[blackshoe]

Heheh. I see I've trained you well - or someone has.

[Gerardo]

Agree 100%.

[blackshoe]

jillybean2, on Feb 26 2009, 11:00 AM, said:

blackshoe, on Feb 25 2009, 06:35 PM, said:

And Law 9 no longer says the TD "must" be called, it now says he "should" be called. Regrettably, I must admit that's my fault, as I'm the one who pointed out "must" in the 1997 laws to blml several years ago, and that led to the change in the current laws.

Please post the link to this

To the law? Or to the discussion? That was on the bridge laws mailing list ca. 2002, I think. It should be in the archives somewhere.

NB: I do not recommend subscribing to blml. It's become a place all too often to debate how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, rather than a source of practical advice about the laws.

[mycroft]

You know, it is possible for a TD call to be made in perfect civility. Just call, Director Please, loud enough to be heard, but without shouting, and when the TD comes over, explain why (in this case, "we claimed, and the opponents pointed out there was a trump outstanding.") Then go into "Basic Training" mode (don't speak except to answer questions, never volunteer). Those who want a resolution will get it, those who just want to play dominance games will learn to do it to another pair.

Sure, and it's possible to be highly passive-aggressive with that same routine (and I have done so, especially when a so-called expert starts with "I could call the director on you for that, but I won't" "Director Please" "My opponent seems to have some issue with our play of the last hand"), but taking rulings to your detriment, when it's correct, with a smile on your face and a "hard luck partner, next hand" keeps things civil. And, when the ruling is to your benefit, the same result occurs as what happened at the table, and the TD gets the heat.

Those "civilized" club games where what actually applies is "you can gripe and get what you want, because calling the TD is taboo" aren't really. They're just games where the players have been beat with the TD stick too often (by people who are playing dominance games with that). The proper response to *that* is clamp down on it when it occurs, before the culture gets ingrained, and have a TD who takes control of the table, and will stand up to incivility.

[blackshoe]

Further on the change from "must" to "should" in Law 9, see Item 8 in the minutes of the WBFLC meeting in Paris in November of 2001.

[jmcw]

jillybean2, on Feb 24 2009, 01:15 PM, said:

I played for the 1st time at a duplicate (ACBL MP) game last night, nice venue, nice director, nice players, none who told their partners to ^&%^&%^ off before walking out.

On one hand my partner was playing 4♥ and claimed but did not make a clear statement of line of play.
There was a trump outstanding and that opp rightly wasn’t happy about the claim. He said he could have asked his partner to lead a certain card and would have ruffed.  I said you should call the director, his reply; “oh no, we don’t do that in this game” 
So we wrote up our game and left, no doubt leaving the opps feeling like they had been duped.

After hearing that its no wonder players wont call the TD. I think it would be good to see the ACBL run a “call your friendly director” campaign.

Hi Jilly;

In a city of 1/2 million we manage 1 ACBL game per week (often not well attended). However, bridge prospers in many relaxed games throughout the city. Having discussed this problem tirelessly, it seems clear that many find the the stiff and unfriendly atmosphere of a sanctioned game clearly intimitading. Many will tell you that the mere presence of a TD endangers their enjoyment of the game.

[jillybean]

Hi,

People can be stiff and unfriendly regardless of whether they are following the laws or making up their own. Its possible to be polite, friendly and even have fun within the laws.

Im not sure what you mean by a “sanctioned game” , do you mean any ABCL MP game run by an ACBL director? If so, these are the games I am referring to and they seem to be well attended here. I am not concerned with laws at our church rubber bridge games and I would not expect the same level of laws to be followed at the duplicate games in the community centers.

IMO the problem is that often the players are running the game, not the TD. Seasoned players who never call the td, make their own rulings and make comments that you ‘shouldn’t do such and such’ must have an influence on newer players and the game.

I know I am in a tiny minority who is concerned about how the game is played, and that surprises me.