May 2020 page 1 Southern CaliforniaBridge News Volume 57, #5 May 2020 Published by ALACBU PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE District Director Report by Kevin Lane by Robert Shore “Bridge is a game and should be fun.” The (Temporary) New Normal Corona virus and Montreal Still not much to report at the District level. Our indefatigable The Corona virus Web master, Dave White, is continues to severely impact working to make more games bridge including, most notably, available to more partnerships for more points. Keep the cancellation of the Montreal an eye on your e-mail for his progress to that end. No NABC. The board of directors word yet on the fate of Bridge Week, the Summer’s continues to meet frequently to Best Regional, as we continue to keep a close eye on address the range of issues developments and on the government’s orders. I’m emerging from the pandemic. personally skeptical that a group of more than 50 predominantly high-risk people will be legally Last month the board voted on a delay of GNT permitted to convene in person to pass physical objects and NAP finals to adjust for the cancellation of the back and forth to one another, but we will see what the Columbus NABC. The board has not yet considered future brings. what to do with these two events in light of the Finally, I think I have figured out the mysteries Montreal decision. of Zoom. I will probably try to convene a remote Since the board is actively making decisions meeting of our District Board in May. District Board which are transmitted to membership via email – a members, please take note and please keep an eye on more timely communication than my monthly reports – your e-mail In box. I will limit my report this month. Something you want me to know? Contact me at [email protected]. I welcome your input. [email protected] Southern California Bridge News Published monthly by ALACBU, Inc. 1800 Avenue of the Stars, 12th Floor, Inside This Issue Los Angeles, CA 90067 Phone: 310-440-4100 Director’s Chair ………….………….. page 2 email [email protected] Play or Defend? .…………………….. page 3 Editor/Designer…. .. Tom Lill Rank Changes ……………………….. page 4 Managing Editor. .. Bob Shore Contributing Editor. .. .John Jones Bridge Week Tournament Flyer …..… page 5 Copy deadlines: the 23rd of the preceding month. Opinions expressed Around the Units ................................. page 7 in the Southern California Bridge News are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of ALACBU, Inc., The Bridge News or the Problem Solvers’ Panel …….……….. page 10 Editor. The Bridge News reserves the right to reject material it considers to be in poor taste or deems otherwise unsuitable for publication. PRESIDENT continued on page 2 May 2020 page 2 t either way, or no contract reached; the director From the Director’s Chair: adjust to some combination of Average, by David White Average+, or Average-. In none of these cases is the speed of any player [Editor’s Note: David has set up some games on considered. The director makes no assumptions as to Bridge Base Online (BBO). For information on these why the board wasn’t finished. So if the director was games see District 23 web site, not called earlier in the round, for slow play or an bridgewebs.com/acbl23. Here are some handy tips to unresponsive player; one of the first two cases apply. help you get started.] If a valid slow play complaint was lodged during the Getting Started on BBO round, then average scores are considered. 1. With your browser go to ------------------------------------------------------------------ https://www.bridgebase.com/v3/ (The /v3/ at the end Q. Why was I blocked from a virtual game? ensures you use the latest version.) A. According to ACBL regulations: you may only 2. Click on ‘become a member’ and follow the play in a club’s virtual games if you played in that instructions. club’s brick and mortar location within the last year. If 3. Your BBO_ID must be unique so have several so you’re on the Include list. Playing, but not winning possibilities in your head before you start. requires you to be manually added to the Friends list.. 4. For name put in at least your first name The ‘Include’ list is generated by ACBL. The ‘Friends’ list is players added by the director and is 5. Very carefully enter your ACBL number. (For life kept on the director’s computer. The big BBO masters using the letter is OK.) If this number is not computer in the sky, keeps a copy of the Friends list, correct you will not be recievemasterpoints for any but is not updated on a regular basis. Which is why a ACBL event. And, you maybe blocked from player can be on the Friends list and still be blocked; playing in other ACBL events. until the BBO computer updates. 