DJNeill

Hi all, At the vugraph archive ( http://bridgebase09.bridgebase.com:81/vug/?C=M;O=D ) the 4th quarter of the quarterfinals is empty/incomplete (172 :unsure:. Does anyone have that movie on their PC from when they watched? Some of us had to sleep. Thanks, Dan

Hi silver, Make sure you are using the latest website http://www.bridgebase.com/v2beta/ You might as a test use a different browser to see if it's some setting in the browser (Firefox <-> Internet Explorer). Thanks, Dan

Hi, This is an old issue but it is clear that as the software does not log hesitations or at least make it available through the software, there is no way for the directors to efficiently (as they might in real life) question all parties etc etc. Just like if you have reports of abuse you are requested to provide a screenshot, there is no recording to submit here. Surely it is possible to log recording as another program does, but prosecuting the cases is a big job considering the number of directors currently working and the "speedball" lightning pace (do some players ever eat?)and tweaks to the current business model would have to be implemented to handle the problems that may arise. Thanks, Dan

Hi, Thanks for the update. What's your source? Thanks, Dan

Hi, They have now showed up, thanks! Dan

Hi Babalu, Best thing to do if it were my friend would be to call them, get as much info as possible about what is happening, and then if it's a toughie, have a teenage or otherwise computer-saavy friend or relative try to figure it out by clicking around. It could be many things, hard to tell from what you said. A way that would help that I would be VERY careful with is installing a free program called logmein.com that, when they install it, allows someone who knows the password they create to remotely access the computer and move the mouse pointer around, see what they see, etc. Similar is something in Windows called Remote Assistance (see Start..Help for info on that). And of course, of COURSE, reboot first :-) Good luck, Dan

Hi Fred, I stayed logged in for 20+ minutes and no cards have downloaded. It's not a big deal personally, but whenever I play/kibitz at a table where someone has a std FD card loaded, there is an extra error line in the chat. Thanks, Dan

Hi, I reimaged my machine, installed BBO 5.0.3 from the main download site, and now there are no default FD cards (BBO Advanced, WJ05, etc) that used to be on machine. Is that normal? The standard old-style cards are there, and the folder that contains the FD cards is there (and bidedit.exe is there), but no FD cards. XP SP3 Thanks, Dan

Hi all, Nunes said "all is possible" when asked whether it was still possible to change out players on the Italian team for the 2009 BB, lol. Thanks, Dan

Hi all, On the topic of TD's you prefer not to play under again, it would be great if at least the notes on the TD if not the whole profile would be available to a player so they could easily check out whether to play under them or not again, rather than having to see who is directing, then go find them in the list of players, all when under time pressure perhaps to make it before the limit is reached (ok you can register and then unregister later but it's extra clicks/thought/time/energy). We already see the profiles in the partnership desk and registration lists, why not a nice place to see the directors' profiles? On the current topic of "should TD's be adhering to standards", whenever you use someone's software for free, you need to learn to live with less than perfection and realize all the good stuff you still have. Thanks, Dan

Hi all, This sounds every cool! Definitely hoping we get some top class commentators with good voices. Thanks, Dan

Hi all, Here's an interesting movie about the towers that throws more testimony at one of the arguments. http://bestdocumentaries.blogspot.com/2008...n-into-911.html Thanks, Dan

Hi all, It seems like the Meckwell openings are becoming a kind of fad among new and not-so-new pro partnerships. E.g. I sat down to watch Eddie Wold and Bart Bramley in Gatlinburg and there it was, the Meckwell opening structure. Soloway played it with Meckstroth the previous Gatlinburg. Meckwell play it with many of their clients. Grue-Cheek play it. And the 1H 8-11 response (Meck Lite) is what most seem to play. Also throw in the American juniors who seem to play it a lot. Thanks, Dan

Hi all, The 2-bids in practice are fine, just precision 2C style for all 4 suits. A 2C precision opening (5C + 4other or 6+C) is not allowed in GCC explicitly but interpreted as coming under the umbrella. Harry Falk, a major ACBL director, allowed me to play the forcing 1-level openings with standard type responses in a GCC event, and we packaged the 4441's into the 2m openings since that was clearly a no-no. In fact, I seem to recall earlier incarnations of F-N used 2m for the 4441's. Thanks, Dan

Hi all, M.T. Lavazza gives a very diplomatic and PC answer in: http://www.federbridge.it/BDIonline/indice.asp?news=944 but anyone who has watched F-N over the year before, and during, the BBowl has seen several basic errors that didn't happen in their 2005 campaign. As Lavazza says, the results of Shanghai had something to do with the change. Thanks, Dan

Hi all, Going by frequency of expert use, there is no contest, XYZ is better than a natural NF 2C. If memory is an issue with a beginner or non-learner, NMF is way better than nothing. Thanks, Dan

Hi all, http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/bushswar/ Watch for free online. Thanks, Dan

Hi, 2 days left on this. Thanks, Dan

Hi all, I overbooked for a group of ours for Gatlinburg, leaving a room open at the Royal Townhouse across the street (literally, not "1 block away") for the whole week. I have listed the reservation on Ebay. The price per night of $61.82 is great for the location, and considering most all hotels are sold out that week. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=220213173759 Please note the auction is for the reservation only, and it requires a 1-night deposit. Thanks, Dan

Might be OT but played Fast pairs in Detroit, 1st session was 2hr 20 min for 24 brds, which is not BBO speedball blazin' but still, nice. Thanks, Dan

Hi all, Ambra (1, 1.5) was initially written by David Tavosci, based off of Garozzo's system for the Italian juniors, and modified to taste. It was then picked up by Gijs Haarlem and modified further to another taste. Either way, best to include the version number or a clickable link when referring to Ambra now. Thanks, Dan

7 out of 20. Thanks, Dan

Hi all, Which negative freebid style is better? Assume 5crd majors, 2/1, unpassed hand. Style 1 (get the weak hands bidding): - 2-level freebids 6-9 - 3-level freebids NF but invite if no jump available - jump freebids at 3-level show invit 6+crd suit - all GF freebids and invites with 5(6)crds suit must double first - 2N is natural in comp Style 2 (wider free-bids but leave out the bad ones): - 2-level freebids constructive/bad invite - 3-level freebids GF - invites must choose between going low (free-bid) or high (GF) - jump free-bids are good 6crd suits GF And in your post you can give your favorite style if not the above. Thanks, Dan

Hi J, East opens 1N, responder bids 4C S.A. Texas, played, misguessing H. Thanks, Dan

Hi, Just another suggestion. As you know, recording in real life is a pain at best - often useless. It's better on BBO since players can have notes written on them by directors, but the evidence will never amount to much since each director's notes are isolated from eachother. How about a simple database where directors could enter notes on players. Then directors from any tournament could add to and use the notes for partnership tendencies. This especially applies to 1N with a singleton since it is germaine to the ACBL masterpoint conveyor belt, but really it could be for anything that merits recording. Thanks, Dan