Info

Welcome to the Wild West Shootout, the 7th annual Denver Open Backgammon Tournament. If you joined us in past years, you know we worked hard to make sure you had a great time and a fantastic event. As COVID-19 is still hanging around, you can click HERE to check out the current guidelines. If you’re new to these parts, we’d like to thank you for visiting the site and participating in the ONLY Rocky Mountain region ABT tournament. We are very excited to produce a premier event for not only those in our region, but for those on both coasts, over seas, and everywhere in between. Denver International Airport allows for reduced fares from around the country and many international locations. This year we have returned to our original hotel, the Embassy Suites by Hilton Denver Central Park. The Embassy Suites is offering a fantastic rate of $146 per night, which includes a made-to-order breakfast and a complimentary evening reception, a fancy way of saying “the drinks are on us!” Our staff is committed to making this a wonderful experience, and continue working towards becoming a mainstay in the backgammon community. We would like to recognize and thank the board, committee members and staff of the ABT and USBGF, as well as the directors and players from across the country and around the world for their support in making this possible.

Click HERE to preregister on-line (no later than 10/9/2025). You’ll receive a free memento at registration, as well as a chance to have your $70 registration fee waived!

All players are welcome. We offer four different levels of competition, from Division 1 (the highest), to Division 4. To assure that you are playing against opponents of similar ability, the division you play in is based on a defined skill level (your performance rating or PR). If you are unfamiliar with your PR, not to worry. A local tournament director or skilled player can assist in establishing or determining your performance rating. If you’ve played and saved any online matches, your PR can be identified through some quick analysis. All players may play up into a higher division (from Div 2 to Div 1 for example), you may not play down.

Division 1 – Bison (PR < 7) is our highest skilled division made up of top rated Open players, of which some are considered Masters; a premier player and fluent in tournament play, they tend to make very few blunders per match (huge mistakes) and are considered experts.
Division 2 – Gunslingers (PR 7 – 10) is our average skilled division made up of average Open players and top rated Advanced players; an experienced high-level player and quite familiar with tournament play, they tend to make very few blunders per game (huge mistakes) and generally know their skill level relative to the field.
Division 3 – Warriors (PR > 10) is our moderately skilled division made up of average Advanced players and Intermediate players; an experienced player, but often plays more creatively rather than by the book, with a tendency to make a few blunders (huge mistakes) per game.
Division 4 – Greenhorn (PR not applicable) is our division for new players. Novice players typically make up this division; they have never played in one of the other divisions previously, have limited, if any, tournament experience, and modest or no experience playing with the doubling cube. Check out the Novice Workshop, a premier 2 day course followed by the ABT Div 4 tournament (included).

Accommodations

We have come home to our original hotel partner, the Embassy Suites by Hilton Denver Central Park. They offer amazing accommodations at a great rate of $146 plus tax per night (every room is a suite), which includes a made to order breakfast, and an evening reception (just for the guests). Each suite features a sitting room (with a foldout bed if required), including complimentary high-speed internet access, HDTV, fridge, microwave and spacious work desk. If you’d like to step out of your room, there’s a fitness center as well as an indoor pool and hot tub available. You are more than welcome to grab lunch or dinner at the Bar / Restaurant located in the atrium area. The $146 room rate plus tax has been made available until September 21, 2025, or until the room block (or hotel) is sold out, so book your rooms early. Click HERE to make your reservation.

Tournament Hotel
Embassy Suites by Hilton
Denver Central Park
4444 N Havana Street
Denver CO 80239
Tel: +1 303-375-0400

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Restaurants

If you’d like to rustle-up some grub outside of the Embassy Suites’ Bar / Restaurant, click HERE to see a few options just a short pony ride away.

Shootout Shuttle

The hotel is just a short ride share away from the Denver International Airport and downtown Denver. Transportation may also be available via our Shootout Shuttle; a private tournament shuttle service (seats 5) helping to move players between the airport, local overflow hotels and the playing hotel. Just text your location to 512-761-2701, and if available, the Shootout Shuttle will transport you (volunteer drivers only, so tips appreciated).

LIVE Streaming and Commentary

Four days of live streaming with guest commentary is a highlight not to be missed. Should a backgammon Giant fall to an opponent, he or she has earned the right to critique upcoming matches, if they so choose. You will be provided insight and entertainment on nearly every streamed match from an expert or two, discussing moves and cubes. If you have the time and are in person, sit down in our spectator lobby and enjoy the LIVE analysis. If you’re watching from the range (as in, home on the range) or some far away location, we hope you are entertained and can imagine being part of the Wild West. The live streaming and commentary are sponsored by Gammon Guys and Women’s World of Backgammon.

