doofik

Well, I guess I got my answer:-) Thank you very much. It would appear that the player with the hand records didn't go to the right organization. He kept knocking on European doors. doofik

Thank you very much scoob. doofik

I play Polish Club as number one, 2/1 as number two, and the disliked SAYC when nothing else will work. Would it be possible to fill out more than 1 convention card? doofik

Can't wait :P Great job. doofik

Epeeist, I've no problem with accidents, they do happen. But why did the TD ignore me when I asked why? Nah, he was not running to another table :P In the end, all that happened is that before I play a tournament again, I'll think long and hard. Stuff like that ruins your experience, your partner's experience as well. Were something like this to happen in a paid tourney, what's the recourse if any? As my original post states, it happened to me and a starred player (a friend), both in one day. doofik

This is to Fred. If this situation has been festering for such a long time, why does it appear that B-L were able to play without any observation, presumably no camera, i.e. nothing? Am I missing something (not that it would be the only time)? The level of players involved directly and indirectly is such that whispers should turn into a proof or a denial, but at least the situation would be clear. Instead, we've got 'what if'. One of world class players claims that he has a stack of hand records that prove without a doubt that these two have been at it for years. He's been knocking on several doors all of which got slammed in his face. Was it the result of Lavazza power? But then they were voted off the team. More questions than answers, I guess. doofik

"as a TD, sometimes we dont get enough information to always do the right thing. Yes we do things hastily at times but if its a free tourney go back and look at what would have been a normal result on the hand and you can sort of figure out where you would have ended up...I know it sounds like a cop out but accidents do happen....what you need to do in a case like that is mark the td as friend and msg him as soon as possible so he doesnt forget to but you back in to game. " With all deference to all the TDs, not just you, doesn't the result often depend on leads and carding? With this partner I play 2/4 leads, udca and lavinthal. This was a 'kibs disallowed' tourney... . So figuring out a normal result is kind of impossible. Accidents are acceptable but wouldn't it be nice to become aware of the fact that this was an accident? All it takes is two words, is that so much to ask for? And once the game has been altered, because an event like that, alters the partnership, going back is really not much fun. What if the same TD decides to have another accident with you or your partner - now what? All I'd like to know is what is the TD's responsibility to players.

Got a problem that needs a response. I'm angry but that's neither here nor there. Here's the scenario: -playing a sweet tourney with a partner. We get to about the second table (3rd deal), we announce the system. Asked opps "what system are you playing please" without a benefit of a response. Asked again, same difference. One of the tourney's macros dealt with system announcement as one arrives at the new table. Now I call the TD, explain to him/her what the problem is. Now one of the opps says "it's in my profile, geesh, basic sayc". Now I feel like an idiot and the next thing I know, I'm in the lobby, replaced by a sub. I ask the TD why, he says I'll put you back in for next hand. Well, that one hand cost a fortune so by the time I was put back in, I lost the whole concentration. Never heard the reason, never heard an apology. Most likely, I should have just logged off the website and say "well that's one TD I won't be playing with". Not too long ago I logged on and a friend of mine tells me that she was playing a tourney and opps were stalling so that time ran out for her to make a brilliant 3nt. The TD, during the next round, replaced her partner with a sub. Never an explanation, never a reason. Needless to say, she's not happy. So now here's the situation. I appreciate all the free tourneys, I appreciate all the work the TDs put in, but what is their responsibility to players? Am I missing something? Because if I have to got thru such an aggravation, I'll just stick to matches and table games. doofik P.S. Definitely letting some steam off.

"ok lets talk about capital letters. when have no more arguments u find always something to write about... ok dera doofik . no more capitals. what about rsponding to the statements ? u didnt answer to my staements - u complain about my capitals. u ´must be certainly a sensitive person ........ i was no eyewitness and i was not there. were u there ? " The difference between you and me is that I'm not taking any position on the accusation nor on the decision of the committee. I'm not attacking nor am I defending because we've got sketchy details to say the least. Getting into a pissing contest is no fun because no one wins those. doofik P.S. In case you weren't aware of the nuance of capital letters, in computer-speak they're considered shouting.

Getting at the truth doesn't necessarily involve cynicism and shouting in capital letters. Capital letter don't get you any closer either.. I don't think that you can get at the truth unless you were there and were an eyewitness. doofik

To slx, The problem that I have with your posts is that they are cynical and, consequently, the message is lost, at least to me. Personal attack won't do you much good either. doofik

To slx, I don't know who you are but your ironic tone puts me off. I don't think that the B-L affair needs more fuel in the fire. Why, you don't even bother to spell the names right. Was there some purpose to it? doofik

Roland, Your prediction is probably not misguided. My immediate concern is that as a sign of solidarity with B-L (teammates in this event) all the wonderful top Italian players may boycott world events. I actually believe that if that were to happen, every win will be cheapened. Correct me if I'm wrong. doofik

