Backgammon Online

03-Jun-2010
02:09 PDT

Just noticed the ladder fun is limited largely to sub 1800 ranked players and wondered why this is, any top 20 players care to enlighten me? Too much risk for ranking points loss? Just a plaything for the minions?

03-Jun-2010
17:50 PDT

Well I'm on ladder, but not really well ranked...

I'd have to say it's indeed because of the risk of rating loss... no matter how well you play, it is unrealistic to assume you'd have, say, 80% chances of victory against a 1650 rated player, who, additionally, also happens to be one of the top ladder players.

Therefore, it can't be fair to have an expected rating change of -8/ 2 when playing against him... that's why higher rated players tend to refuse playing against lower rated players.

03-Jun-2010
22:38 PDT

I'm sure that is a reason. I am sure there are others, as well. I stopped playing ladder and tourny because i was at 5% timeouts. I'll eventually do them again, when i know i can play everyday.

04-Jun-2010
04:52 PDT

i only ever play ladder matches and have seen my rank rocket from 1550 in April to 1770 currently - with a top score of 1798.

I've never considered the damage to my ranking when playing ladder games

04-Jun-2010
21:13 PDT

I dropped off the ladder also because most people were at their limit much of the time, so it became hard to get games, and because I was able to get plenty of opportunities to play through direct challenges. Finally -- and I hope this doesn't come across as arrogant -- but at some point I made it to number 1 and there was no place to go but down. That was a downer. I guess it's true in the regular rankings as well, but I'm not cucarina so I haven't had to face that problem.

I have to admit the reason cited by Rafael -- too much risk of rating loss -- influenced me, but I recently analyzed my games and discovered that was a myth. The ratings really do seem to approximately reflect the chances of winning; you really do have a very high probability of winning against someone 200 points below you. Even though it's a myth, it can be a bit frustrating to outplay someone with a much lower rating and have them roll multiple doubles on the bear off and win. But that might just be me. I really, really, really hate to lose.

05-Jun-2010
02:59 PDT

I find it frustrating trying to get games on the ladder too as often I have a couple of empty slots and no free opponents. I'm sticking with it until, dice gods willing, I finally hit #1 spot, at which point I'll probably retire. To be honest, I think getting to the top spot is almost entirely a matter of persistence and blind luck as, even when you're on a long winning streak, you can still find yourself slipping down the ladder because you can't get games against high enough ranked opponents to boost you to the top.

05-Jun-2010
09:52 PDT

You need to play many games and play every day. Most high rated players do not do this. All they are concerned with is their rating. Afraid to play lower rated players. CLUCK....CLUCK....CLUCK.

05-Jun-2010
16:54 PDT

I play every single day and always play the maximum possible number of ladder games (for a non-subscriber) against the highest possible ranked players. I have a decent win/loss ratio, yet I'm generally languishing around 20-40th place because I'm not finishing games quickly enough to keep enough upward momentum to reach the top. I guess if I subscribed I'd get to the top pretty quickly...

05-Jun-2010
17:51 PDT

to staying high on the ladder is how everyone else's games went. I have gone to sleep at, say, #6, and woke up at #18, because many people won their games. It is a bit hard to share their joy.... 

But, I also hit #1 and missed it the first time, as it was not related to my win, but another's loss. And my 'payout' for being #1 or #18 is exactly the same, frankly, just as are my cash winnings for my ratings of 1712 and 1812. So, I just like to play as many games as possible.

06-Jun-2010
11:07 PDT

Guys,
Playing on the ladder is not about how long you stay at #1, because as TawnyaH said, it's completely out of your control and depends largely on other people winning their games and pass you by while have not lost any game.
In my opinion, ladder's only benefit is in the fact that you can challenge without being ejected, or as Don Corleone says: "I'm gonna make him an offer he won't refuse."