JoAnneM

I certainly didn't mean to be offensive to anyone, and my remark about paying to commentate was certainly "tongue in cheek". I guess the point I was trying to get across, and perhaps I made it too strongly, is that most of the 2,000 or so kibbitzers you have at these big vugraph events are not personal friends, or even on speaking terms with these commentators. This is where those commentators put on a human face to the rest of us. And for those commentators who ARE professionals it should at least be a gracious appearance. My background is not professional bridge, my background is the business world, and bridge administration. I apologize if I offended anyone, I have only the best interests for bridge, bbo, vugraph, etc., at heart.

I have a definite opinion about the commentators and their "volunteer" status. These people are professional players and these commentating stints are nothing more than free advertising for them, and if they haven't realized that then they are not very smart. If I like a commentator I might go buy his book. If I like a commentator I might hire him. If I like a commentator I might take his cruise. Where else am I going to get a personal glimpse of these commentators? Certainly not at the bridge table where the ACBL has neatly shielded them from the run-of-the-mill members with their bracketed knockouts and special rooms for the NABC+ events. And, the reverse is true. If one of these commentators turns me off, as one certainly did, then I am very disappointed and sorry I have two of his books in my house, and there won't be anymore coming in. I would think that they should be paying for the privilege of commentating, and putting on a good display of their bridge expertise.

I think you all need something important to worry about - like did anyone actually lose their phone in Las Vegas?

Wow. You mean it isn't banned already!?! I just assumed it was. I signed up with BBO to participate in the forums and have never played online - well not on this site anyway. I'm not into pickup partnerships and the partners I do have all live at this address - I just assumed we'd could never play online together without investing in a second broadband line or going through some complex system of hacker style proxies to hide the IP address on one of the logins. Needless to say I don't want it banned - mind you then we'd probably get accused of cheating even if we weren't. :lol: Nick I have known lots of same household pairs that play successfully on the same site. I have also known some that were banned for cheating. The thing is a, site isn't going to ban someone over one hand or even 20 hands. It might happen over a long string of impossibilities. And playing online is so much fun! I have made friends all over the world, play in set games where people don't up and leave in the middle of a hand, and have directed and even served as an administrator at one site. Just jump in, you might enjoy it! Just don't expect it to be ftf bridge, you will be disappointed. Have an open mind about expectations. :lol:

I did the same thing you did, Darla, but I didn't sit and play. It occurred to me when they said to get a "z" name, and I knew that most of the players I knew from the zone were already at BBO at one time or another, so if we all get a "z" name we are all going to have two names. That is kind of like asking for trouble. I am sure the z name was someone's good idea but just having the club would probably have done it.

It is very simple - SAYC means you don't play 2/1 or Precision, Polish Club, Acol, etc. It is kind of a negative positive. :P

I know at least one flight A pair in my area who don't attend Regionals because the pairs events are not large enough, but they attend lots of Sectionals. Unfortunately those planning these events have to react to what the players want, and they want KO's. What I would like to see go away is all Senior events. It issilly to see 2 or 3 sections of open pairs and one section of Seniors with 8 tables. And Open and Senior Swiss and the same time is really ridiculous. Almost everyone is senior, just have one event that pays more points!!

I am surprised that this is allowed. Not because I don't approve (I don't have an opinion), but because of a recent conversation with a tournament TD. We were talking about a player at a table who had earphones plugged in while he was playing and the Director said he had a note from his doctor saying he had AHDD? and playing music kept him focused. Without the note it wouldn't be allowed. This was at a Regional.

I posted one with my reply

From what I read in the Bulletin it sounded like ACBL volunteers were manning the "phone" booth so I may have been completely wrong when I said that ACBL was not collecting the money themselves on this venture. At this point I simply don't know. :mellow: Since I am treasurer of the 2010 Reno NABC guess I'd better find out.

