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New Abc Game: Duel

ABC introduces a new game show called Duel on December 17. As the writers strike begins to slowly strangle the regular television schedule, networks are looking for easily produced yet fresh programming to fill the void. Will Duel fit the bill for the long term? Or will it be more short term filler, only to breathe a short time on the airwaves, but quickly disappear like game shows of yesteryear, like The Weakest Link?

Duel mixes elements of Who Wants to be a Millionaire and Texas hold-em poker according to ABC. While the scene and setup of the game resemble most of the current and former prime time game shows, the tournament style format is a refreshing change. Game play involves 24 contestants over six episodes, competing for a final jackpot. Unlike game shows like Deal or No Deal the final winner will take home big money, over $1.5 million according to ABC.

Contestants play in a head-to-head format, answering multiple choice questions. At the beginning of each round, each contestant is given ten chips, each representing $5,000. On any given question, the contestant may use as many chips as he feels he needs to stay alive. So if the contestant does not feel confident in answering a question, he may use four of his chips to cover all of the multiple choice answers. While this keeps the contestant alive, he loses three of his chips, which are added to the jackpot. This also quickly reduces the chip count of the contestant who hedges his bet in this way.

An interesting twist to each Duel is the "pressure" button. Contestants are not given any time limitation at the start of each question, but if they feel their opponent is delaying, the can use the pressure button, thus putting an immediate seven-second clock on their opponent. Each contestant can use two "pressures" per duel. This element certainly keeps the game moving, and avoids the horrific slowdowns that frequently pop up in Deal or No Deal and Millionaire.

Will viewers commit to watching six episodes of one game show in seven nights? While that may be a stretch, ABC is certainly counting on hooking viewers early and keeping their attention. Rather than pulling the average trivia geek off the street, Duel labels its contestants by occupation.

For example, in the first batch of 24 contestants, we have The Lunch Lady, The Belly Dancer, The Funeral Home Owner, and The Telemarketer, among others. By drawing from a diverse background, Duel intends to have the home viewer make an attachment to their favorite player, and hopefully stay with the program for the duration. Smack talking among the contestants seems to be not only tolerated, but encouraged, and adds additional entertainment value to each duel.

Duel is hosted by Mike Greenberg, of ESPN’s Mike and Mike in the Morning radio show. Greenberg does an adequate job of keeping the game moving, however does not bring any real comedic value to the program. The ever present game show requirement, the female hostess, is also fulfilled in the form of two chip girls, Jennifer Aguero and Olivia Fox.

Duel will face stiff competition from the start, as NBC premiers its own game/reality show Clash of the Choirs on Monday night as well. If Duel holds its own in the ratings numbers during this one week trial, expect to see it quickly return. The ongoing writers strike will insure the quick renewal of any new game show that strikes a chord with the viewing public.

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Poker Fans Embrace Online Backgammon

Online backgammon is fast becoming the poker enthusiast's second favorite game. When you start studying the backgammon rules, it is easy to see how this fast-paced and competitive game has won over thousands of poker players worldwide. Combining luck with intellect and skill, online backgammon offers unique wagering opportunities, lucrative tournament action and the social environment poker players are accustomed to.

Learning how to play backgammon is relatively straightforward. The object of the game is to be the first player to move all of your checkers off the backgammon board. This board, which is divided in half by the bar area, is where all the action takes place. It also features four sections containing six triangular spaces known as points which each player will use to move his 15 checkers. A player first moves his checkers toward his home area on the board and then removes them based on the pip count of the dice he throws for each turn.

In a backgammon game, a checker can be moved to any unoccupied point on the backgammon set, a point that is already home to one of your own checkers or to a point. You can also move a checker to a point that is occupied by one of your opponent’s checkers, which effectively removes his checker and sends it back to the bar. This slows your opponent's game down as he must now play the checker out of his home board before moving any of his other checkers.

You can choose how you move your checkers as long as the move relates to the pip count of the two dice. For example, if you throw a four and a five, you can move one checker four spaces and a second checker five. Alternatively, you can move one checker nine spaces. If you're unable to move any of your checkers checkers, you lose your turn.

When played by experienced players, internet backgammon moves at a rapid pace as all players are attempting to be the first to remove their checkers from the board. This is referred to as bearing off in both live and online backgammon. For the purposes of backgammon gambling, your opponent will often try to hit one of your checkers while you're bearing off. If this happens, you must bring the checker back into the game and move it round the board again before you can bear off your other checkers.

As you can see, backgammon requires discipline, a quick mind and a competitive spirit. It is no surprise then that poker fans the world over are being won over by backgammon online.

About the Author

Top backgammon aficionado Gene Marshall is commissioned by a few distinguished online backgammon publications. He concentrates on commentaries about backgammon setup and how to play backgammon. Further information and editorials published by Gene Marshall related to backgammon can be found on the web.