Legal Moves Only in U.S. Backgammon

The U.S. Backgammon Federation is adopting a legal moves rule. The idea of a legal moves rule is that if a person notices an illegal play by an opponent, the person should point it out and the opponent should correct it before the game continues.

Currently, the organization’s rules state:

A turn is completed when the player picks up his dice. If the play is incomplete or otherwise illegal, the opponent has the option of accepting the play as made or of requiring the player to make a legal play. A play is deemed to have been accepted as made when the opponent rolls his dice or offers a double to start his own turn.

The Federation’s Board of Directors, which endorsed a legal moves rule in principle, stated that the change would make in-person and online play more consistent, align the organization with other national Backgammon federations, and foster enjoyment by recreational players.

But I’m curious. How do you play in your games (Backgammon or otherwise)? Do you correct your opponents or is taking advantage of mistakes considered fair?

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