The following was issued by the Mid-Leinster Region of the CBAI.

Do’s and Don’ts at Bridge

1. A player may not correct partner’s mistaken explanation of a bid or signal.
2. If partner hesitates before calling, a player must show that the action now chosen could not have been influenced by the hesitation.
3. Your opponents are entitled to know of any partnership agreement you may have.
4. A player may only ask for an explanation when it is their turn to call.
5. Lead face down, but turn the card over before dummy is shown.
6. Check your tricks.  Agree score.  Have contract and result entered before spoiling your won/lost cards.
7. Do not accept the decision of opponents if a ruling is required.  The T.D. is responsible for all rulings.
8. Players have a duty to ascertain how opponents communicate:
   Basic system – Acol or Precision or . . .
   Variations – strength of NT, 4 or 5 card majors, etc.
   Other – discards, leads, signals, etc.
9. Bids above 3NT should not be alerted unless they occur on the first round of bidding.
10. Defenders may ask one another about possible revokes.

Handicap scoring

As our club have a mixed ability range of players we use a handicap system when scoring a competition between September and May. The handicap is calculated by the computer programme, Scorebridge, that we use to score the weekly results.The handicap is based on the player’s average score for a 4-6 week period and is the difference between 50% and the individual’s average score for the period. 

Say the individual’s average score for the period is 55%, their handicap will be -5%.  If the individual’s average score for the period is 45% their handicap will be +5%.   

A pair’s weekly result will be adjusted upwards or downwards by the average of their combined handicaps.  If the pair have a +5% handicap, 5% will be added to their score.  If they have a -5% handicap, 5% will be deducted from their score. Because most people in the club play with the same person most weeks, generally individuals and their regular partner will have the same handicap.  So if your handicap is -5% and your partner’s handicap is also -5% then the amount by which your result will be adjusted is -5%.  If however you have a handicap of -5% and you are playing with a partner who has a handicap of +15%, your combined handicap will be +5% (50% of -5 plus 50% of +15).

The handicap is updated monthly and is based on the average scores for the preceding 4-6 weeks.

First prize is given to the pair who come first before the handicap is applied.  

Second, third and fourth prize (if any) are based on the results after the handicap is applied.  

If you are looking at the results on your computer it automatically comes up on the page with “Ranking” and shows the results before the handicap.  If you click on “Handicap” it will show you the results after the handicap is applied (this will not show on an i-phone).

If you do not use a computer we show the results on the notice board each Monday for the previous week.

Hope this helps explain the handicap scoring system.