David Stevenson
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F2F when a player makes an artificial or highly unusual call his partner alerts, and as explained in a previous post in some common cases announces. This does cause some difficulties when the two players have different ideas as to what the call means! Online it is much better really because the player who made a call that requires an alert or an announcement writes the explanation in a little box (and alerts if necessary by clicking the alert button) before making the call. In fact it is helpful to explain some other things like no-trump ranges when responding or rebidding which saves opponents having to ask. It is a much better procedure really because these explanations and alerts are not seen by partner only by the opponents.
When you have decided what call to make before you do so just decide whether it should be explained and if so write it in the explain box.
As for a seminar on these subjects that is a matter for Bernard but if anyone else has a view perhaps they might like to add a comment here.
What is the purpose of the Stop card? When your RHO (right hand opponent) makes certain bids, typically a jump bid, it is often a surprise and it helps to allow you some time to decide what to do. Otherwise a quick pass would obviously show you had nothing to think about, and a slow pass would mean you had something and decided to pass. Similarly a quick or slow bid. So the solution is to make an enforced pause over a jump bid which thus means that the other players do not know whether you have a problem or not. The mechanics are that before making any jump bid the player takes the Stop card out and puts it on the table, makes the bid, and then (very important) leaves it there for a time, recommended is ten seconds, but six is probably adequate, and the next player may not call while it is on the table. In practice a lot of people put the Stop card out but take it back immediately which is wrong. The next player should pause anyway.
Phew! What a lot of questions! I shall separate them and answer them in different posts.
What is the difference between alerting and announcing? In F2F (that is live bridge, F2F stands for face to face) there are some specific cases where the partner of the player who made the call makes a short explanation unasked. This is natural opening 1NT and 2NT bids, Stayman and major suit transfers, and short minor openings showing fewer than three cards. These rules apply in England, Wales,, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland but not Scotland.
It is always difficult. Perhaps you might have called the director. If it was a misclick, well, you are allowed to take an inadvertent bid back in F2F (face to face bridge) before partner calls. But if it was a misunderstanding of system, that is not allowed to be taken back in F2F or online.
It is one possibility. I am unconvinced as with a lot of the modern approach to safety devices. I am sure quite soon you will be double clicking automatically.
My advice is not to worry about it. The odd misclick is like the odd accidental false card or the odd system forget. Just forget it and move on.
Tough!
Seriously you know this is what happens so allow for it!
I do not ask for Undos during the play even if I am allowed to.
If anyone asked me who refused and why I would not answer.
If you are playing in a casual game these things happen and that is life. If you are playing a duplicate do the same thing as in a club. Decline, but if the opponent says anything call the director and leave it to him.
Assuming they have got it right, whether Undos are permitted depends on the organiser or organisation, not the director. Logic suggests that it is correct to allow Undos in the bidding but not the play, since by law an inadvertent call may be corrected, an inadvertent play may not.
However in EBU pairs events there are no Undos, while in EBU teams events Undos are allowed in the bidding only.
But there is no overall agreement. I was somewhat surprised to have declarer ask me for an Undo in a Scottish teams and said so. But since he was the organiser of the event I felt he must be right when he said Undos were allowed throughout in that event. Note that it was not an official SBU event.
It is the normal situation where a player passes despite his partner’s explanation: if you think you may be damaged by misinformation tell the director and he will investigate.
As for tempo in all but the most obvious cases, just live with it. Players are far more sensitive online, more is the pity, and most things would be acceptable if you could see the opponents. If it is really bad it may be a connection issue: tell the director. If it is not really bad, live with it. Of course if someone passes after a long pause and his partner bids you can always tell the director and let him worry!
The EBU says that you can consult your own convention card when playing online and I think this is the only practical approach. Making notes and consulting a book in practice all you can really do is to leave it to the individual’s own idea of what is right.
Bridge online is of different types, similar to rubber bridge, matches played privately and normal duplicates. There is little I can say really about casual bridge. Basically I answer for events on BBO such as EBU duplicates though I expect other competitive games elsewhere are the same.
When your opponent claims and you decline and he appears to use the information you just tell the director who will investigate and adjust if necessary.
