[1eyedjack]

Do private clubs within BBO and/or tourneys have carte-blanche to set a policy which contradicts general site rules (or for that matter the Laws of Bridge)?

Whatever the actual regulations, I should have thought that the sensible rules would be:

1) The site rules specify DEFAULT regulations the authority for which is delegated to the Sponsoring Organisation by the Principal Laws. Indeed Site Rules should take precedence when in conflict with the Principal Laws, as the latter are poorly designed to cater for the online environment, and where conflicts arise they invariably do so only for that reason (ie self-alerts/self-explanations)

2) Table host in main playing area, or Tourney Host in tournament (or sub-Club proprietor) should have carte-blanche to set whatever rules they wish, to override the Site Rules (or even the Principle Laws, software permitting), but in that case they would have a responsibility to ensure that such overrides are communicated effectively to any players affected. In the event of silence on a topic, Site Rules and The Laws would apply.

You may end up with a game that is not Bridge, but if fully informed no-one is damaged, all preferences are accommodated by market forces and you have the right not to participate in events the rules of which are anathema to you.

The advantages to that seem to be self evident. If you want to play in events where psyches are banned or where "no agreement" is to be eliminated as a valid explanation, then, provided enough others feel the same way, your tastes will be catered for.

But there is one big disadvantage: it could drag downhill the reputation of BBO as a site in general, if illegal activity were condoned (even if controlled).

There is also one minor disadvantage: If you allow a table host in the main playing area the option to play by different rules than other tables with which the scores are being compared, it renders that comparison suspect. If that is a matter of concern then exclude the table host from those with power to vary site rules in the above suggestion.

But whatever the merits of the above argument, I am not sure what authority (if any) there currently exists for overriding site rules. It probably says somewhere in the Site Rules, but I could not find it (have not tried very hard, yet ... will keep looking).

If, in practice, the site rules fall into two categories: (1) those cast in stone and (2) those which a host has authority to override, then I think that the organisation of the way that the site rules are displayed could perhaps do with some improvement, so that the category applicable to any particular site rule is clear.

[uday]

Generally, yes, tourneys, clubs and , why not, table hosts may do as they please as long as they try to communicate this to incoming players.

It has not been much of an issue in the MBC to date, and I suspect it is even less of an issue in private clubs.

Tourneys? Our current practice is to give the host almost total control. The host is still bound by our basic site rules about behaviour, and a host who is messing around destructively will probably have his TD abilities removed, but I dont see why we should interfere. If some host wants to ban 1C openers and people know it, what harm?

I have heard arguments about how such liberal attitudes destroy the beauty of the game, but since we play 100,000+ hands of bridge every day I think we can spare 50 to the no-weak-nt/whatever crowd

We're software people. It is convenient that our hands-off philosophy meshes well with our lack of resources. . If some "real" organization would step up and set some rules that make sense, we'd probably listen, if we could.

[1eyedjack]

Thanks for the clarification Uday. I hope this policy is available somewhere in the help system.

On a slightly related topic, I have in the past been somewhat confused over the help system, mainly because there are two basic "routes" into it: either through the "library" or by clicking on the "help" button. These two routes lead to different areas of help: ie software usage v policy/behaviour issues. Having a single launching point would help a rank newbie to the site, I feel, who may miss entirely the branch that he is looking for.

Just my opinion, of course.

[uday]

The web-based help system was created (and is maintained) by JRG (his BBO handle). This is what is invoked by the HELP button.

The older articles in the library have not been updated in a while.