We have already had questions from a number of players and many are similar so here is TBJ’s Frequently Asked Questions or FAQs – and our answers to them of course, many of which you will find in TBJ Rules also. We will add to the list as we get more questions.
Q. I see there is a new rule about the maximum number of unplayed Challenges I can have outstanding at any one time – does this include Challenges up and down?
A. The 4 maximum relates only to Challenges UP, as many others as want to can Challenge you within their own personal limit of four
Q. I have made my maximum 4 Challenges but I have just met someone not in those four but who is in range of me – can I immediately play him as a valid Challenge?
A. Yes
Q. I have made my maximum 4 Challenges but two of them have reversed due to Ladder movements – can I make a further two Challenges
A. No – you made the Challenge and you are charged with it – and we certainly can’t go checking every day to see if the Ladder has changed and reversed each of 60+ Challenges
Q. I want to Challenge someone who is “oranged-out” – any problem?
A. You must wait until they return from whatever it was that they were oranged out for. You can then of course just play them if they are within 4 rungs and they agree to play.
Q. I want to Challenge someone who has planned leave in five days time
A. This would be invalid for registration on the Challenge list as there has to be seven days available until the start of the oranged out period – you can however just play them if you are within 4 rungs and they agree to play,
Q. All Sounds good, I’m up for it and I’d like to join the Ladder, when can I get playing?
A. TBJ is operated on a monthly basis with Prizes Awards etc geared to that. This means you cannot join part way through but must register in month 1 and only play in month 2 – full details here
NB Since the April Ladder Month, newcomers are allowed to join at any time during the month so long as they agree to come in at the very nottom of the Ladder
Q. How often can you challenge a player? i.e if you challenge a player and you lose then there should be a minimum time period before you can challenge that player again….
A. Indeed there is, the same Challenge cannot be repeated in the same calendar month Ladder unless BOTH players agree
Q. Does the person being challenged have the right to name the venue?
A. Yes, at the place he or she registered as being their “home table 1″ or “home table 2″ – otherwise the decision must be mutual
Q4, Why Tangga Bilyard Jakarta?
A4. In fact our initial thought was to call it the Jakarta Pool Ladder, however, no flies on us and we quickly recognised that its acronym would have caused confusion and possibly legal action! The literal translation of Jakarta Pool Ladder into Indonesian yields Tangga Bilyard Jakarta and its own more acceptable acronym, TBJ. It’s not great Indonesian, but hey!!
Q. Do I have to play Challenges from others in the order I receive them?
A. No, you simply play them in the order that you have agreed to play them, which may or may not be the same as the order that you agreed to them.
Q. Next week I play a Challenge Match with John who is four places below me. Tonight I play Jim who is four rungs above me. If I beat Jim tonight and lose to John next week then where are we all positioned?
A. Assuming there are no other games further affecting the situation, then John will be in what is currently Jim’s rung, you will be one rung below him and Jim will be one rung below you. Yes, John leaped 8 (7?) places, lucky man!! All clear now after version 3?
Q. Today, player X at Rung #3 challenges player Y at rung #1 and they agree to play 7 days later. The next day player Z at Rung #2 challenges Player Y, still at Rung #1 and plays just 2 days later. If both players initially ranked 3 and 2 win, who is now the legitimate number 1?
A. Ladder changes are applied in the order that they occur, hence our insistence that you report date and time of each Challenge Match. This means that when Player Z beats Player Y on day 3, Player Z takes rung #1 while Player Y drops to rung #2. When player X actually gets to play Y and wins, he takes over rung #2 and Player Y moves down to rung #3. What you are challenging is the player and not the rung position he had at the time of the Challenge.
Q8. Do we have to play at the “home table” of one of us?
A8. No, you can play anywhere you both agree to. Whilst we wish to support the bars being represented, there are obvious access issues in peak periods so there is nothing wrong with playing at a non-represented bar, such as Roosters, Cazbar, Sports Cafe, the better quality pool halls or even your back room so long as the tables are decent. Crossroads has the third table in the back room, which is used infrequently. Zoasis in Fatmawati is an option and Everest has very generous provision for players wanting to play Challenge matches even if there “home table” is not registered there. So the short answer to your question is NO
Q. Can I make more than two challenges?
A. You can make up to a maximum of 4 (four) challenges, however, how many you get to play in practice will be constrained by a number of factors including:
You may only challenge up to four rungs above your own rung at any given time
Players are perfectly entitled to accept only two challenges per Ladder month (though if they turn you down then they can accept no other challenge in that Ladder month under the “cherry picking” provision)
Any failed challenge of yours cannot be repeated in the same Ladder month unless the victor agrees
Challenged players have the right to agree to a Challenge Match play up to 7 days after the challenge
Q. There are two players immediately above me on the ladder who have declared Holiday Moratoriums (Moratoria?). Please tell me they don”t count in the four people above me whom I may challenge!!
A. Happy to tell you that those on Moratoria DON’T count for the purposes of calculating who you may challenge!
Q. I think I know Mark and Keith, but who is Mike?
A. Mike is a friend of Mark, not a bad player but doesn’t have enough time to play in the Ladder as he plays a lot of golf and does a lot of the donkey work on TBJ, Whilst a willing worker he is prone to the odd error and, if there is a cock up over missing URLs or wrongly reported results etc then you can be certain that it was Mike’s fault – just ask Mark or Keith and they will confirm.
Q. Can I make a Challenge this month in respect of the following Ladder Month?
A. Yes. Any Challenge is good for play up to 7 days afterwards including in the following month
Q. I have been challenged and offered my opponent two very reasonable alternatives on Thursday night and Saturday afternoon, but he wants to play me only on Friday night. Do I have to forfeit?
A. No, these things, if they have to be decided by the committee, will always be determined by what is reasonable. You have been reasonable in offering two eminently playable days/times, your opponent is being unreasonable in demanding a match only on Friday night. Your opponent should withdraw bis challenge and inform TBJ. We truly wish these things to be sorted out between the players themselves but we stand by to resolve in the event of a dispute as to just what is reasonable.
Q. Last week I was Challenged by Joe Blow and we agreed to play this Friday. Since then he also Challenged and beat someone above me. Do we still play, is the Challenge match still valid?
A. The Challenge match is indeed still valid and CANNOT be withdrawn except with the agreement of BOTH parties. The only thing that changes is who is Challenger and who is Challengee. Play!
