Abadaba

I second that emotion. Incredibly and impressive ideas. I really hope BBO will give all that you mentioned a lot of consideration. Thanks for your constructive effort on behalf of all. ABA

I think you misunderstoon me Ben - And I think we are closer in line than far apart. I am NOT saying this to benefit ABA or ACBL or Homebase or any tourney well run. What I am saying is that when you allow the running amuck tourneys - it seems to increase the running amuck players and believe it or not - I don't know that they are necessarily bad just have experienced the priviliege or running at leaisure so they go. 20 times a day i get an "emergency" request to leave. Emergencies are - another tourney to play in - i don't like this partner anymore - I am not winning here so why should I bother. And btw - these I appreciate more than the ones who just click off. How about as an idea..... 1. Make TDs go up the line in terms of experience level to the size of the tourneys they run 2. If a player leaves a tourney - when returns he is put on a sublist for the tourney and unable to play anywhere on BBO until the tourney is completed (I like that one alot) B) 3. Any TD who flagrantly disrupts other tourneys gets a week off to think about it (just so us TD's know our behavior is important whether we are TDing or playing) 4. No tourney can be listed without a TD for every 30 - 40 tables (need 2 TDs for 160 pairs) 5. The names of the TDs and hosts must be shown so players can choose not to play in tourneys that are poorly run. 6. Any player who "leaves" or is removed (they sit and won't bid or play so we have to remove them) gets a one week ban from all tourneys? Just ramble thoughts - my own feeling what might help - not my club or your club or the ACBL - but the BBO community at large. Humbly, ABA

Actually it was a dual posting.... That said with sadness I just cancelled the very popular ABA Open tourneys that have been running 50 to 100 tables daily aat 11:00 am edt / 17:00 CET. I spent the entire tourney replacing more than 30% of the players despite as many rules and warnings as is possible in life. These players simply are not nice to anyone, partner opponents, TDs, totally disregard all rules of BBO and the host clubs and.... I agree with Ben it just isn't fun anymore. The point is ... the number of tourneys run that don't care and allow the conditions has grown. There is no time to really look at a board and make a good ruling because the stream of missing or refusing to bid or play players is 10 to 20 a round. That is my sorrow. It affects all the good players on BBO. Everything is going downhill and my fear is that as it grows, it will ultimately hurt the fine job done by so many over the past five years. BBO needs to up the number of times someone can leave a tourney - what ever it is it it not enough and somehow needs a way to monitor how many times players are "replaced". This is the tatctic many use not to get the black mark of tourney leavers. They just disrupt the tourneys and hurt the masses terribly. The other point is and was - the bad tourney directors. The hosts and tourney directors who have no idea what or how to manage and frankly don't care. As I said - I played in a tourney run this week where the TD insisted everyone's level be stated as expert - it was the most insulting badly run tourney I have ever encountered. When asked for a ruling the TD responded publicly he did not know what bids were and if they were legal and how could he find out? His insistance that the time would be 7 minutes a board - led into constant delays. The last round was over 35 minutes - he refused to do anything and the five tables left just sat there. It was a joke. Why is someone like this running tourneys on BBO? Why do real TD's (who run major tourneys) throw in 7NT bids because they are mad at their partners and then say - I'M A BBO TD!!! Yes - I am sure no one who was a legitimate player will rejoin this tourney but the fact is - it begets the bad image and spirit that is multiplying among players. I love and admire BBO and the wonderful people who started with an idea and the growth and success. But in my humble and non requested opinion - if there is no curtailment of bad tourneys encouraging bad play. td's and hosts... we all lose. I am sincerely not flaming anyone - just wishing and hoping that someone some how will think about how really bad this is for the entire BBO community. ABA (she don't know nuttin anyway) B)

Amazing !!! I knowof at least 3 TD's who came away with the same impression - Guess Multitasking is not a good idea. Thanks Rothgar - Undo here we go !!

