About/Rules

About the London Players' Backgammon League

This league is inspired by Ian Tarr of Bristol Backgammon.
Its aim is to give London players experience of playing 11-point matches and the excitement of League Backgammon.

How it works

Divisions made up of four players each
Each season lasts three months ending at midnight on the following respective dates: 25/3, 25/6, 25/9, 25/12 and commencing again on the first day of the following month.
Only matches played and reported by season deadline count towards point’s total.
THE DEADLINE WILL NOT BE ALTERED
Each player plays two 11 point matches against all other players in their division.
All matches are to be played using shakers (and precision dice when available). Baffle boxes are not permitted. Legal moves only.
UKBGF Rules have been adopted by the London Players’ League with the exception of their new Premature Rolls Rule. In the League, all premature rolls stand with no re-roll.
Two league points for a match win, one league point for a match loss.
Match scores are recorded in the For/Against column in the league table.
Winning scores are truncated to 11 points.
One promotion spot in each division; one relegation spot in each division; £28 to each divisional winner, £12 to second spot.

League tables updated at least weekly and published on this website.

Playing Matches

Players can arrange matches at venues and times of their choice. In all cases it is up to the individual players to arrange their matches.

It is both players' responsibility to organise matches. If both players can't work it out between them over a three month period, they both lose out. No ifs, no buts, no sob stories. Forfeited matches are not awarded.

No shows - three strikes and you're out. Stood up player must provide email evidence of match arranged.

All completed match scores to be reported as soon as possible to RB in person, email or text. Both players should report results or copy in by email.

Unless you now live outside the M25 or have had permission from Dicky Biddle, it is now expected that you play your matches in a live setting and not online.

League Tiebreakers

If two or more players are equal on league points on completion of the divisional matches, the following criteria are applied to determine the rankings (in descending order):

a) Superior score difference (+-) from all divisional matches played;

b) Higher number of match points (Score for) scored from all divisional matches played;

c) Higher Win Rate (Wins/matches ratio from all divisional matches played);

d) Longest winning streak or shortest losing streak from their most previous results for the season in question

e) Higher number of head to head fixtures won in the divisional matches played among the players in question. A fixture being the aggregate match scores of the two divisional matches played in one season against another player in question.

f) Higher number of “second match” wins played among the players in question. Second matches being the most recent of the two divisional matches played in the season against another player in question.

g) One-point play-off. (Please note that if the one-point play-off is not completed before the end of the season both players will be tied. If this is the case, neither can be promoted, and/or both will be relegated if at the bottom of the table)

How to join

League Entry is by invitation only. League Director Richard Biddle’s (RB) discretion on all invites and re-invites.

£12 entry per season. All payments must be made to RB before league season renewal deadlines (28/12, 28/3, 28/6, 28/9). Standing orders or pre-payments can be arranged for yearly league membership.

Newcomers join the lowest division. From time to time the lower divisions may contain five players, in which case first prize is £26, second and third prizes are £12 each.

Between the lower divisions of five players the default is one-up two-down promotion and relegation. However, there may be a second promotion spot available according to the number of players in the league the following season. There will only be one promotion and one relegation spot into and from four-player divisions.

Players may play as many or as few matches as they like, however final points total will decide league position. Any player failing to play a single match in a season will be suspended from the league for 12 months. Sabbaticals allowed with TD discretion.

All players will need to provide an email address, phone number and nearest home tube/rail station (or London Club location eg RAC). These will be sent to each division’s respective players at the start of each season.

NO PAYMENT – NO ENTRY

What else should I know?

League Committee is Sean Williams, Peter Bennet & RB (Committee will be allowed to play in the League). They will rule on any incidents not involving themselves. If an incident involves a member of the committee they will be replaced by an individual nominated by the non-involved committee. Any decisions by the committee will be made in the interest of sportsmanship over gamesmanship.

League Committee can change the rules and format of the league competition without notice. This would only ever be done to evolve the competition to everyone’s benefit and no-one will be purposely disadvantaged by these changes.

Players dropping out of the league will need to wait 12 months before being allowed re-entry unless very good reason for dropping out given to RB.

This is a FUN tournament – prize fund is secondary. Any player losing sight of this will not be invited back at the start of the following season.

Clocks

The "Clocks Preference" rule is applicable in Divisions 1 to 3 & the League Cup. This rule states that if any player wishes to use a clock and there is a dedicated working clock available then the match is on the clock. 12 seconds per move with a 2 minute per point time bank. If a player times out, his match score is taken as the number of points he/she achieved before timing out.
From 2024 Q1, The Clock Preference Rule also applies in Divisions 4-15, however, when a player times out they do not lose the match. When reporting the result to the League organiser, it must also be reported if a player times out. Players who consistently time out will be asked to play full clock rules (ie timing out loses the match as in Divisions 1-3)
In order to gain practice with clock-play, players in lower divisions are encouraged to use clocks as in Divisions 4-15 but will suffer no penalty for continually timing out until they reach Division 15 or higher.
The clock must be a dedicated device that uses the "Simple Delay" system of reserve time per move and per move deductibles. Smartphone and tablet apps that have the "Simple Delay" system may also be used.

Players may agree to "double up" the result of an 11-point match in another competition as a league result. But this can only apply with the PRIOR agreement of both players. This could be in any other live event with face-to-face play.

BUT IT IS NOT PERMISSIBLE TO PLAY A SINGLE LEAGUE MATCH AND COUNT IT AS TWO RESULTS!

Only fully completed matches count towards your total.

London Players' League Expats - Bona-fide LPBGL players moving away from Greater London, at RB's discretion, will be permitted to play their League & Cup matches online in perpetuity. All other players are expected to play their matches live unless granted permission by Dicky Biddle.

For more information about this league or to join:

Please contact Richard "Dicky" Biddle