LIVE Calcutta Auction

On Friday at 7:00 pm, just prior to the start of the ABT main event, a LIVE Calcutta auction will be held for Divisions 1, 2 and 3. Players bid on groups of players, and the money offered is pooled together and paid out at the end of the tournament to those “owning” the winning players. If you’ve never experienced a LIVE Calcutta auction, it will be the second most fun you’ll have not playing backgammon (corn hole being first).

About the Auctioneer: Clay Everhart provides his time for an unforgettable LIVE Calcutta auction in the true spirit of the Wild West. Clayton is a rodeo announcer (4x CPRA Finals and 2x WPRA Finals), rodeo performer and trainer, and one who appreciates the cowboy lifestyle and traditions. Click HERE for a taste of the Wild West Shootout LIVE Calcutta auction.

TERMS, CONDITIONS and RULES

Terms and Conditions

Please read carefully. By registering you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions. Players are expected to act in the spirit of good sportsmanship and in accordance with the U.S. Backgammon Federation Tournament Rules. The Wild West Shootout is a privately run tournament and reserves the right to refuse entry and to refuse access to the premises with no reason required. All fees paid onsite must be in cash, US currency only. Eligibility for all events is subject to approval, entrants will not be allowed to play below their playing level. The tournament does not supply equipment, please bring your own digital clock, backgammon board, and other equipment, if possible (limited loaner boards, precision dice and clocks may be available, with ID).

Rules

The following are the Rules Options that are employed at Wild West Shootout.

All events are legal moves: Any illegal play must be corrected if noticed by either player.
Dice on checkers are legal: Dice that land on top of checkers are generally valid rolls.
Clocks required: With the exception of the Novice division, ALL events require a clock.
Baffle boxes preferred (modified): Players may use a baffle box, but may not impose their use on another player. If only one player is using a baffle box, it must be on that players right.
Use of cups with a baffle box: This is optional. Using your hand or a cup to put the dice in the top of the baffle box are both legal.
Use ONLY two dice: All players are obligated to share two “precision” dice.
Pictures and video are always allowed: Players are allowed to both record/stream their match and take pictures during, even when not using a clock. When recording matches the equipment must be unobtrusive. This privilege may be revoked if it creates undue noise or interferes with the smooth running of the tournament. The recording or streaming of matches other than your own, requires approval from a tournament director.

* If any questions arise during a match, STOP THE PLAY AND THE CLOCK and call a director.

Clocks

Clocks are required for all events, excluding Novice (Greenhorn). Players in the Novice division must consult with the director before using a clock. Directors reserve the right to clock any match. Typical clock settings are notated as minutes per point / delay in seconds (i.e. 2/15 = 2 minutes per point [Reserve], 15 seconds per move [Delay]).

Division 1 (Bison) level players: 2 minutes per point with a 12 second delay.
Division 2 (Gunslinger) level players: 2 minutes per point with a 12 second delay.
Division 3 (Warrior) level players: 2 minutes per point with a 15 second delay.
Division 4 (Greenhorn) level players: Generally this level is not clocked. If necessary, 2 minutes per point and 18 second delay.
Doubles: 3 minutes per point with a 15 second delay.

Promoting Products and/or Services

Promoting or selling products or services is not allowed without prior approval from a tournament director.

BOUNTIES

Random bounties will be drawn for the top 3 divisions prior to the main event start. The first player who eliminates the WANTED opponent from the main bracket will receive a random cash bounty.

BEHIND THE SCENES

Tournament Directors

Dan Minardi
Ben Friesen

Tournament Staff

Jessica Giles
Josh Giles
William Reeves (Driver)
Julius High and Tom Jayne (Novice Workshop & Greenhorn ABT)
Colorado Backgammon Club

Rules Committee

Carol Joy Cole
Roberto Litzenberger
Rich Munitz

Eligibility Committee

Rory Pascar
Roberto Litzenberger
Dmitriy Obukhov
Ian Terry

Thank You

Ben Friesen – Cherry Blossom Backgammon Championship and Michigan Summer Backgammon Championships
Rory Pascar – Chicago Open, Las Vegas Open, US Open
Candace Mayeron – Los Angeles Open, California State Championship

CONTACT US

For any questions or concerns, please contact:
Dan Minardi – 3o3.356.3679 – Dan@DenverBG.org

Denver Backgammon
PO Box 7294
Westminster CO 80021