Forum Archive : Equipment

Meyer Dice Tube--Why I hate it From:   Bob Glass Address:   jailbird22@sbcglobal.net Date:   6 December 2010 Subject:   Why I Hate the Meyer Dice Tube Forum:   BGonline.org Forums I intensely hate the dice tube. First of all, it takes all the passion out of the game. When I want that really special roll, I start shaking vigorously as if to will the number of my dreams. I may roll hard with a big follow through for big numbers or soft for small numbers. I know that these methods probably meke little difference on the outcomes but they make me feel better. Another shortcoming of the dice tube is the ability to manipulate the dice. Although not as frequent as cup or baffle box play, the dice do occasionally cock within the cube. Suppose an alert player notices that the dice are cocked but he is still holding on to the tube, he can quickly give the cube a little nudge to uncock the dice. If one of the players should accidentally or intentionally knock over the tube, what was the roll? Are the tubes as random as cup rolling or bafflebox rolling. It would be nice to sees some sort of analysis on this before accepting this as fact. Just as an aside, are the dice in the tube visible when a match is being videotaped? Because of all the shortcomings, I don't feel that tournament directors should make dice tubes mandatory if one of the players wishes to use them and wins the rolloff on whose equipment to use. Rich Munitz  writes: Stick wrote: > You know what's annoying to play beside? People plopping down a tube > every turn. Chuck wrote: > This is probably the lamest thing you've ever said on this forum." I love using the tube, but I actually think Stick's statement has validity. Some people seem incapable of flipping the tube and placing it gently on the table. They seem to slam it onto the table each time with a loud, annoying thud. Of course, some people do the same annoying thing with their wooden or plastic dice cups. Joe Russell  writes: > If one of the players should accidentally or intentionally knock over the > tube, what was the roll?' One of my opponents did this three times this past weekend. I had no problem as the dice had not settled yet. There is a problem as to proof of the roll if the tube is knocked over after the dice have settled. Neil Kazaross  writes: I used the tube once in Vegas when a player really wanted to use it. Using it was ok, and I'd happily use it if playing someone who can't pick up the dice and shake that fast, like Larry Leibster, whom I think this tube would help speed up. So, during a close race, I'd rolled 2-1 and the tube was about to fall over and I'd seen that 2-1. I quickly righted the tube and played my 2-1, but you can see how easily an unethical player could've cheated. Bill Riles  writes: Having observed some matches using the dice tube, I can see where who is on roll could be confusing after a long thought delay or ruling delay, etc. It seems to me distinguishable end caps (different colors -- white for the lighter checkers and black for the darker checkers) might help, so that it is easily discernible who rolled the dice and who has the next turn. It would also be much easier for spectators to know who is on roll or who has a move to play.   Did you find the information in this article useful?           Do you have any comments you'd like to add?

 

Equipment

Bakelite checkers  (Albert Steg, Nov 1998) 

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Meyer Dice Tube issues  (Stick+, July 2010) 

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Meyer Dice Tube--Why I hate it  (Bob Glass+, Dec 2010) 

Moderately priced boards  (William Womack+, Feb 2010) 

Precision dice  (Patti Beadles+, Jan 2001) 

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What is "standard size"?  (Daniel Murphy, Mar 2001) 

What is "tournament size"?  (Rodrigo Andrade+, July 1999) 

Woodworking--Finishing a board  (M Moore+, Jan 2008) 

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