[han]

For those who don't know, there is Cavendish pairs on BBO vugraph right now. Only two forum regulars playing but lots of action and 1.2 million dollars raised in the auction. Come watch!

[jdonn]

This thread is going to lose steam fast...

[jtfanclub]

So how much did the favored team have to put into the side pool?

I've always wanted to be invited to the Cavendish, but I've also wondered how much it would set me back...not, of course, that I would be favored if I went in even with five pros.

[han]

It's a pair game. Helgemo-Helness went for 73000 I think and I also think they have to pay 25% or 20% themselves. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

[Mbodell]

I thought the way it went was each pair had to bid 12,500 for themselves an if no one bids on them they are liable for the full amount. If someone bids on them then I thought they didn't need to pay anything into the pool but are eligible for only a very small slice of it. But maybe one of the 2 forum regulars who played could clear it up.

[han]

It's correct that they have to pay 12,500 if nobody bids on them. They do have to pay if they get bid on, and the more they sell for the more they have to pay.

[TimG]

han, on May 10 2008, 01:53 PM, said:

It's correct that they have to pay 12,500 if nobody bids on them. They do have to pay if they get bid on, and the more they sell for the more they have to pay.

I think they must take at least 10% of themselves and can demand no more than 50%.

[jtfanclub]

Wow. That's a whole lotta dough.

So how much was the high bid? Was it the $73K?

[Mbodell]

Yes, that was the high bid. If you go to the cavendish web site at http://www.cavendishinvitational.com/ you will see the auction and the amounts and the prizes. Note that 10% of the top bid is still less than $12,500 so you never need to pay more than that and it is the unbid pairs who are most hard done by in terms of out of pocket mandatory expenses.

[han]

Even the pairs that are not bid on might be able to get other people to buy a part of them.

[brianshark]

I haven't been able to access the cavendish website since it started. the connection keeps timing out. In fact, I don't think I could last year either. Is anyone else having the same problem?

[hotShot]

NO problem to reach the site from here.

[TimG]

brianshark, on May 11 2008, 07:51 AM, said:

I haven't been able to access the cavendish website since it started. the connection keeps timing out. In fact, I don't think I could last year either. Is anyone else having the same problem?

I've experienced a few timeout errors. Usually right after the link is provided during the vugraph presentation.

[jtfanclub]

Mbodell, on May 11 2008, 02:14 AM, said:

Note that 10% of the top bid is still less than $12,500 so you never need to pay more than that and it is the unbid pairs who are most hard done by in terms of out of pocket mandatory expenses.

Which was almost a third of all pairs, and includes lots of names I recognize. Gulp.

Hey, I know I'm not even close to an invite, but it's still fun to dream. Now I'm going to have to dream about coming up with the money first...

[glen]

One has to admire Rodwell's Business Continuity Plan - he now has a great partner that can play the RM Club to win the big $ events and still call "Jeff".

I've wondered if Hamman will be 100% comfortable playing the weak NT/five card majors favored by Zia and their koach. Perhaps the Nickell formation could have been Rodwell+Hampson, Hamman+Meckstroth?

Thanks to World Bridge Productions, BBO, and the commentators for an excellent vugraph.

[Apollo81]

officeglen, on May 12 2008, 01:37 PM, said:

One has to admire Rodwell's Business Continuity Plan - he now has a great partner that can play the RM Club to win the big $ events and still call "Jeff".

Why doesnt he play with Meckstroth?

[hrothgar]

Apollo81, on May 12 2008, 08:46 PM, said:

officeglen, on May 12 2008, 01:37 PM, said:

One has to admire Rodwell's Business Continuity Plan - he now has a great partner that can play the RM Club to win the big $ events and still call "Jeff".

Why doesnt he play with Meckstroth?

My understanding (based on past year''s discussions) is that its a combination of factors

1. If R+M were playing together they'd command a very high price. Associated with this, they be required to spend a chunk of their own money to purchase some fraction of their sales price. Auctions have some very perverse incentives built in... One important one is that the winning bidder will (very often) over pay for the the asset in question. This creates a clear incentive for top pairs to find ways to artificially depress their going price

2. R+M might need to make substantial changes to their methods to play in the Cavendish. I've heard that they prefer not to play in events that would force them to modify their methods...