Rules of the Challenge Ladder

The NYC Backgammon Challenge Ladder is a voluntary, competitive, “just for fun” activity for our members that is ongoing from one event to the next without end or reset.  The goal is to climb up the ladder to the highest rank by challenging and defeating players ranked above you.

In addition to advancing on the Challenge Ladder ranking, your wins will also count toward your match statistics such as Win/Loss % and your ranking in our Elo Ratings.  An Elo Rating is a chess-like rating system used by many online backgammon sites in which players gain (and lose) rating points for match wins (losses) depending on the difference in the ratings of the two players (follow this link for a complete description of our Elo calculation method).  So even if you are accepting a challenge from below and thus can’t advance in the Ladder, there are other ways to benefit by playing and winning these matches.

The Rules:

·        Players may challenge any other player ranked above them to a match.  They move one rank up the ladder if they win that challenge match.  The player previously in that new spot is displaced and moves down.  The higher ranked defeated player’s rank is not altered.  Thus, you never move DOWN the ladder as a result of losing a challenge; however, your rank does move down when someone below you wins a match and moves up into your spot and pushes you down.  The Challenge Ladder is dynamic and always changing, you cannot maintain your position by resting on your laurels!

·         The order in which matches are played is not relevant for ladder ranking purposes. The real-time adjustments of the ladder board during the meetup is an approximation only. The Ladder adjustment order is determined after each meetup event by entering each match result such that lower ranked (furthest from #1) player's wins are entered into the ladder before higher ranked player's wins. This method treats the submitted matches of a single meetup event as a whole, and avoids unfair situations where players could lose their rank only because the set of matches for the event happened to be played in a particular order.

·        Both players must agree beforehand that the match will count as an official Challenge Ladder match, to the length of the match that will be played, and whether or not the doubling cube will be used.  The standard match length if played with the doubling cube is 5 points, without the doubling cube is 3 points.  However, both players may agree to a match of any longer length.

·        Players shall keep a running score during Challenge Ladder matches using an official score sheet or equivalent.   The winner shall be responsible for reporting the match result to the Ladder organizer, usually by handing in the official score sheet, which must state the name of the winner, the name of the loser and the match length.

·        REGULARLY attending members of our meetup both currently participating in the challenge ladder may also report challenge matches played outside of our meetup - at another meetup or any other agreed location and time.  The winner should email one of our organizers and cc their opponent.

·        While it is the goal to have fun, disputes can occur in any competitive situation.  Standard American Backgammon Tour tournament backgammon rules for match play apply. The Ladder and Meetup organizers will rule on any disputes on rules and match situations that may occur.  In case of any dispute, please leave all playing equipment untouched and summon an organizer for a ruling.

·        New players that wish to join the Challenge Ladder enter at the bottom of the ladder (ranked last).  Since the ladder may have a large number of players, new members are given an opportunity to climb the ladder at an accelerated pace.   When a new player challenges and defeats a higher ranked member, they move up in rank 20% (rounded) of their current ladder rank (but always at least one rank).  This accelerated climb up the ladder lasts only through the meetup in which the player reaches their 10th challenge match (win or lose), after which normal rules apply.

·        The goal is to have some competition, but not at the expense of having fun, being fair, and for the general benefit of everyone.  That includes maintaining a record of accepting challenges from below, from anyone, and on a regular basis. Therefore, players that don’t adhere to this spirit of “fun, fair, and for all”, may be subject to penalties including demotion or removal from the ladder at the sole discretion of the Ladder Director

·        If a player must leave the meetup before a match in progress can be completed, if the match is between games and the score is tied, or upon the agreement of both players, the match is cancelled.  Otherwise, the player wishing to continue the match must inform the Ladder Director of the situation and the match must then be finished at a later date.  The Ladder Director may declare the unfinished match to be cancelled, or forfeited based on the passage of time and the availability and willingness of players to resume.