Pet Peeve - Travelers

[Codo]

If there's problems, it's with the scoring program and it's interface with the Bridgemate Pro Control Software.

 

We've used the bridgemates at our annual bridge festival for two years now, in our Premier League (and lots of heats of the lower leagues) in the same period. Lots of clubs use them too. I don't think I've ever heard of a problem arising from the bridgemates or the Pro Control Software. They're very easy to use - both as a player and as a TD/scorer.

In Germany we use them for many tournements and some clubs. But for the first use they are so complicated, that it was common practice to have a smart guy here besides the TD to fix the problems.

 

I personally had the following "disasters".

 

1. If you put a 0 as the score of a passed out board, the software strikes. (They fixed the bug in the meanwhile)

 

2. In our club there are some boards where some pairs earn 420 for 4 Spade made and others 620, so you need to check all score by the TD after the event.

 

 

But still, the bridgemates are wonderful, but duplimates are even better.

[ArtK78]

I remember learning it in plane geometry.  Two lines are orthogonal if they meet at a right angle, parallel if they never meet, and oblique if they meet at some other angle.

Why call them orthogonal? Why not just call them perpendicular?

 

I see in the definition that I quoted orthogonal does mean two lines or curves intersecting at a right angle. Is there a distinction between "orthogonal" and "perpendicular?"

[JoAnneM]

Swan has a 16 board ACBL game once a day and it is hugely popular for a small site. It's amazing what a difference those 4 extra boards makes in the enjoyment of the game. It doesn't seem like such a "shoot-out", especially in Imps.

 

I don't play ACBL at BBO because of the 3 ACBL sites it is the most expensive.

[blackshoe]

In mathematics, orthogonal, as a simple adjective not part of a longer phrase, is a generalization of perpendicular. It means "at right angles". The word comes from the Greek ὀρθός (orthos), meaning "straight", and γωνία (gonia), meaning "angle". Two streets that cross each other at a right angle are orthogonal to one another. In recent years, "perpendicular" has come to be used more in relation to right angles outside of a coordinate plane context, whereas "orthogonal" is used when discussing vectors or coordinate geometry.

[JoAnneM]

I have just learned that there are two different bridge scoring machines for sale. Bridge Pad was used at the SF NABC and Bridge Mate was used at the Cavendish, and is the one used in Europe.

 

Have I been given the right info?

[nige1]

In mathematics, orthogonal, as a simple adjective not part of a longer phrase, is a generalization of perpendicular. It means "at right angles". The word comes from the Greek ὀρθός (orthos), meaning "straight", and γωνία (gonia), meaning "angle". Two streets that cross each other at a right angle are orthogonal to one another. In recent years, "perpendicular" has come to be used more in relation to right angles outside of a coordinate plane context, whereas "orthogonal" is used when discussing vectors or coordinate geometry.

It may also be a useful concept when trying to classify things that have several different quantitative properties. You can do this more succinctly if you select properties so that none of the properties of an object can be deduced from a combination of its other properties. Some writers refer to this concept as "orthogonality" by analogy with multi-dimensional geometry.

[peachy]

However, the proper way to write four spades with an overtrick is:

 

"4S +5"

This only seems to be the 'proper' way in the US (and possibly Canada as well?)

Everywhere else I've played either writes 4S-1, 4S= (or with a tick symbol), 4S+1; or puts the number of tricks 4S 9, 4S 10, 4S 11.

 

Bridgemates have an option (set globally for the event by the TD) either to enter the number of tricks (9, 10 or 11) or to enter the result (-1, = , +1).

I have every expectation that the ACBL will consider adopting BridgeMates within the next 20 years or so...

Well, hrothgar might well be disappointed in his expectation, I think. Bridgemates was used in my local sectional tournament in April this year; Sectionals are ACBL events. Based on seeing them used in a sectional, I would venture to guess they are commonly used in higher level tournaments and I am looking forward to Las Vegas NABC where it would surprise me greatly if there weren't Bridgemates in use.

[barmar]

However, the proper way to write four spades with an overtrick is:

 

"4S +5"

This only seems to be the 'proper' way in the US (and possibly Canada as well?)

Everywhere else I've played either writes 4S-1, 4S= (or with a tick symbol), 4S+1; or puts the number of tricks 4S 9, 4S 10, 4S 11.

 

Bridgemates have an option (set globally for the event by the TD) either to enter the number of tricks (9, 10 or 11) or to enter the result (-1, = , +1).

I have every expectation that the ACBL will consider adopting BridgeMates within the next 20 years or so...

Well, hrothgar might well be disappointed in his expectation, I think. Bridgemates was used in my local sectional tournament in April this year; Sectionals are ACBL events. Based on seeing them used in a sectional, I would venture to guess they are commonly used in higher level tournaments and I am looking forward to Las Vegas NABC where it would surprise me greatly if there weren't Bridgemates in use.

Sectionals are operated entirely by the unit, ACBL provides all the equipment for Nationals. I haven't heard anything about the ACBL purchasing BridgeMates, so I would be surprised to see them in Vegas.

[JoAnneM]

I think you will find that at least one of the two companies are quite willing to "lend" them out right now for NABCs and some Regionals just to get them in the field. At least I have been approached in that regard. So I would be surprised if they are not at Las Vegas, in some way.

[jmc]

As an update, I wanted to let people know that the bridgepad was used in several sections of the limited Life Master Pairs in Las Vegas. I also had an opportunity to demo these in my local club. I thought they worked very well and integrated into ACBL score fine, but they would take some training for directors. I'd love to have these at every game but, many of the older people didn't like them. Some people hate change. The bridgepad was silver and seemed smaller than the bridgemate.

 

jmc