DC Area BG Unique Terms - Newbies Guide

“That’s a Bernstein” - - Any Forced move named for a local player with reputation of staring at them way longer than he should. Term coined by Frank Raposa and Alan Pruce.

“SHOTSKI” – Daniel Bluestone - - loudly sung out, Tiny Tim style, whenever a key shot is left that could swing a game/match.

“Whatever you do is right” - - Majid Jahanbani, when impatient with opponent pondering a checker play or cube decision.

“You are in purgatory” - - Barry Silliman…. Longtime director of the Beltway BG in the 2000/2010’s. When a player has a long wait, usually in the consolation.

“At least I have my timing” - - Rebecca Marti, longtime NOVA BG director in the 90s and early 2000s when she was assured that her board would not crash, but still a big underdog.

"The entry fee is $16 with $1 discount if you have a board or you can rent one from me for $0.50" Longtime NOVA BG Director Bill Pow in the 2000s, always looking to squeeze out some more equity.

“Banana rule” - - unofficial rule to hide your outside food, if any, named for current NOVA BG director Frank “Banana” Raposa. As a frugal newbie in the late 00s, Frank often brought in bananas to our NOVA BG venue.

"That is going to be my new project", Larry Brown, Beltway BG Director, who always has lots of balls in the air at one time.

"It is not a rake, it is a participation fee”. Vinson Blanton, DC Metro BG Director, explaning how newbies that will pay $20 for one cocktail, don't care about entry fee return since it is "entertainment".

"You guys let him win so he would come back". A newbies wife on a chance meeting accusing us of being too nice to him. The newbie had won in two of his first three appearances, but rarely placed as a semi-regular after that. She was assured that was not the case, we are not that nice.

"I would rather be lucky than good" - - Bob Hathaway, longtime NOVA BG player and two-time intermediate Pittsburgh ABT champion.

“The Ghazi” - - rolling 6-1 to leap a five prime and hit, often from the bar! Term coined by current Beltway BG director, Larry Brown.

“Carol Joy Cole” - - Mentioned after rolling 4-4 in a key position in honor of the Queen of Backgammon rolling it in the finals of the 2009 US Open vs Joe Russell.

“2-6 from the bar” - - Sometimes called the Ray Fogerlund - - a great player from Vegas that has made this role is his signature. (Not locally unique but said often)

“The Gary Point” – Making your own ace point in the early game in some non-blitz situations. Two time (Las Vegas 2004 and Pittsburgh 2010) ABT Open Champion Gary Fries sensed that this was often correct in the heyday before the BOTS confirmed that is the case. Term coined by Ron Bernstein, yes, that Bernstein, decades ago.

“You are a lucky b*&^%$d!!” - - Ed O’Laughlin …..if someone beats him in volatile match, that could have gone either way. Said in admiration, It takes one to know one!!

”That was the wooorst roll!!” - - Chen Fu-Yu .......it did not make a difference if it was his roll, his opponents roll or just a match he was watching…he could not help himself. If a bad roll came out of the dice cups……. He would just blurt it out……

“Myrtle Brickman” - - making your two-point with an opening 6-4 named for Myrtle who did it a lot long before the BOTS proved it a good play and even the preferred play at some scores.

“Pat Holt Strategy” - - winning with a crashed board: either by hitting a shot during opponents bear-off from the opponent’s ace-point or two-point, or by rolling 6-6 to leap a five point prime.