Cuebid 1. a bid indicating a particular value or general strength, but not naming the strain desired for the final contract; 2. a bid in a strain previously bid by the opponents; 3. to make a bid satisfying either case 1 or case 2. Puppet Stayman A method of responding to a 1 No Trump developed by Mr. Kit Woolsey. The responder bids 2 Clubs asking for a 5-card Major suit. If the opener does not have a 5-card Major suit, he rebids 2 Diamonds. The responder then rebids the Major suit he does not have, or No Trump if he has both Major suits. The opener now has the information necessary to select the right denomination without having to reveal his distribution to the opponents. Also applies to an opening of 2 No Trump. Relay 1. a minimum bid unrelated to the bidder’s hand or holding with the goal of keeping the auction open in order that the bidder’s partner can further describe his hand or holding; 2. the practice of sharing boards at duplicate bridge, sometimes necessary playing 6 or 8 or 12 table Mitchell movement in which 24 boards are to be played; 3. in England, a term to describe a byestand Spot Cards These are cards ranking below the Jack or any card from the deuce through and including the Ten. It has been mathematically estimated that of all the 13 tricks, about 8 are won with the honors, and the remaining 5 tricks are won with spot cards Constructive A description applied to a bid that suggests game prospects but is not forcing. The partner will take further action more often than not. Control Bid 1. Any bid that indicates a control in a specific suit, generally employed when attempting slam; 2. the act of making a bid satisfactory. I took these definitions from the Bridge Guys, so others might have better ideas. http://homepage.mac.com/bridgeguys/Glossary/AGlossary.html

Ethical is more in the mind of the person committing the act, than the perception of those seeing it. If they thought they were doing the "right" thing then I commend them. It doesn't really matter what the rest of us think. However, I don't feel that the reverse should be true. Living with a director's ruling can never be construed as "unethical".

I am still mad about the comments made by one commentator when our Lusky team was playing. Sour grapes is an understatement. Of course I was super sensitive to it as they were personal friends but it still seemed unprofessional coming from a bridge legend. Jo Anne District 20 President (Home of the Lusky team)

I hope the commentator chat doesn't show up in that. One of the "household name" commentators looked very small expressing a great deal of sour grapes because our Oregon team were playing this match. The rest of the commentators were very gracious. I won't be buying anymore of his books. Jo Anne Murdock President District 20 ACBL

ACBL is not making money off of this, I imagine it is costing them money - when you think about how much it costs to pay a hotel or security employee to man the station for that many hours each day. I haven't done the math though. But from my experience with working with event venues $2 is not covering it. My, aren't some of us cynical. I believe ACBL is doing this in the best interest of the players, it may not be the best idea but think about what drove them to it. Jo Anne Murdock President District 20 ACBL

I think they should make an exception.

How silly. Is masterpoints all you are after? Attending a NABC and being part of the excitement and fun of a huge tournament is a far cry from sitting at your computer in your boxer shorts.

If it is a player's first time at a duplicate game then I think the director should not be called for mechanical infractions having to do with the bidding box (let the players at the table help them), hesitations (they are just nervous), leading out of turn (nervous again, partner please ignore the lead), but revokes and bids out of turn should require the director - to protect the opponents. At our club most new players are not new to bridge, just new to duplicate. We would love to find some players new to bridge. Yoo hoo, anyone out there?

I have a problem with asking questions of players using complicated systems because many times they don't know what they are doing and the queries help them as much as it informs me. So, knowing whether a 2C bid might be weak or strong is a critical pre-alert I would think. And I can't tell you the last time I saw anyone preview a cc at a bridge table.

No, I just laugh, and Yes, I would think the person was not only dorky, but nuts.

I would just find a bridge game, or several, and enjoy! Why make a big deal out of it.

Then following this a little further maybe all 1C bids should be alerted. I wouldn't want to offend anyone who plays Precision or any other big club systems, and are forced to alert. We could really get carried away with this.

I agree with this. If you are going tio have to alert a natural 2c opening, then you should alert ALL 2c openings. If we try really hard we can think of even more ways to slow down the game. Anyone?

I am very proud of the Hawaii Units and District 20 who have raised money and sent 11 young players to Atlanta for these games. These kids have learned bridge thru classes run by volunteer bridge teachers at their middle schools. They are new players but hopefully this experience will make them lifelong bridge players. Click this link to read their story: http://starbulletin.com/2008/06/27/news/story05.html Jo Anne Murdock President District 20

I have read that 75% of the cases of the "flu" are actually food spoilage related illnesses.