The Integrity of the Masterpoint

[Kaitlyn S]

I have looked for further feedback in BridgeWinners. It is my first post there and as I am quite new to the site, I've determined that:

 

(a) My only choices were the Intermediate Forum and three forums that didn't apply (feedback, webmaster, partnership desk) - apparently there is no place to discuss general things with anybody except "intermediates".

 

(b) For any other newbies there: it's easy to get lost; I assumed that what I was posting was what they called an "article" but a further search showed I should have posted it in a "forum" (which I also did, I commented as such and hope the article will be deleted.)

 

© You probably can't see my post; it said only I can see it until I'm verified and I'm not sure what that means. I've had the account there for a few days but I apparently still need to be verified.

[blackshoe]

In Australia we do have some masterpoint provision for supervised sessions. But they are very limited and the hands are expected to be random. And membership is growing, so it's not the lack of masterpoints for novelty events that are the barrier.

Is the culture so different? Or is the ABF doing something right that the ACBL is doing wrong?

[ggwhiz]

I have looked for further feedback in BridgeWinners. It is my first post there and as I am quite new to the site, I've determined that:

 

(a) My only choices were the Intermediate Forum and three forums that didn't apply (feedback, webmaster, partnership desk) - apparently there is no place to discuss general things with anybody except "intermediates".

 

The people that make the rules and/or have a weighty opinion are in the general section and are very interested in club type concerns. It takes a while for them to vet your login to see if you voted for Trump :D:)

[sfi]

Is the culture so different? Or is the ABF doing something right that the ACBL is doing wrong?

 

The culture is similar in many ways, so I don't have any good answers. Thoughts include:

• The ABF management is less isolated from the club scene than the ACBL appears to be. I know most of the councillors and executive play at clubs regularly, and some of them are involved in managing clubs. This may help in identifying where the organisation can help in attracting and retaining members.
  
• There is a real focus on capturing the newly retired or people about to retire. Although everyone keeps talking about other markets, this is the most successful audience.
  
• We have a national marketing officer who appears to be making strides. Similarly a national focus on improving teachers seems to be valuable, although it has drawn a lot on Audrey Grant's experience and lessons learned.
  
• I don't think bridge in Australia ever had the spectacular success it did in the US. It may simply be a reversion to the norm.
  
• Tournaments (sectionals, regionals and nationals in your terminology) are seen to be better run than in the ACBL. While there is variation in both places, I think this is a supportable statement both in relation to the administration and the directors. However, the flip side is that the ACBL regionals and nationals are more complex models and I think we have things to learn from them. In particular, a couple of major tournaments here have greatly increased their number of restricted tables in the past few years, and this is down to lessons learned from the US rather than more players.
  
• Some people will mention system restrictions, computer-dealt hands, or hand records at all events. I strongly agree with the Australian position on all of these, but don't think they really affect numbers. If someone is interested in the game they'll play regardless.
  
• Behaviour at the table is fairly similar (comparing the major events - I haven't played in a US club in decades), so that doesn't seem to be a point of difference.
  
• There is not the same level of professionalism in the game. Although we do have a number of full-time pros, the amount of money at stake is much less. Not sure how that would affect anything, but it is a real point of difference.
  

 

The level of increase is small. I don't remember the numbers, but we have somewhere around 30,000 members and are growing at something like 2% per year. I believe the average age is stabilising in the low 60's, which I understand is different from the ACBL.

[MrAce]

© You probably can't see my post; it said only I can see it until I'm verified and I'm not sure what that means. I've had the account there for a few days but I apparently still need to be verified.

 

 

BW allows only members with their real names. They do not accept nick names etc. So when you register there they have their ways to confirm that you are someone who is using her real name and not pretending like someone else.

So that Timo or someone else can't go there and use your name and create an account. I like this feature of BW. It makes people more respectful and leveled when they are not hiding behind a nickname.

Regarding your subject, you can create an article and that is perfectly fine. There are many people who works for ACBL there including an account named "ACBL Official" You can post anything related to Bridge there.

[helene_t]

I have even less reason to trust your random friend

What kind of ****** attitude is that? For all we know, her random friend voted Jill Stein. Not that it has any baring on anyone's accountability on bridge matters, of course.

[sfi]

What kind of ****** attitude is that? For all we know, her random friend voted Jill Stein. Not that it has any baring on anyone's accountability on bridge matters, of course.

 

I'm not sure either of hrothgar's comments need to be seen in a political light. I certainly didn't read either one that way, even knowing the history that may have led you to that conclusion.

[hrothgar]

I'm not sure either of hrothgar's comments need to be seen in a political light. I certainly didn't read either one that way, even knowing the history that may have led you to that conclusion.

 

I assume that Helene meant this as a joke...

 

<n any case, the basis for my comment was

 

1. I have seen the work that Kaitlyn is doing with the her posts for new players here

2. I consider this a good thing and well considered. It isn't sufficient that I think that the ACBL should allow her to bollox the deals for masterpoint games, but I do count this in her favor

3. I have no direct experience regarding her friend

[blackshoe]

The culture is similar in many ways, so I don't have any good answers. Thoughts include:

…

Thanks.