[cccccttttt]

The use of time on BBO is now poorly handled.

Chess, backgammon, and Go have long ago solved this problem.


Use two clocks, one for each pair, that starts at O and runs till say 8 min.


When it is your turn to bid or play a card, your clock is running.

After your bid or play is made, your clock stops, and opponents clock starts.


If your run out of time on the round, its your own fault, not the opponents.

You will get a 25% for the round at match play, or lose say 10 imps at imp pairs.


If time allotment of 16 minutes for a round is by popular demand too low, then

run tournaments with different time allotments.


BBO could make a real improvement in the game.

ct

[steve2005]

in acbl tournaments directors have access to time used by each player.
If play is incomplete and one side slow directors often awards an avg+ 60% in mp not sure what it is for imps +4?.
so what your suggesting is essentially already implemented.in the way bbo wants

[shyams]

If it is already used (although in a limited way), perhaps it can also be made available along the lines suggested by the OP.

I like the idea of independent clocks for the two sides that add up to the overall round time.

[barmar]

If you're waiting for an opponent to answer a question, that time should come from the opponent's clock, not your own.

[Rain]

I've recently also decided maybe it's time we think about introducing a timer in any time sensitive games we offer, if not all. Although this timer clock doesn't seem to be a formalized part of the rules of bridge, maybe it should be to help TDs make fair, objective rulings. The movement part is a bit tricky, but team matches don't move as much so they are ideal places to introduce timers right?