may roll legally by casting both dice simultaneously through a baffle box.
4.2 VALID ROLLS. Both dice must come to rest flat on the playing surface to the right of the bar; otherwise they are “cocked” and must be rerolled. In the event of dispute, a player who rerolls prior to receiving acknowledgment from his opponent that the dice are cocked will be at a disadvantage.
4.3 MOVING. A player shall move the checkers in an unambiguous manner, using only one hand. Checkers must be reentered from the bar before moving any other checker. A player shall not touch any checkers or dice during the opponent’s turn.
4.4 CHECKER HANDLING. Checkers which have been hit must be kept on the bar pending reentry. Checkers which have been borne off must be kept off the entire playing surface for the rest of the game. A player with a checker illegally removed from play may still be gammoned or backgammoned.
4.5 LIFTING DICE. Having made a legal checker play, a player’s move is final when he lifts either or both of his dice from the playing surface. If a player wishes to reposition the dice on the table to facilitate moving the checkers, he should give notice and confirm the dice roll with his opponent; otherwise he will be at a disadvantage in the event of a dispute over the dice roll.
4.6 PREMATURE ACTIONS. The opponent of a player who rolls prematurely shall complete his turn and then either let the premature roll stand or require a reroll. The opponent of a player who doubles prematurely shall complete his turn and then pass or take.
4.7 ERROR IN SETUP. An incorrect starting position must be corrected prior to the fifth roll of the game. Thereafter the existing setup becomes official. Players starting with less than 15 checkers in play may still be gammoned or backgammoned.
4.8. LEGAL PLAYS. Players are obligated to immediately identify any illegal play, regardless of whom the error favors. Illegal plays must be corrected before the subsequent turn begins (a valid dice roll or an offered cube). Otherwise, the illegal play will stand. An illegal play is corrected by returning the checkers and dice to the original position before the error was made and resuming play. Repeated offenses will result in a warning, and may be followed by disqualification.
4.9 COMPLETION. Each game must be rolled to completion, unless ended by passing a double or redouble, or conceding a no-contact position as a single game, gammon or backgammon loss. Neither matches nor games may be canceled, replayed or settled. Players are responsible for playing to the posted match length. The first player to reach the posted match length is the winner.
4.10 REPORTING RESULTS. The match result shall be reported to a Tournament official by the winner. The official shall verify and post the result on the draw sheet. The director may correct a wrongly-posted result and should do so in a timely manner fair to all.
5.0 SCORING / DOUBLING
5.1 KEEPING SCORE. Each player shall keep a running match score and compare it to his opponent’s score at the start of every game. In the event of a scoring dispute, a player not keeping a written log of the score will be at a disadvantage.
5.2 CUBE SETUP. Both players shall take care that each game (except the Crawford game) begins with the cube centered at 1 (or “64″). Should a dispute arise, the current position and level of the cube will influence the Director’s ruling.
5.3 CUBE RULES. Gammons and backgammons count at all times whether or not the cube has been turned.
5.4 CUBE HANDLING. A player may double when it is his turn only before rolling the dice, but not after rolling cocked dice. To double or redouble, a player moves the cube toward his opponent with the higher value face up while saying “double” or words to that effect. To take, the opponent says “take” or words to that effect while placing the cube on his side of the board in plain view with the new value face up. To reject the double, the opponent says “pass” or words to that effect, records the score and resets the board. The cube should not be handled capriciously; verbal or physical acts may be interpreted as cube actions.
5.5 CRAWFORD RULE. When either player reaches one point from victory, the next game (the “Crawford game”) shall be played to conclusion with a cube value of 1. The cube shall be removed from the board during the Crawford game.
5.6 DEAD CUBE. A player may not double when he or she would win the match at its current value simply by winning the game. Any such cube action is void.
6.0 CONTENTIONS
6.1 DISPUTES. When a dispute arises, all players must leave dice, checkers, cube and score unchanged while the Director is summoned. Violations by players in this area are most serious and create a presumption in favor of the opponent.
6.2 TESTIMONY. Any player may argue issues of fact or rule. Spectators shall only testify at the Director’s request.
6.3 APPEALS. A player may appeal a Director’s ruling, but he must do so promptly while timely redress may still be obtained. To resolve an appeal, the Director shall convene a committee of three knowledgeable and disinterested backgammon players. The committee shall hear relevant testimony and arguments and may only overturn the Director’s ruling by unanimous decision. This exhausts a player’s right to appeal.
Standards of Ethical Practice
NEBC subscribes to the ideals of fair play, positive behavior, and inclusion expressed in the USBGF “Standards of Ethical Practices.”
Annual Points Race
Playoff points within each division accumulate throughout the season based on the results of the monthly tournaments. After the May tournament, he top 7 points earners in each division qualify for the Championship Playoffs, competing for the titles of Intermediate Player of the Year and, for the winner of the Open division, NEBC Club Champion.