Mike777, Are you suggesting that the committee was incompetent? How about putting some burden on participating players, as if that's news to them, that you do not make certain gestures, you do not do anything that might be misinterpreted as a signal? I'd rather misread a camera film than to be acting on someone's word who has a stake in the outcome. However, given the circumstances of a closed room, no kibs, no one around, how do we call the AC competent or incompetent? What I'm reading in your post, Mike, is that we might as well go ahead and cheat because there never is proof enough to convict. And that is just a defetist attitude, IMHO. doofik

Needless to say, this is a hot topic now that players are returning from Tenerife. So details are becoming more interesting, especially to someone like me, a novice who will never ever play at the level we're discussing here. Today I've learned that the play took place in a closed room. There were players and no one else. While I don't know squat about probabilities and percentages for taking a line of play, I do know about life. And I'd like everyone on the forum to put yourselves into B-L's position. Now it's you who's playing in a closed room and your opponent goes and tells a TD that he's noticed that when you scratch your left ear with the right hand, declarer always gets the crucial finesse right. No one can confirm, no one can prove a thing. But the smoke is beginning to billow. We shouldn't pass a judgement based on a word vs. a word, we need to fix the conditions of contest. Without any visual proof, it does become a witch hunt and since livelihood is at stake, putting cameras in the playing area becomes elementary. We can't destroy someone's professional career on another's say so. I'm not saying anyone was right or wrong, all I'm saying is that proof is so difficult and yet so easy to come by. Those cameras sure would solve all of our misgivings. Someone said, well the cost is prohibitive. And my reply was, and I presume that attorneys are cheap. doofik

Inasmuch as I found it curious the action taken by Bocchi-Duboin against B-L during the Cavendish, the discussion that's unfolding here is very troublesome to me. I don't understand why we're getting into nationalities, justice systems of independent countries, credibility of players, etc. We don't even know what exactly happened as details are sketchy at best. Either we believe that committees at such events are cool heads or we should do away with them. And if we believe that committees are level headed then what is this discussion about? And if we believe that committees are hot headed then vote for a change. doofik

Justin, All I am saying is, things look a bit a foggy where B-L are concerned. Yes, it could have been the tiredness and nerves that B-D were reacting to. I don't know and I'm not accusing, however, it did happen. doofik P.S. I also hold B-D in highest regard, so this had been so out of character for them that it stuck in my mind.

Speaking of B-L's 2005 Cavendish win, am I the only one who remembers Bocchi-Duboin's fiasco against this pair, where they've found their Heart fit and played 4S in a 4-2 fit going down 2 when 4H+5 is a no brainer? Didn't then commentators scoff at the idea of something untoward going on and dismiss this action as "they're also human"? doofik

Yes, Jimmy, I've witnessed all that and sometimes, when I need to let off some steeam, I'll ask in the kibs section, why send the message to the table? Seldom do I get a response which says a lot. But kib banning doesn't make any sense to me. doofik

It's not just star tables, more and more tournaments also disallow kibs. And that begs the question whether the issue is cheating. And if it is, what are those who run tournaments going to do about extraneous communications. It seems to me that paranoia is alive and well. What I've also witnessed is that at star tables people have this incredible need to be noticed. So they say "hi" in the middle of a hand, some disparaging comments reach the table. If I were running a table like that, I'd disallow kibs or at least kibs chat. However, in tourneys no one can communicate with a player. If a player wants to cheat there are many ways to do so. So will someone please explain to me what's going on? doofik

1. Balicki-Zmudzinski (take a look at Gatlinburg results) 2. Lev-Pszczola (a repeat?) 3. Fantoni-Nunes (how can you not?) 4. Duboin-Bocchi 5. Fallenius-Welland 6. Gromov-Dubinin

There's a great bridge player in Poland by the name of Andrzej Wilkosz who came up with an indefensible convention known as the Wilkosz Convention. 2♦ shows 6-10 pts 5+/5+ with at least 1major. The convention is banned, I'm sad to say, because no one has come up with a defense to it.

Whenever the Vugraph is on, and I have an interest in the players, I join in. Some transmissions don't mean a whole lot to me as I'm not familiar with the players' names even. It is my feeling that Vugraphs do more for BBO's membership than any other event. It is a tremendous marketing tool, I am a prime example of a player who came to take a look at a transmission and never left :D Keep up the great work, Jola P.S. If there is a diminished attendance in tourneys during transmissions, I think it all equals out shortly after Vugraph ends. No numbers to prove it, just what I've observed. jb

Hey Double! Anytime we introduce political mindset to our beloved game, suspension is the right course of action, at least in my mind. Otherwise, BBO will be the playing arena where people will insult each other on basis of religion, race, creed, political beliefs etc. I don't believe that BBO was formed for such a purpose. Introducing Osama bin Laden at the table didn't do anything positive, did it? Jola

I have a bet riding on this;-) Please advise:-)