A Bridgemate handset is a small (17x9 cm) box placed on each bridge table and is a wireless scoring terminal into which North (or South), after playing each hand, enters the contract, declarer, opening lead [optionally] and tricks made. After checking by East (or West), the result is transmitted to the Bridgemate server and thence to the scoring computer. At the beginning of an event, players identify themselves at the handset by number, either club number or national union number, thus saving computer entry of names. As each result is entered, the handset shows the percentage attained by each pair on the results so far available. At the end of each round, the handset shows each pair their percentage and ranking position thus far in the event overall. Results are picked up by the scoring program within a few seconds of their being transmitted from the handset, and a completely up-to-date leader board may be displayed if required.

Advantages over using travellers:

• Show the final results with contract, lead card and tricks made one minute after the last board is played.
• At the end of each round, players can see their overall percentage and ranking in the event thus far
• You can have a television monitor or projector attached to the scoring computer which can show the up-to-date ranking throughout the session. Thus towards the end of the event, all players can see their provisional ranking
• On each board the Bridgemate displays the % scored instantly – 100% is a top, 50% means flat, etc.
• Printed results and web pages include contract, lead card and tricks made
• The handset is told the movement being used and prompts the players with their pair numbers, orientation and boards due to be played - thus reducing the risk of mis-pairings etc
• You enter tricks made - not the score - again cutting down on errors, no more keying in of travellers or names
• The terminal asks EW to check the details of the result - thus eliminating many errors
• No more “when will the results come out?”: for most clubs analysed results are available on the website within a few minutes of play finishing
• Fewer queries regarding errors

• Very widely in the Netherlands - the home of its inventor.
• Bridgemates are used by more than 450 clubs in the UK and Ireland
• Bridgemates are used at all national and regional events in the four home countries and Ireland.
• Bridgemates are now used in over 4,500 clubs in 65 countries.
• Bridgemates have been used by the World Bridge Federation and the European Bridge League since 2005 for all their tournaments.

In the spirit of trying one or two different formats occasionally in the Club's regular programme, the Tuesday daytime session of 18th November will be a Swiss Pairs event.

Many of you will be familiar with Swiss Pairs, either because you've played in county or EBU congresses, or because you recall SBBC having run such events in the past. If this is new to you, the concept is that your opponents from round 2 onwards are chosen by the computer, on the basis that your opponents' score thus far is the same as or very similar to your own.

We shall be playing six 4-board rounds, four before lunch and two afterwards; at the end of each round your Bridgemate will display the message Waiting for next round assignments . .Once all tables have finished the round, the TD will ask the computer to calculate the assignments for the next round, and you will see an assignment screen, directing both pairs as to where they should move for the next round.  If you get impatient with the wait, you can click the blue button Check for new assignments; you won't get them any quicker, but at least you'll receive a polite reply telling you the assignments are not yet available.

Each board you play will be match-point scored as normal, then at the end of the four boards you'll get a percentage score, and this will be converted automatically into Victory Points [VPs], a number between 0 and 20. Your scorecard includes a table showing the number of VPs allocated to each percentage score. 20 VPs are shared between yourselves and the pair you've just played. For example, if you scored 59% over the four boards, you'll get 16 VPs and your opponents 4 VPs. Your position in the event will be determined by your VP running total.

In each 4-board round, all tables are playing the same 4 boards. The TD will put 2 boards on each table and, as you finish each board you immediately pass it down to the next lower table. So in round 1 you will play boards 1-4. At the end of the round, the TD will collect all boards, and distribute 2 boards to each table from set 5-8, etc. There's no waiting for boards because we will have dealt multiple copies of the boards you're playing.

With this last aspect in mind, we would like you to register for this event if you'd like to play. This will tell us how many sets of boards we need to deal, and we'll be able to tell Jo how many players will be showing up for lunch that day. Please register using the attached form as soon as you know you'll be playing, partly to help our organisation as above, partly to ensure you get a place in the event - it's just possible that we'll have to close the registration process if we reach the maximum number of pairs that we can comfortably cope with. There will be no host on the day, but you'd like to find a partner, enter 'Partner required' in the Partner box, and we'll do our best to match you up.

And if you need a further incentive, there will be prizes awarded. The winning pair will receive 2-week vouchers, allowing them to play free of charge in any/all SBBC events during the subsequent 14 days; the runners-up will receive similar vouchers, but valid for 7 days. There will also be a prize for the best improvers, i.e.the pair who improve their position by the greatest number of places from the end of round 4 to the end of round 6. The improvers will receive a 1-day voucher so they can capitalise on their improvement by playing in either or both of the events on Wednesday 19th November..

We very much look forward to seeing you on the 18th.