More and more, players are ruining the Tourney experience for everyone. Yes leaving tourneys and refusing to play or bid frustrates the Tourney Director, but it also makes the time spent to adequately help those playing, the timing of the tourney, and general enjoyment of all players. For some reason this has been getting worse and worse and more and more difficult to control. I believe that one of the reasons is that "anyone" can simply ask and start running tourneys on BBO. In the past few days I have had 4 known BBO TD's throw temper tantrums and bid 7NT with 4 HCP's and leave tourneys (because they were upset with partner), I have seen tourneys cancelled because the TD just wanted "experts" and had absolutely no idea what the rules of directing much less even simple bridge knowledge was (asked me across the lobby what 1♣ > 3♣ means and what is an inverted minor. This TD was running a 90 pair "expert tourney" with a lot of very unhappy players trying to escape. I also constantly get informed by players that they do not have to follow the rules because they are BBO TD's. The players are confused because they expect some of the really bad TD decisions to be the Law of the Land. I know BBO has always believed in an open policy for hosting tourneys but would it not be better for the players to keep track of Hosts and TD's that do not have the basic knowledge of the game before they are allowed to run these large tourneys. Maybe the answer is Beginner TD's only allowed 20 table tourneys - Intermediate TD's 30 tables etc. Where is that Wizard of OZ when you really need the dude? ABA

I don't use the Forum oftenandthis might be the wrong place for this but reading Fred's reply - I wonderif folks could help me with a dilemna. Recently there were several wonderful sessions hosted by Luisbrasil for BBO TD's. The one point that made sense atthe time from his explanation was his theory that there be NO UNDO's allowed in tourneys. I decided to make this the option for ABALUCY with a little trepidation, but his theory seemed worthwhile. Frankly, I do agree with Fred completely. So now this is a quandry. It would be nice to hear what others think and also maybe this solution could work. For tourneys how about Host having an option to allow all Undo's, bidding Undo's, and/or Play Undos. Then perhaps evenif Undos were disallowed a good Td might have the discretion to override the undo. Is this possible? Advisable? Useful? (just plain dumb) :) ABA

First of all I want perfectly clear. The actions of the Yellows today i admire and respect and it shows the effort that is put into making this the good clean not mean sight we all strive to be a part of. The email said "I will look into this and punish/warn the offender accourding to our guidelines." From this remark and seeing the person online playing - and having seen what happened this afternoon - I was asking what these guidelines were. Justin, forgive me for wondering what there is about the public chat of this player that could not be improved by a week to consider that kind of conversation in a tourney that was well attended and well spectated. What is the point - what is to save I wondered - so I asked about the guidelines mentioned. I was the TD left to replace the player - discuss with two sets of opps what had taken place and what their rights were to having "witnessed such talk". Anyway in no means did I mean to insult or accuse. Just was asking because it all happened so similarly - so close together. Uday your point is well taken. Thanks for your fairness and wisdom as always. Aba

I was wondering if there is anywhere the actual "guidelines" used by BBO and Abuse are posted. Yesterday a player in a tourney I was directing was publicly, as far as I know, as guilty as possible of the website. As per my understanding I booted him after he publicly sent the following message to the table players and specs. (swear words were actual I am adding ##'s so they may be postable.) "u biger idiot than him host kiss my a## ok? f#ck off idiot" I sent the screenprint and assumed it would be a far better place for all if none of us confronted this language on BBO. Tonight I received an email from Abuse. It thanks me for reporting the incident and for supplying the screenshot and says the offender will be punished according to BBO guidelines. It goes on to say that they "hope I will meet more pleasant people in the future. Interesting point is that this person is still very much online and playing on BBO. Now I rarely write to the forum although I do enjoy the various points of views. I guess that I would not post this message had I not watch a player ho at an open table, heavy with specs be thrown off BBO for making a comment far less abusive. As he was thrown off line it was explained it was because the person had again - exactly as what happened yesterday typed publicly to the table that one of the specs was an "a##hole" Now believe me I am not taking sides or venturing an opinion. I find BBO on the most part to do an incredible job of trying to keep us all on the fair and straight and narrow. But these two incidents happening so alike and so close to one another makes me wonder. Are their actual guidelines? What does BBO exopect from me and what can i expect from them? Respectfully. ABA

OMIGAWD!!!!! This new version is a TD's dream - if only it did nit allow the TD to have the option of not allowing to pick their own sub without the TD knowing about the replacement - it would be purrrrrrrrrrrrrrfect!

