no cc and incomplete explanations

[Guest movingon]

Recently, my partner and I encountered this situation:

 

LHO opened 1 diamond. Partner passed. RHO bid 1 ♥ alerted. No explanation was given with the alert, so I asked the meaning. Answer: "Spades." I bid 2 ♥ and LHO bid 2 ♠. I then asked if the opps had a convention card. Silence for a long time and then LHO said "I speak no English." Ok...

 

My partner bid 3 ♥ and RHO now passed. I then inquired further about the 1♥ bid. After a LONG wait, my RHO finally said "Spades and 0-7 hcp." hmmm, shouldn't that information have been given earlier?

 

After the hand was over, I complained to the TD about the opps failure to have a cc when they obviously were a regular pair with an unusual system. I also complained about the failure of the artificial heart bidder to fully explain his bid, even after request for explanation. I did not claim damage on the hand, however, as there was none as I DID get all the information about RHO's hand before making my final bid.

 

I did not hear a response from the TD. So, after the game, I sent in a "complaint" to BBO ACBL. The response I received from BBO ACBL was as follows:

 

"Often an alert is posted and no explaination is given... for an example consider a transfer, which while it is an announcement in face to face is treated as an alert in online play at BBO, will often show up as just the alert and if you wanted more of an explanation you can click on the bid and the bidder will say "transfer."

If a pair does not have a convention card then you need to alert the td to this problem and let the td handle it from there."

 

a less than satisfactory response, wouldn't you say?

I do not know if the TD visited with this pair or not. I do not know if my complaint was registered so as to protect other pairs if this type of behavior occurs again another time.

[csdenmark]

Recently, my partner and I encountered this situation:

 

LHO opened 1 diamond.  Partner passed.  RHO bid 1 ♥ alerted.  No explanation was given with the alert, so I asked the meaning.  Answer:  "Spades."  I bid 2 ♥ and LHO bid 2 ♠. I then asked if the opps had a convention card.  Silence for a long time and then LHO said "I speak no English."  Ok...

 

My partner bid 3 ♥ and RHO now passed.  I then inquired further about the 1♥ bid.  After a LONG wait, my RHO finally said "Spades and 0-7 hcp."  hmmm, shouldn't that information have been given earlier?

 

After the hand was over, I complained to the TD about the opps failure to have a cc when they obviously were a regular pair with an unusual system.  I also complained about the failure of the artificial heart bidder to fully explain his bid, even after request for explanation.  I did not claim damage on the hand, however, as there was none as I DID get all the information about RHO's hand before making my final bid.

 

I did not hear a response from the TD.  So, after the game, I sent in a "complaint" to BBO ACBL.  The response I received from BBO ACBL was as follows:

 

    "Often an alert is posted and no explaination is given... for an example consider a transfer, which while it is an announcement in face to face is treated as an alert in online play at BBO, will often show up as just the alert and if you wanted more of an explanation you can click on the bid and the bidder will say "transfer."

    If a pair does not have a convention card then you need to alert the td to this problem and let the td handle it from there."

 

a less than satisfactory response, wouldn't you say?

I do not know if the TD visited with this pair or not.  I do not know if my complaint was registered so as to protect other pairs if this type of behavior occurs again another time.

You have signed up for a tourney where convention card is mandatory. So your opps. must have one loaded. As BBO does not support enforcement of cc I see ACBL need to rely on opps. to report missing convention cards. You have been informed of that.

 

As far as I have understood ACBL no really strange systems are allowed, I think I remember they state something like level 2 systems. Looks therefore like a restricted system has been used. Claiming so - I assume your claim would have been accepted.

[hrothgar]

One other issue that you might want to raise:

 

The methods that the pair in question were using are not sanctioned by the ACBL's GCC. The pair is violating the ACBL's conditions of contest.

 

I'd recommend sending a letter to the ACBL stating that you aren't going to pay for their tournaments until they get qualified directors who are willing to deal with these sorts of issues. The ACBL's main concern is the number of dollars that they collect. I suspect that they didn't bounce the offending side because they are paying customers and $$$ trumps everything. Make sure they understand that there are ramification for doing a bad job.

 

In the mean, you can always play at other clubs that offer a superior service. There's no reason to play at ACBL games if you aren't enjoying them.

[glen]

I did not hear a response from the TD.

 

This continues to be the #1 problem for the paid tourneys - TDs need to find time either during the tourney or, if busy, afterwards, to reply to players who run into this type of trouble.

 

a less than satisfactory response, wouldn't you say?

I do not know if the TD visited with this pair or not.  I do not know if my complaint was registered so as to protect other pairs if this type of behavior occurs again another time.

 

I thought the response to your email was satisfactory given what could be done at this point. There is no way of seeing the cc, or lack of it, at this point. The TD might or might remember looking into this (or might not want to admit to it), so follow-up there might not lead anywhere. Registering something against the players in question based on the email complaint is possible, but you should not be told whether or not this has been done to protect the process.

 

Thus I believe the problem was with the initial handling by the TD. In particular, it is necessary to:

- communicate with players, including thanking them for bringing items to the TD's attention;

- even if there is no damage on a particular hand, ensure that partnerships abide by the rules by having a proper cc;

- notice when players are using conventions outside the ACBL GCC, and be pro-active in letting these players know they must not continue to use them.

 

Communicating with players, ensuring rules are followed, and pro-actively stopping trouble before it causes damage on a subsequent hand, all make for a better tourney experience for the paying customers.