TimG

I bet lots of people would come to the same conclusion without any fancy math! (Yes, I am aware of Italy's big deficit as I am posting this.)

Districts have little or nothing to do with site procurement for an NABC. Districts don't schedule the events (though they may have some input to the naming of some of the regional events). Districts don't provide any of the bridge equipment and supplies. Districts don't arrange for directing staff. Districts are not involved with the production of or staffing for the Daily Bulletin. Isn't that approximately what I said? "ACBL ... provides all the equipment and directing staff." Site procurement and the corresponding interaction with site/hotel staff and management is a huge part of organizing an NABC. So no, I don't think NABCs are "mostly organized by members of the district hosting it". Not even approximately. And, you seem to have ignored the part of my response which addressed your "ACBL pays for it" comment. No, my post did not approximately repeat what you had said.

Well, they get an NABC in their backyard. But yes, it does seems a high price.

Districts have little or nothing to do with site procurement for an NABC. Districts don't schedule the events (though they may have some input to the naming of some of the regional events). Districts don't provide any of the bridge equipment and supplies. Districts don't arrange for directing staff. Districts are not involved with the production of or staffing for the Daily Bulletin. Districts do provide a volunteer staff to man partnership and registration desks. And, Districts provide the nightly hospitality, generally at the expense of the District. District 25 will spend well over $100K on hospitality and related activities when it hosts the Fall NABC in 2008. The ACBL may contribute some to these expenses, but the District will be at least $100K poorer as a result of hosting the NABC.

b) what if you simply don't enable emoticons?

Technically, this isn't quite right. The only tournaments that the ACBL actually organize are the three NABCs. Regional tournaments are organized by Districts, sectional tournaments are organized by Units and club games are organized by individuals. I think you could have your own tournament and have it rated (award masterpoints) by sanctioning a club that holds games irregularly. Whether there would be a minimum number of regularly scheduled games per year is another matter. I imagine there are some ACBL sanctioned club games on cruises, for instance, that would seem to fall under this category. No, you could not award gold or silver points. But, I don't see this as a bad thing.

In January or June? Many Units of the ACBL have surplus "special" games of some sort that would offer masterpoints somewhere along the sectional payout (but not silver points). You might inquire with your Unit if this is the case in your area. And, if so, if you could use a couple of them.

One convenient way to see table descriptions without hovering is to use "small tables font". To do this, go to options->tables and check "small tables font". Thanks, that does make it easy.

Technically, no. If you are scrolling down the list of tables with your cursor on the Table Host name, the table description will appear for each table as you move through the list. ...and by the time you have read the table description the seat has been taken ;) The only solution is to play with like minded friends. Sure would be nice if BBO made it easier to find like-minded non-acquaintances.

So, if you are scrolling through the tables, you have to stop the scroll to check each individual table to even see if there is a table note?

Trying again: Wouldn't opener bid 5H with something like: x ATxxxx Qxx AQx (which doesn't make the grand particularly good)?

I think that without UI there is no alternative to bidding game. With the UI, the overcaller would be concerned about missing a slam. I think he did the ethically right thing in only bidding game rather than trying for slam.

How does one even see the table description? When I am scanning through the table listings, I don't see any table descriptions, just host name and player names.

I tend to agree with this. From an organizational standpoint, the simple solution is to not allow such conventions in a stratified event. Whether appropriate or not those who use unusual methods ought to take special care not to create these kinds of situations.

I believe a player is permitted to look at an opponent's convention card only at their turn to call (or play).

As I recall, that defense is referred to as Fishbein... Its been years since I've heard of anyone actually using it. In general, when I've heard this convention discussed, it was always in pretty disparging terms. Maybe preempts have gotten crappy enough that Fishbein is once more cutting edge? I've played it from time to time. It may not be best, but seeing the expression on an opponent's face when you alert and explain that it is a penalty double is worth the possible sacrifice in theoretical value.

I'm sure there are some examples of this sort of thing as a result of programs run by Heifer International. There are also plenty of examples of successful small business in the US that were started with loans backed by the US government. Loans that would not have been possible without the government program.

The problem can't be too old -- this hasn't been an opening bid for that long.

Where are you going to find 440 billion people?

What are the premier events in Gatlinburg? You know, those Spingolds, Vanderbilts, LM Pairs that give an NABC an NABC feel?

When was the last time you went there? :-)

You make it sound like bridge is a well-paid sport. I don't imagine the compensation pros get is anywhere near other professional sports. Yeesh. Well, bridge isn't a sport... But, whether or not the compensation is like that in professional sports is not particularly relevant. The bridge professionals playing in the World Championships on USA1 and USA2 are compensated by their sponsors/clients. I would imagine most would consider it "well compensated". The World Championships are a business trip for these professionals. To complain that participating in a World Championship means no real vacation is a bit disingenuous.

You make it sound a bit like you're doing us a favor by participating. This "vacation" you are taking is more like a business trip, isn't it? The players (and coaches) on both USA teams are well compensated by their sponsors (at this event and at the Trials to select the US teams), are they not?

I attended an ACBL Junior Camp quite a few years ago. I was of legal drinking age at the time, I hung out with a number of others who were also of legal drinking age. I don't recall having a single alcoholic drink during camp, though it is not something that would have stood out if I had been offered a beer and accepted. Nor do I recall any heavy drinking by others. I might have just been hanging out with the wrong (or right) sub-group from the camp. Meeting and playing bridge with a bunch of similarly ages folk was a great experience. I made a number of friends through the camp, many of whom I played bridge with after camp, some of whom I am still in touch with over 15 years later. I think bridge camps and SO sponsored national teams should be two different issues and should be treated differently. Junior bridge camps will likely always pose problems, just as anything that puts teenagers and twenty-somethings who likely are living independently in the same social group would. Requiring participants to sign a conduct form as a condition of participation should go a ways toward solving the problem. Sure, some won't attend as a result, but expectations will be set. I wouldn't see any problem if fewer twenty-somethings participated in "junior" camps. Anyway, it's a shame that ACBL is not running any Junior Camps. If it were up to me, I'd be running multiple junior camps each year, not eliminating them.

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