Dear Roland etal, There are bridge sites and there are bridge sites. I have now been hanging around BBO for about 3 years. I originally came out of curiosity (free??) and have not left since. There are three secrets I hope to find the answer to before I die - 1. What is Jerry Lewis's real reason for his lifelong work on Muscular Dystrophy? 2. How and why in the Hell do Fred and Uday do it? and 3. Why did the chicken cross the road? As I have watched the incredible contribution FG and UI make daily to the bridge and BBO community change and grow - I have observed us moving from "BBO - free but really bad players" to "BBO - everyone is there - Great site!" One of the remarkable things that has helped to bring them here, has been Vugraph and the absolutely beyond reproach way you have run the program. Thank you for every single one (that has English commentators at least) :-) In another string (just catching up on Forum today - I read about the possibility of BBO splitting into segments. Personally I hope that does not happen, but respect whatever anyone decides. Last year I sat and watched one of the most exciting Reisingers imaginable. I did not have to wait for the online Bulletin to maybe come out with results. It sat in awe and actually was there. It was incredible. I am sure there are players all over the World who appreciate their major events being broadcast as well. Hat's off to you and all your volunteers - and thank for all you bring into my home through this silly machine. Aba

Abalucy holds Advisory/TD meetings there and will use it if we ever get around to a swiss team format - does that count?

Forgive her Lord - she knows not what she does ---- I make it a policy not to post on Abalucy topics because it just seems to fan the flames - This time I will make and one time exception. Get your stones ready to throw. Yes, ABALUCY is an advanced players club. We are and are proud to have players from many different countries and a lot of people have different understandings of different systems. All ABALUCY members are expected to be acquainted with our Club Rules and Regulations, as explained in our Tourney Conditions of Contest, and also at www.abalucybridgeclub.com which has our ALERT Procedures, FRECT and ZERO TOLERANCE Policies, and CONVENTION CHART. Each Pair should announce a brief explanation of system approach, carding and leads at the beginning of EVERY round . Pairs are also encouraged to have a posted CC. These things are announced at the beginning of every tourney and every member accepts these conditions when they join the Club. I would list them all here but that would be silly. Our members are well- acquainted with them and they are oublished on our website. What happened in this instance simply does not meet the responsibilty this member agreed to in exchange for the privilege of playing in our games. The player was once before suspended from the Club - and is very well aware of the Rules and Regulations, did not respond to an inquiry, was rude to an opponent, was non-responsive to our TD and finally made a threat to the Club Manager. Whether is be Abalucy, BIL, Mirjim, or the main bridge room - is it really such a bad thing to respond to an inquiry of the opponents during the bidding? I remember when players used to dress up on Saturday nights and the ACBL Tourney Directors wore tuxedos. (Miss you a lot Max Hardy) Is civility and kindness so far beyond the concept of competitiveness of online bridge? Going back to hide in my cave now. Aba

Dear Santa, What I really want for 2005..... 1. The pop-up when someone on your friends list is in the exact location as the bidding history of the hand. For thise of us who run events it is a nuisance to have to constantly get rid of the pop-up to read the bidding. Could it please be moved to the other side? 2. Auto tourney creation for those with multi-approved weekly events (please please) and the conditions of contest to reat as well. 3. Fixing the current bug that even when someone is removed from enemies list they still can't join a tourney where they were once so marked. I have really been good - and you ate all the cookies I left out - how bout it? Aba

I always wonder ---- World Class (what)

Abalucy provides a playing manager and TD for every tourney. If a Td makes a ruling the player does not agree with - they can immediately ask for a review by the Tourney Manager. Usually the TD will have already asked the TM to review because of a dispute. These are solved on the spot. After the tourney if the Member disagrees with the outcome - they are encouraged to write an email to the Club and it goes through review of our Advisors. Takes a little extra work and commitment but hopefully keeps us all comfy. (btw) when all else fails - we have a TD is always right philosophy. Standing by your valued TD's works well for us.