ACBL claim / rant

[Phil]

Played in a speedball tourney with a regular partner today. On the 11th trick he gives up a trick and claims. Two winners, one in each hand, clear as anything to anyone who has played the game for 10 minutes. Naturally, the opponents who can't work out the 2 card ending, reject.

 

Now at this point in a real life game the Director would be called, look at the hand and offer a sharp rebuke to the defenders and say "please don't waste my time".

 

What happens in a speedball? Play on of course! Unfortunately, partner now in a distracted fit of anger (presumably) plays a loser on loser at T12 and clashes his winners for the finale.

 

The Director is called who offers no assistance, except for a cut and pasted, "please accept all obvious claims since this is a Speedball, but declarer should be careful to offer a line in case trump are out, etc". No adjustment.

 

During the next few boards I vainly try to contact the director to ask the simple question, "are claims online different than real life?". It was only after a lobby call to Jacki was the situation rectified. A big TY to one of the site's best directors. :)

 

I mean, why ever claim, or accept a claim, if this nonsense can be expected?

[billw55]

Alas, some people automatically dispute all claims, both online and with real cards. One should always be prepared to play out ... correctly.

 

Of course they should accept the claim, and deserve to be chastened for not doing so. Unfortunately, misplaying the last two tricks is likely to reinforce their habit.

[Jacki]

Alas, some people automatically dispute all claims, both online and with real cards. One should always be prepared to play out ... correctly.

 

Of course they should accept the claim, and deserve to be chastened for not doing so. Unfortunately, misplaying the last two tricks is likely to reinforce their habit.

 

This was corrected and the opponents in this game who did not accept the valid claim were cautioned.

 

Jacki :)

[Vampyr]

Alas, some people automatically dispute all claims, both online and with real cards. One should always be prepared to play out ... correctly.

 

With real cards this is illegal.

[pooltuna]

as firm believer in CECO I think a number of rejections are in hope of a misclick if play continues :)

[jillybean]

The directors aren't stupid, noone who has successfully completed the ACBL directors accreditation would get this wrong. Even if

you hadn't completed the course you shouldn't get it wrong.

I think the underlying cause is that the directors are simply too busy in a speedball to give anything more than a cursory glance and a canned

response to TD calls.

[Bbradley62]

One of my first posts in the BBO Forum (too long ago for searching) was to make a similar complaint about being told to play out a hand after I had made a claim in a tournament. Responders here (almost) unanimously said "just shut up and play it out". I couldn't imagine asking for a trick back after I played two losers on one trick and two winners on the next.

[Vampyr]

One of my first posts in the BBO Forum (too long ago for searching) was to make a similar complaint about being told to play out a hand after I had made a claim in a tournament. Responders here (almost) unanimously said "just shut up and play it out". I couldn't imagine asking for a trick back after I played two losers on one trick and two winners on the next.

 

Playing against a Belgian side...

[Bbradley62]

One of my first posts in the BBO Forum (too long ago for searching) was to make a similar complaint about being told to play out a hand after I had made a claim in a tournament. Responders here (almost) unanimously said "just shut up and play it out". I couldn't imagine asking for a trick back after I played two losers on one trick and two winners on the next.

Ok, so more advanced use of the search engine allowed me to find this.

http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/38290-rejected-claim/page__pid__450324#entry450324

[bill1157]

After the last time I misplayed a hand after claiming and having the claim rejected, I claim, then if it is rejected, I call the director and have him(her) make a ruling.

 

Bill

[nige1]

According to on-line protocoI: Declarer faces his hand and claims a number of tricks. If defenders deem the claim correct, they accept, saving a lot of time and thought. Defenders dispute the claim by playing on double-dummy (while declarer plays on single-dummy). This seems to be an improvement over face-to-face law. It encourages claims even by players who might find it hard to explain a line, especially in a foreign language. Hence, the play of most hands is curtailed by a claim. Most disputed claims are quickly resolved, because it is easier to defend double-dummy. In the normal course of events, there is no acrimony and no need for a director. Simple, fast, fair, and effective :)