JoAnneM

I am aware of that, but declarer would not have been put in the position of making that error if the other side had not committed an infraction first. Just a simple point that seems a bit unfair to the nonoffending side.

This is confusing to me. Why is N/S expected to make a contract that they would not have bid if E/W had not committed an infraction of BIT? The whole scenario would not exist if the BIT did not occur. At least according to ACBL rules "I would have bid it anyway" is not a logical aternatiive.

I imagine that in the top 20 or top 50, just like in a club game, the goal is to find partners you are comfortable playing with, and can win with. It is, after all, a partnership game and individual style must enhance a partnership not harm it, in order to make a winning combination.

I am an ACBL club owner/manager and online bridge is my friend and free advertising for bridge. As long as we can get people to the table whether it be the computer monitor or card table we will make converts, and the players will make their choices of where and when to play. I liken it to when I worked in a large public library outside of D.C. and our head librarian actually stocked comic books. She said all she wanted to do was get people inside the door.....the books would do the rest.

Where is all this yelling taking place? If it is on a messenger program change your status as soon as the game starts so that you are not "available". Do this with problem partners and you can play in peace. If they yell at you on the chat line either you or the opponents should have the director at the table pretty quickly. We have become a generation of having to be instantly available, but is it really necessary? Can't we spend an hour or so without messages.

Re: if a team event - Commonsense says that since the infractions occurred at both tables (the first table fouled the board, the second table didnt' count) the board should be thrown out. I don't know what the Law says. Obviously if this happened at the first table it would just be redealt.

Yes, it is very different. The three GIBS bid almost instantly. When a GIB is declarer the first 4 or 5 tricks might take a few seconds each but then the rest of the hand flashes by in a blur of maybe 2 seconds. When the GIBS are defending they are very quick, maybe a 2 or 3 second delay. The only player taking any time at all is the human player. I try to take as much time as I can and still have never finished with less than 20 minutes left, usually between 25 and 30.

The ACBL robot tournaments are 12 boards and the players are given 55 minutes, which is way too long for most. To watch the slower players you just click on one of the tables still in play.

cute. Are you really Phil Ivey, Helmuth, or Laak? Gordon obv. I don't know who he is, either

Of course you are right, but that site also uses robots in ACBL tournies.

BTW, if you do support these ACBL robot games please send a letter to Fred and/or your District Director. As a matter of interest I have talked to the owner of another site that has ACBL games and that person does not support the points with robots and has notified ACBL, so Fred really needs feedback.

If worst case happens and we lose the ACBL masterpoints for the robot games I would still play IF the change is made so that I would always play the hand for our side.

This is sexist I think we should refer to them as LOM for a while. :rolleyes:

I doubt that the person that we purposely place under the strongest light in the room because of his eye disease is insulted because of our consideration. I doubt that the lady that has her cards pre-sorted for her by the previous player because of her failing eyesight feels insulted. She actually wouldn't be able to play without this extra help. We also say our bids out loud and announce our plays vocally. I actually don't know of any player who has failing eyesight or hearing who was insulted by receiving some accommodation at the table. And if I thought that anyone was taking advantage of these people by playing to their handicaps - well, I wouldn't want to be in the same club with them. On another subject in this thread, somewhere I read that intentionally discarding a same color card, hoping to cause the opponent to miscount, is illegal. Can't remember where I saw it.

I agree with jdonn. I often cringe when watching the GIB declare a hand. I would rather the GIBs cringe while I am playing it. :rolleyes:

When you join the tournament it states that South is going to be dealt the best hands.

Hi Fred, I initially came to the robot tournaments because a friend told me about them, and she was outraged that people were earning masterpoints playing with robots. I decided to check it before forming an opinion. Well, I was smitten immediately. It took me several games to form a partnership with the GIB, but that is the case with any new partner. And since GIB can't change I am just adjusting to him/her. I enjoy the games so much, and they are not easy. My husband is not a bridge player and we have an active life outside of my bridge games and the club I own and manage, so it is nice to be able to sit down and play whenever I can fit it in, and not worry about finding a compatible partner. I am going to write you a separate email. I am going to ask our District Director to vote to continue these tournaments, but if something happens between now and the meeting and he can't attend, since I am First Alternate District Director you certainly have my vote. Jo Anne Murdock District 20 First Alternate

Think about Reno. The room rates at the Grand Sierra are great that week, you can probably do better than the bridge rate if you check on the internet. Also, the hotel has been undergoing renovations for a couple of years and you will get a preview for the NABC in March. And we are really looking forward to seeing all of you in March!!

I am not sure what Bluejak means, we don't call beginners on hesitations at all. If there is a problem with a beginner we mention it to the director and we then deal with it after the game, or before the next one, in a learning atmosphere. This "beginner" status lasts a few games until they know the basic rules.

Thanks for all your help! I am going to try these out. It never occurred to me to use my iPhone. I wonder if I can set the alarm to ring every 15, 21, or 28 minutes when I am directing..... Think I will check that out too.

When was the director called? After n/s made their contract? I think this is always a win-win situation for e/w when they do it that way.

I would love the URL for the stand alone program. We don't have internet, and we have one of those big ACBL clocks, which have their own problems.

Within a tournament do the robots "learn" how to play or defend a hand? I play quickly and then like to watch the slower players. I watch the robots do different leads and plays after exact auctions. In fact I have seen them make different bids at the same point in an identical auction.

Are you really ready to give up the human side of the game, the social side? Seems like whenever I read an article where one well known player is talking about another champion player they are reminiscing about that player's table presence, things that happened at the table, how much they enjoyed playing against them, or with them, at the table. Sure, playing on a computer is okay, but actually playing at the table, to me, is just exciting. There must be a better solution to catch cheaters.

bitter much? Did you think I was serious? There is not a hint of bitterness, I just like to observe people, and find some of them interesting. Declarer can tell an opponent that their trick is turned the wrong way, but dummy should really be quiet, except for specific rights accorded. For one thing, it can be distracting to the declarer.