JoAnneM

Yes, I meant 2c, sorry.

It seems like with the auction 1nt-x-xx, the explanation "forces 3c" should be the only explanation necessary because that is the exact agreement for the bid. You don't really know what partner might do next. It's usually a pass, but it's not guaranteed.

I must admit it has been 9 years since I retired as a corporate controller, but back then we were charged fees by all the credit cards, more by American Express/Discover. I remember Mastercard/Visa being around 2.5% at that time. They were handled by the same company. It has always cost more for a merchant to offer American Express/Discover, but then we get more back from our Discover card, and we do collect on it.

Poker, how did you escape from Jbridge? :)

I hope not! What does a safety inspection have to do with a car breaking down?

I had already done the 2nd option. It also gives a little bit more points to the remaining players, not that they probably care much. But the first option drops 1/2 half table from the movement. Plus, didn't seem right cancelling boards already played.

I thought the jokes were cute. I wrote to ACBL and here is the answer I got, which I would never have thought of. Hello, Jo Anne. Per ACBL Regulations, a pair must play a minimum of 18 boards to receive masterpoints for a game. As this pair did not play sufficient boards, they should not be receiving masterpoints. There are two ways you can handle this. One is to go under F9, option 5 and change the movement parameter so that they become a phantom pair. This would throw out the results that occurred on the boards they did play. The other process would be to give the pair No Plays on the boards they did not play, and then go to F9, option 4 and declare them ineligible. Regards,

The player is diabetic and has missed several games lately. We were glad to see him back. :P

I have given them and their opponents average.

If we put $3,000 on our Discover card every month and they charge the merchants 2.5% they will get $75. Now we get a cashback of 2% which is $60, so Discover has netted $15. Multiply that millions of times and they do okay from people who pay off their accounts every month.

A player got sick in the middle of the game. They played 15 of 27 boards. They are currently sitting in 1st place.

Is there a minimum percentage of hands that a pair must play in an ACBL sanctioned game to be eligible for masterpoints? I can't find it, and the issue is relevant to our game today. Thanks, Jo Anne

ACBL has announced a very nice new feature on their website. On their Find-A-Club page you can put in a town or zipcode and it will show you a map with the ten closest bridge clubs. You might find one within 21 miles of your town, which really isn't very far, or you might find one 45 miles away. If you are traveling it would especially handy because you don't always know the names of the outlying places to look for a club.

Using F3, yes to data base, NO to strata, then F6 to start the sequence is the fastest way that I know. When you finish entering the names you enter ST from the command line to strafify the pairs, enter F4, then F6 to stratify in seconds. Also, if you make a mistake in entering using F3 to swap pairs is very helpful. It is also helpful to have some fake players, player1ew player2ew, etc. to use when you have put someone in the wrong spot and you get stuck. They are handy to fill spots where you have to delete someone but the pair going in are still sitting at another table. Those players are also useful for some movements where you need fake players like the 11 1/2 table revenge movement.

Thanks for the advice, Fred. I was actually an administrator at the site at the time, I just didn't tell the rest of the story. One of the problems with "reporting to management" is that the players don't see instant results. Usually punishments are private between the site and the offender. Players want a letter back saying "We kicked him out". And, like you have said, it often takes many complaints before a pattern is established. Word of mouth works great, especially online. People know that a pair is cheating, they have been reported but they are still in the game, at least if you are warned you are more on guard. Case in point - for at least two years we have known that a pair was cheating, just because they were each terrible players but together they got good results in bidding and defense, with long pauses. Finally, after many complaints, they have not been kicked out but they are not allowed to play together in tournaments. Why won't management just believe the players? This is not at BBO.

If you look at the list posted on the ACBL site for game owners/managers you will see very little activity in recent years for expelling members or even probabtion, other than for bad checks, behavior, etc. The two most recent cases that I know of aren't online players but well known ftf people. So I don't know what ACBL does with them. I do know that the one case I had to deal with in my District ACBL actually added to the punishment that we meted out after a hearing, so they do look at stuff that is sent in.

Did you think it mattered? How did you react? Fred Gitelman Bridge Base Inc. www.bridgebase.com Well, I immediately stopped playing with him. He was also an abusive partner. Of course it mattered. But then even though I know online bridge is flawed I still play it to win, honestly. That is my character, and I think that is sometimes what comes out in these situations.

I think any tournament where a player can earn over 100 masterpoints is a major tournment and certainly many Regionals qualify for that. I don't know you if you mean major according to the 50 or 60 "name" players who only play in the big multi day events at the NABC's or if you mean major according to the thousands of players who flock religiously each year to the same Regionals, which are marked on their calendars as their major tournaments. I sometimes wonder which is the real ACBL, I guess it is a combination of both. I know there are snide comments on this forum occasionally that it isn't real bridge unless you are playing in the first group I mentioned. I am proud to belong to the second group.

This is a good discussion, interesting points on both sides of the fence. I have been aware of a number of pairs who have been banned from various bridge sites for cheating, and for the most part they are accomplished players. So, why do they do it? I think that would be an interesting study. Many years ago on an early site I briefly had a partner who wanted me to send my hand on whatever messenger program that was in use at the time. He was quite a good player but had an ego that wouldn't quit. I have no idea whatever happened to him. The point is that since it was online bridge he just thought it was "fun bridge" and didn't matter.

I am strongly against online Sectional and Regional tournaments. I am strongly against anything other than colorless online points. Until something changes to assure the security of the game I won't be changing my mind.

The survey is being conducted by a company hired by ACBL that is why you don't see the logo. And not everyone was sent the survey, that's what a survey is. And, it is certainly true that people don't keep their email addresses current with ACBL, I have dealt with that problem for years in my various capacities. I found some of the questions strange and some they needed to ask weren't there, and I certainly gave them an earful (pageful) in the comments section. I wonder if they will read it.....or care.

Which is the most difficult - Bidding, Play, or Defense? Years ago I saw some percentages with defense supposedly being the most difficult but I can't find it now. We are having a discussion on another forum and I need expert help.

Does Woolsey post here anonymously? Doesn't almost everyone?

Backgammon brings back memories of the Vietnam War, and backgammon by the pool at the Officers Club at Anderson AFB, Guam. There's a lot more to that story....

Well, that was the point I was trying to make and didn't say it very well. Both of your statements involved the director, and that is what has to happen first. The opponents accepting is part of what the Laws might allow. As a director I just don't like rulings made at the table, by the players.