6. Deposit, through PayPal or a credit card, to your Once on either of the clubs list, there are still a few “BBO$” account by clicking the BB$. (I recommend other requirements. Both players must: at least $12, enough to get you started and to pay for 1. Have a valid ACBL number linked to their several games.) BBO account. 7. Spend a couple of days exploring the website, play 2. Have enough money in their BBO account. solitaire, use the practice tables. Move up to 3. Use the latest version of BBO competitive games when you’re familiar with the (bridgebase.com/v3/) system. 4. Meet the masterpoint limits of the game. 5. Not log is as private or invisible. Common BBO Questions If the director has recently (last 10 minutes) added you Q: I do not understand how the hand we played was to the friends list, you must log off BBO, close the scored after time expired midway through the play. browser’s tab, wait three or four minutes, open and log A: Three things can happen when a board isn't back into BBO. finished. ------------------------------------------------------------------ • First and the most common BBO software will determine the most likely outcome and score it Q. Self-alerting is strange, difficult, and time as such. The director never gets notified. consuming. Why? • Second BBO kicks it back to the director to A. The BBO method of self-alerting guarantees that determine most likely outcome. The director there is no unauthorized information given to partner. adjusts to most likely result of the contract Only the opponents see the alert. being played. Continuing the line of play the declarer started. If the outcome is clear or unavoidable, a score is assigned • Third, if the outcome is in question, could go May 2020 page 3 Play or Defend? by John Jones North ♠ K 3 ♥ J 8 4 ♦ Q J 10 9 5 ♣ Q 9 7 Alert before you call. Notice the ALERT button at the West East bottom of the bidding box. If your next bid is ♠ J 9 7 4 2 ♠ A 10 5 alertable, press this button FIRST. ♥ void ♥ A 10 7 6 3 2 ♦ 8 6 4 3 2 ♦ A 7 Type in the description of your bid. Remember the ♣ 6 3 2 ♣ K 5 name of the convention is not a description of the bid. South i.e. MICHAELS is not a description, rather ‘5-5 in ♠ Q 8 6 majors’ is. ♥ K Q 9 5 Now enter your call. ♦ K ♣ A J 10 8 4 Descriptions like ‘Preempt,’ ‘Limit Raise,’ ‘Transfer’ are usually adequate and should not be questioned. Contract: 3NT by South Alerts that are usually delayed because the auction is West leads the ♠4. Do you play or defend? higher than 3NT, should still be alerted at the time they If you need a hint, turn to page 4. are made. e.g. responses to Blackwood or splinters by opener. The solution is on page 9. Hint: When you alert a call, a box with the alert will appear in the upper right corner of the play table. It is only visible to you and the opponents. Glance at that to verify the alert is correct. If opponents want more ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ information the box will change color. It’s easy to More “Vu-Graph” Wisdom from Edgar Kaplan: miss. When in doubt, put the opponents on lead. I suggest you close this box immediately by clicking Why should you make the mistakes? the top white bar of the alert box. One, so you’ll notice a request for more information. Two, so that it It is well-known that in third seat, you must doesn’t block your view the player’s cards. have 13 cards to open the bidding. Alerts can be faster by pretyping them out in a simple North doubled four hearts to tell himself what text document using notepad. WordPad, or TextEdit. to lead. Keep this document open in a side window. When you ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ need to alert, highlight and copy the alert, move the cursor to the explain line, and paste. May 2020 page 4 District 23 Rank Changes March 2020 Junior Master Sectional Master Advanced NABC Master Ilene H. Abramson Beth Mary Byrne Michael P. McGory Larry Cheung Annie H. Ives Bradford W. Edgerton Melanie M. Smothers Life Master Daniel B. Ferguson Jennifer Wellman Joan Abrams Martha J. Judson Dianne K. Sax Yvonne M. Kroneberger Regional Master Stan Snyder Tamara Powers Karmen Armoudjian Jay E. Sandler Robin C. Hill Bronze Life Master Caryn L. Musicer Peter Connor Club Master Greg Stewart Jerold A. Rose Thomas J. Cox Esther C. Zacks Dianne K.