Speed Bridge

[pclayton]

We all enjoy a good serious game with good players where the pace isn't quick. However, sometimes, I also enjoy a game where the pace moves fast and it isn't too serious.

 

Uday; has anyone approached you with the idea of 'speed bridge'; sort of like timed chess?

 

Assuming pings are adequate, it seems a 'timer' could be placed on a person or pair. When its your turn, the timer starts and time accrues during the hand. The timer stops after you make a bid or play.

 

Folks that like a fast game would opt for this. This option would eliminate the 'faster please' comments that we all detest.

 

I think a possible format could be a set time per person (or pair)per hand. The NABC Fast pairs allows 5 minutes per board which breaks out to 75 seconds per person. I can see a format where the table server can set a parameter of anywhere from 30 seconds to 2 minutes (or longer I guess). For 'x' seconds the player lags, a 1 IMP penalty is assessed.

 

The penalties would affect the field, only the table in play. I have mixed feelings whether or not timed games should be IMPed with non-timed games.

 

What do you all thinK?

[uday]

I have timers in place for money bridge; I'm putting them into place as we speak for "normal" tourneys , hoping to make the TDs life easier (by spotting & booting slow/unresponsive players)

 

Experienced TDs would have a better sense of this but IIRC, speedball events are troublesome bec. the software has to do something when time runs out (right now it assigns Ave- to both sides) and this usually irritates at least one pair and the TD gets too involved .

 

 

Nothing stops TDs from running speedballs now except their inability to detect which side was the source of the incomplete bd.