Playing with screens

[CSGibson]

I'm going to be playing in a match with screens soon, and I've never done so before. Is there any difference in table manners or play with screens than face to face? I assume the Vugraph stuff I watch happens with screens, and I keep seeing the commentators saying that so and so is writing notes...will that be required?

[Codo]

There are rules who has to open the screen after the bidding and who has to move the carriage (?) with the bids.

Here where I play N/S are responsible for this, but this may differ.

 

For any player there are two main differences:

You must alert your bids AND the bids from partner to your opponent. (Just to the one on your side of the screen of course)

 

And if he asks, you must explain the bids to him. Normally this sould be done by writing it down, so that your partner can not hear it.

 

But in practise in is not uncommon to whisper if this is fine for anybody and the opps do understand your language.

 

Maybe you should always write when you are from Bavaira, Texas or Scotland. :)

[jvage]

Codo has mentioned the important points. Almost everyone prefer playing with screens when they have tried it. It is nothing to worry about, you should look forward to the experience. The playing environment is more quiet, normally making it easier to consentrate (less discussion about hands and much less critizism, including the visual, like raised eyebrows).

 

Like Codo I have also been surprised how often the regulations concerning written explanations are ignored. Here in Norway I have still not been presented a written explanation, having played several championships with screens. When I am acting as NPC in international competions (next time in the World Youth Championships in Beijing) I have unsuccesfully tried to get "my" players to always write down their explanations, so far my only consolation has been that hardly any of the opponents are any better in this respect :)

 

John

[brianshark]

I believe it's fairly common for the players side of the screen of the person to make the last pass in an auction, to just lift their bidding cards before passing the board to the others. The other two will know that it has been passed out because of the lifted cards. It just speeds the process up a bit.

 

Also, don't lift the flap until the opening lead is made.

 

Agree with everyone who says that playing with screens is a much nicer experience than without.

[Gerben42]

Maybe you should always write when you are from Bavaira, Texas or Scotland.

 

In my first Bundesliga season I was only in Germany for 1.5 years and I had some trouble understanding a player from Regensburg who was on my side of the screen :)

 

Agree with everyone who says that playing with screens is a much nicer experience than without.

 

Yes, esp. unbelievibly nicer than those who have never done it think.

 

You must alert your bids AND the bids from partner to your opponent. (Just to the one on your side of the screen of course)

 

And also alert above 3NT, alert Passes Doubles etc., even though you may not without screens.

[JanM]

Behind screens, I prefer to use only one bidding card for each bid, instead of taking the whole stack out - that's not as necessary now because the screens are well-designed so the bottom of the screen doesn't hit the bidding cards, but pushing the tray through can still cause them to become disarranged, which sometimes makes it difficult to see the exact bidding sequence.

 

The reason that N & S are to push the tray under the screen is that either player on one side of the screen has the right to slow the tempo down if they think their opponent has bid too quickly. E & W (who bid second on each side of the screen) can do that by taking extra time to make their bids (the "approved" method of doing this is to take the bid you are going to make out, show it to your opponent and then hold it above the bidding tray for a few seconds before putting it down). N & S can control the tempo by waiting to push the tray, so they do that.

 

The formal rules say that when the opening lead is made, the screen mate of the opening leader is supposed to either lift the screen or knock on it to tell the players on the other side to lift it. I don't see that one observed very often.

 

Another thing that isn't always observed is how to alert - most screen regulations say to do so by taking the alert card and placing it on top of the bid you are alerting. Most people are more casual than this, but it is important to make it clear whether you are alerting your bid or your partner's bid and you are responsible for making certain that your opponent sees the alert.

 

There are special rules with screens about things like insufficient bids and taking back a bid after you've made it. If anything like that comes up, you should call the director, since the options are different with screens than without.

 

I like to see people write their explanations, at least of things that need more than a one-word explanation ("transfer" is clear if you just mouth it for instance). And I also like to see them use pens, because pens are quieter than pencils, but most organizers supply pencils.

 

I completely agree with everyone who has said that you will love playing behind screens - at least I do and everyone I know does B)

[pclayton]

I've heard different explanations about BIT's with screens. A director told me that it isn't as much of an issue, especially in a competitive auction when its unclear who is taking the time. Watch vugraph a few times and you will see what I mean.

[Gerben42]

In case of a BIT issues (they still come up some times) the player on the OTHER side than the side where the break-in-tempo occurred should draw attention to it.

[barmar]

When I've kibitzed players using screens in ACBL events, the usual way I've seen them alert is by placing the bid in the tray and then pointing at it in an exaggerated manner. And then when the tray comes around, their partner does the same exaggerated point for his screenmate.

[gwnn]

I hate it when I hear pd explaining my bids at the other side of the screen. Try to write as often as possible, especially bids that may look like forgettable by pd. But yes, if you don't get an evil person on your side of the screen, screens are very fun.