Match Points
Each time you win a match, you are awarded a number of points equal to the length of that match. (7 points for a 7-point match, etc.) In the event your match is shortened due to time pressures, you would still be awarded the number of points specified as the original match length.
Bonus Points
Anytime you reach a “cashing” round in a tournament, you are awarded bonus points as follows:
Main Bracket
1st: 50 points
2nd: 25 points
Semi-finalists: 12 points*
Consolation Bracket
1st: 25 points
2nd: 12 points**
*In the event that fewer than 16 players enter a tournament, the semi-finalists do not cash, but are entered in the consolation bracket. In this case, these players would receive either their 12 semi-finalist points, or their 25 consolation winner points, whichever is greater.
**In the event that fewer than 14 players enter a tournament, no cash award will be given for 2nd-place Consolation, but Bonus points still accrue.
In the event that fewer than 8 players enter, Bonus points will still be awarded so long as a player wins at least one match to earn them.
Participation Points
If you show up, but don’t win any matches, you receive 2 points for participating.
Double-Bonus Events
In our November and May tournaments, Bonus Points are doubled (but with usual 12-point winners earning 25 points) and match lengths are increased in the Open division. These exciting events provide opportunities for large leaps in the standings, so the race remains competitive throughout the year.
June Attendance Points
A regular tournament will be held in June, in concert with the playoff finals in both divisions. All participants in attendance will earn 15 Bonus Points applied to the following season’s points race.
Playoff Format
Six of the nine monthly tournaments must be successfully completed in order to hold a Championship playoff. The top scorer in each division receives a valuable 1st-round bye. The other six players are seeded according to standing: 2nd vs. 7th; 3rd vs. 6th; 4th vs. 5th (winner meets 1st place player in the semis). NEBC will provide cash prizes for the winners, finalists and semi-finalists, commensurate with the cash accumulated by NEBC over the course of the current season.
Open Division
Rounds 1 & 2: Best 2 out of 3, 9-point matches.
Finals: Best 3 out of 5, 9-point matches.
Intermediate Division
Rounds 1 & 2: Best 2 out of 3, 7-point matches.
Finals: Best 3 out of 5, 7-point matches.
Rounds 1 & 2 are to be scheduled by participants at a time and place of mutual convenience in advance of the final tournament of our season in June, when the finals in both divisions will take place, leading to the naming of the “NEBC Club Champion” and the “Intermediate Player of the Year”.
Points Race Standings (2024 - 2025)
In the event of too few Intermediate players to hold a separate contest, when Intermediate competitors play in the Open, they will earn a 15-point Bonus in addition to any points they earn in the Open event, applied to their Intermediate points race total. Otherwise, points are not transferable between Divisions.
Open
1 | Eric Sulkala | 107 | ||
2 | Mark Frano | 69 | ||
3 | Rich Sweetman | 60 | ||
4 | Albert Steg | 46 | ||
5 | Marty Gross | 36 | ||
6 | Brad Mampe | 30 | ||
7 | Dan Whitney | 45 | ||
8 | Paul A. Caracciolo | 25 | ||
9 | Emir Kapanci | 25 | ||
10 | Dougie Roberts | 24 | ||
11 | John Leonard | 22 | ||
12 | David Kornwitz | 17 | ||
13 | Howard Rosenthal | 17 | ||
14 | Csaba Daday | 15 | ||
15 | Steve Douglas | 15 | ||
16 | Chet Lin | 15 | ||
17 | Eric Packer | 15 | ||
18 | Alex Zamanian | 15 | ||
19 | Phil Perelmuter | 9 | ||
20 | Will Hohorst | 5 | ||
21 | Tony Wuersch | 5 | ||
22 | Olaf Ingare | 2 | ||
23 | Tim Yoshida | 2 |
Intermediate
1 | Constantine Brocoum | 73 | ||
2 | Stefanie Madanian | 57 | ||
3 | Phil Kurinsky | 46 | ||
4 | Dan Volchok | 42 | ||
5 | Don Weng | 34 | ||
6 | Pam Keeney | 17 | ||
7 | Juan Buks | 15 | ||
8 | Alain Cabache | 15 | ||
10 | Troy Leonard | 15 | ||
11 | Tom Peckham | 15 | ||
13 | Warren Kormack | 5 | ||
14 | Mike Forrester | 2 | ||
15 | Steve Gregoire | 2 |
2024 - 2025 Tournament Results
September
Open Division (18)
1st: Eric Sulkala
2nd: Mark Frano
Semis: Brad Mampe
Semis: Dan Whitney
1st Cons: Rich Sweetman
2nd Cons: Albert Steg
Intermediate Division (9)
1st: Constantine Brocoum
2nd: Phil Kurinsky
Semis: Don Weng
1st Cons: Stefanie Madanian
2nd Cons: Dan Volchok