[JoAnneM]

I just think this is kind of odd. My partner and I are going to a game that we have not attended before. It is a special game and we had to make a reservation because it is inside a gated community. Anyone can play they just have to put your name at the gate.

So, my partner who is a tournament TD, received an email from the game manager telling us that they enforce the zero tolerance policy and that: "We have many inexperienced players and we enforce the rules gently to keep them coming back."

I am not sure if it is the fact that we are both A players or that we are both directors, but I know for a fact that neither of us has a bad reputation in the bridge world. However, I do run a game by the rules and a new player has one or two games where we teach them the ropes and then they have to deal with director calls.

Anyway, it should be an interesting evening at a game where they "enforce the rules gently".

[barmar]

Maybe they send that email to all new players coming to the club.

[mike777]

JoAnneM, on Aug 25 2009, 10:27 PM, said:

I just think this is kind of odd.  My partner and I are going to a game that we have not attended before.  It is a special game and we had to make a reservation because it is inside a gated community.  Anyone can play they just have to put your name at the gate.

So, my partner who is a tournament TD, received an email from the game manager telling us that they enforce the zero tolerance policy and that: "We have many inexperienced players and we enforce the rules gently to keep them coming back."

I am not sure if it is the fact that we are both A players or that we are both directors, but I know for a fact that neither of us has a bad reputation in the bridge world.  However, I do run a game by the rules and a new player has one or two games where we teach them the ropes and then they have to deal with director calls.

Anyway, it should be an interesting evening at a game where they "enforce the rules gently".

hmm this is very common and a very common comment inside gated(read old people) bridge games.......for the last 30 years or more.....so.....???

You are invited to a party bridge game........party bridge within acbl rules ok.....so enjoy it......

[matmat]

i am going to go out on a limb and predict this game is going to suck. gl anyway.

[jillybean]

Is it an ACBL Sanctioned game or a private game?

[jillybean]

duplicate

[mike777]

jillybean, on Aug 25 2009, 11:28 PM, said:

Is it an ACBL Sanctioned game or a private game?

this is very common in ACBL gated games...
1) the players are very very old........let them enjoy, in some cases they are close to death.
2) they pay acbl dues and fees......that is a good thing......the players are pretty rich....
3) Hopefully Hamman, Zia or Weischel shows up for a game once a year...this is a good thing.......

One of the many wonderful things about BBO is bridge players get to play bridge up to the last minute...........I just note how I had the honor of playing with a few truly great bridge players in their last months online.....

[Phil]

This is the rule, not the exception in small ACBL club games.

Enforcing the game 'gently' is doublespeak for looking the other way with regards to the rules.

[jillybean]

Phil, on Aug 25 2009, 09:42 PM, said:

This is the rule, not the exception in small ACBL club games.

Enforcing the game 'gently' is doublespeak for looking the other way with regards to the rules.

I dont think this is restricted to the small games.

[Jlall]

Seems fine, they even warned you ahead of time...

[JoAnneM]

This is a sTac game at a sanctioned ACBL club run by an active bridge teacher who is trying to build a club. I have seen him and several of his players at sectional and regional tournaments. That's why the email surprised me.

I am disappointed to see the distain for club games in some of the posts. My game is small but I make every effort to prepare the players for tournament play by running the club according to ACBL Laws. Belonging to this Forum is just one of the ways I try to keep up. I'm sure there are lots of us running clubs the same way.

[jillybean]

What is a sTac game?

[awm]

jillybean, on Aug 26 2009, 12:16 AM, said:

What is a sTac game?

STAC stands for "sectional tournament at clubs."

The idea is that the various clubs are treated as sections in a huge sectional tournament. These games differ from regular club games in the following respects:

(1) Typically pre-duplicated boards are used, and the same boards will be played in all participating clubs (typically all clubs holding a game at that time over several districts).

(2) An extra dollar is charged for entry fees.

(3) Silver points (as at sectionals) are awarded instead of the normal black points.

(4) Huge master point awards are available for finishing in the "overalls" (typically requiring a game around 67% or so since the field is quite large). These awards are often in the 20-30 point range for first overall (which normally requires breaking 70%), but obviously this depends on the number of districts participating and the number of clubs having games at the particular time in question.

(5) Some sort of "seeding" should be in effect, to attempt to balance the strength of field sitting in various directions. Many districts require this for STACs, but it's typically not done for regular club games.

[blackshoe]

Also, the normal "clubs can make any rules they like" regarding conventions does not apply - they must allow the ACBL GCC in its entirety. It is possible, in theory, that the TO might authorize the mid-chart, but I've never seen that happen.

[Phil]

JoAnneM, on Aug 26 2009, 12:08 AM, said:

I am disappointed to see the distain for club games in some of the posts. My game is small but I make every effort to prepare the players for tournament play by running the club according to ACBL Laws. Belonging to this Forum is just one of the ways I try to keep up. I'm sure there are lots of us running clubs the same way.

I ran a club in Palm Desert from November through April of last year. My attendance varied from two tables up to about fifteen. It grew nicely and near the end it was averaging ten to twelve on a very competitive Wednesday afternoon with four other games.

I made damn sure the rules were followed and that I wasn't like many other directors I have come across in my career.

Occasionally, I would need to correct rulings after consultation with other directors (and from getting advice from here believe it or not).

The other directors in the area, with the exception of one or two, think like I do, and don't try to coddle the players being soft on the rules to keep up attendance.

The biggest problem by far, isn't the directors. Its the players who are uneducated and don't even know enough to call the director when a player breaks tempo, much less coffeehouses. There are about forty silver / gold LM's in the area, and they are by far, the worst, and they set a poor example for the newer players.

I don't know if I'm going to continue ithe game. Hopefully I won't need to this year.

[JoAnneM]

Players who make their own rulings at the table are the bane of directors, but I try to emulate one of my favorite TDs, Nancy Boyd, and make a director call very friendly and non-intimidating. I don't always succeed when it's the third call in the same round and I am trying to play a slam.

[JoAnneM]

Well it turned out to be a pleasant 10 table game, everyone very nice.