paulie1990

I couldn't agree more.

What is, however, the recommended punishment, if there is any? My opinion is that this law tries to prevent players from walking out of the room in order to get some disallowed information (that was the case in the Kramnik-Topalov 2006 chess match). So I'd expect the rules would recommend to make a score adjustment, not any kind of ban (at minimum, any kind of ban outside the very tournament). But maybe it's different?

As for me, I think it's necessary to know more details about what exactly has happened. I can't really imagine that they have just risen after four bad boards without saying a word and walked out of the room. Obviously the Germans had to cooperate, unless there was present some sort of telepathy. So if they agreed on it with opponents, or at least explaining their intentions, I consider it being perfectly correct. After all, in many sports you can see players give up if they play somewhat terribly. I think the closest to bridge are other mind-sports, like poker or chess. And is it not a typical ending in these two games that one side gives up?

Actually, I was going to post exactly the same question but it seems Kristoffer is quicklier :D So I second that (or rather fifth that now). I can add a helping hand, too. At least provisionally, I think it would be more than easy to add a 'DEAL' button to Partnership Bidding Desk. It is possible to bid on your own already, if you ask a friend to sit and vacate the seat again. Hence, you can just change seats after having bid. I believe it is a bug but a very useful one. However, you can't have the cards dealt unless someone helps you. Maybe it would be the final version, too, perhaps there isn't such a big amount of people wanting to have this very tool available. I wonder if this provisional solution couldn't be the part of next BBO version? Personally, I'd be very glad.