CClarNYC

I am talking about the ACBL Open-Pairs Games that start at 10 minutes after each hour.

Maybe this topic has come up before. Back when the tournaments had 3 boards per round, there were often 5, 6 - even 7 minutes left after completing a round. This left time to chat with the opponents - often in foreign countries - or to chat with your partner about what you did wrong. It was a nice, social game. There was also time for a bathroom break, or to grab a cup of coffee. Since the switch to 2 boards per round, and I believe fewer minutes per board, it has become much less friendly, and more like a forced march. There is absolutely no time to talk with the opponents, and there is never enough time for a bathroom break. Given how many bridge players are elderly, this is probably a big problem for many. I'm not sure what the motivation was for the changes, but you have taken the great service you were providing and made it a lot less enjoyable.