Gloucestershire County Bridge, Cheltenham Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire County Bridge

Release 2.19r

Online CLEVERLY teams league

Cleverly Cup – Team captain information 2025/2026

There are 2 divisions, with 8 teams in each. Teams have been allocated to a division based on previous results for teams who competed last year (Taking into account promotions and demotions – 2 up and 2 down) , and new teams have been put where their strength deserves.

The league is registered with the EBU’s League system, and this requires each ‘team captain’ to have an EBU number. This team captain will be enabled to enter results on the ebu web-site.

Registering results

The captains will be able to enter scores to the “Cleverly Teams League 2025-2026” Div 1 or Div 2. To do this, Go to ebu.co.uk Then select myEBU (This requires your EBU number/password) Then Utilities, then select EBU League from drop down. The system will show a list of Leagues, from which one should select Cleverly League 2025-2026 Div ‘n’. A Table will appear with possible matches, which can be updated with the result of the match once played.

There are (n-1) matches for each team in a division of size ‘n’. In principle this works out as 21 matches (3-4 per month) in Sep/Oct/Nov/Dec/Jan/Feb/Mar – but the reality is unless matches are arranged/played well in advance, scheduling will become difficult. As long as the matches are played before the end of Mar 2026, there are no penalties for not sticking to the order/date of play given here.

Setting up Matches

Matches will, by default, be online on BBO; played as 2 halves, each half of 8,10 or 12 boards- with changing of opponents between the two halves. For teams with more than 2 pairs, replacement of pairs is permitted but not within a half match. The default is 2*10 boards, but a min of 8 and max of 12 can be played by mutual consent. Teams can agree face-to-face matches or Real-Bridge matches, or any other means if agreed by both teams.

The Scoring is by IMPs (adding up the two half-match scores), with results being entered on the ebu web-site. Each team captain can add results.

The conversion of IMPs into VPS will be done using the EBU-web-site conversion table (continuous scale):- found at Victory Point Scales | English Bridge Union (ebu.co.uk). Enter the total number of boards played (e.g. 20) , and the table shows the continuous VP value.

Match director/Conflict

If there are any issues , i.e. a director is required, then it is for the captains to resolve the issue. If this cannot be done, then the captains should make sure the issue /problem is clear, and send 1 or more likely 2 emails containing the bones of the information to the league organiser. Please remember these matches are not internationals, and be generous. Try not to have unresolved disputes.

Support for setting up the matches.

If help is required to setup a match on BBO , see the instructions below, or contact the League organiser. (pete.waggett@gmail.com and 01453873304).

BBO Options

Matches should be set up allowing UNDOs when requested and players should not request an Undo unless genuine finger trouble/mis-clicks. BBO has a confirm option setting on bids/card plays which should reduce the number of mis-clicks. Please bear in mind this is a friendly league!!

Match schedule

Please bear in mind that organising matches , getting 8 diaries to sort out match dates is difficult. Please try to ‘get ahead’ of the schedule and sort out matches in advance.

DIVISION ONE		DIVISION TWO
NUMBER	NAME	NUMBER	NAME
7	CLEVERLY BID	1	GLOUCESTER 1
2	STROUD M	2	TEAM POTTER
3	WANDERERS	3	SOUTHAM S
4	LP'S	4	THE EDGITERS
5	SASANOW	5	THE JOKERS
6	BUNKER	6	STROUD HOPEFULS
1	UNIVERSALLY CHALLENGED	7	TEAM DALTON
8	THRIBB B	8	NEWENT

The match schedule is as follows. The ‘home team’ is responsible for organising the match. The home team is the first numbered team in the table below.

SEP 25	OCT 25	NOV 25	DEC 25	JAN 26	FEB 26	MAR 26
2 - 1	1 - 3	4 - 1	1 - 5	6 - 1	1 - 7	4 - 6
3 - 4	4 - 2	2 - 3	3 - 7	5 - 2	3 - 6	5 - 3
6 - 5	7 - 5	6 - 7	2 - 6	7 - 4	5 - 4	7 - 2
7 - 8	8 - 6	5 - 8	4 - 8	3 - 8	8 - 2	1 - 8

CLEVERLY TL : 2023-2024

Cleverly Teams League is known for its amiable yet competitive spirit.

Traditionally it involves teams of 4 playing in one of the team’s homes with refreshments. The League had to move Online for the September 2023/April 2024 season and Online remains the default, with Face to Face only being the venue if both teams are comfortable with it.
Several clubs had teams last season, some even multiple entries.

Entry fee of £10 per team per season. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED CONTACT PLEASE ctl@gcba.org.uk

The standard varies according to division with the top division including some good players, with generally less experienced ones in the lower division. Friendliness is common to all.

GCBA is happy to host matches on RealBridge by request. See below for further information. The cost is included in the team entry fee.

ONLINE or F2F in 2023/2024

GCBA Cleverly Teams Leagues: 2023/24 Season

PROCEDURES FOR BBO MATCHES, AND FOR REALBRIDGE MATCHES

We now have two county wide divisions (tbc) All-play-all within their division.

1. Please contact the opposing captain to arrange a day and time to play. Emphasis is on the home team to start the arrangements.

BBO NEXT STEPS

2. The number declared first on the schedule is the home team and is responsible for identifying someone who is competent to set up the match. Total newcomers to BBO (the default platform for online) might not have the permission to do it (BBO needs 100 logins first). The setting up player needs to be given the BBO names of the eight players - and can set things up as two 8-board stanzas (the default, two independent matches as far as BBO is concerned) or one 16-board stanza as the captains agree. Try to include GCBA in the title of the match, as it might help identify results.

Details -

First login and go to "Competitive" and then to "Team Matches"
As long as you've had 100 logins you'll get an option "Create Match" and you click this (if not ask for help from me in advance)
On this new screen, DO NOT hit "Create Team Match" until you have filled everything in and checked it. You will need all 8 players online to complete, although you can proceed up to the last step in advance of that.
You have three tabs : first is for description and you can put "something GCBA" in the title and whatever team names you like.
In the second tab : you can stop kibitzers if either captains wants that (do discuss), but generally allow them but unclick "kibitzers allowed to talk to players".
In the second tab : leave UNDOs ON and usually un-tick Barometer (it gives scoring visible as you go along, which can distract players, but it can be ON if both captains want that - please discuss).
In the second tab : set the number of boards (16 if one stanza, but 8 if you are swapping opps at half time - can also play 20 or 24 board matches if both teams wish).
In the third tab : put in the player's names - noting that the top is the first TEAM, and that BBO will move players to the right table as you start
ONLY NOW hit the "Create Team Match" button; if you haven't put in all the right names you might find anyone joining your match and that is a real problem!
- If the setup goes wrong, look for your Director tab (bottom right), click that then on the game, and then take the option to cancel.
Don't hit "Close" until the match has been created, and if it gives you an error ("Someone refused") then simply pause and press "Create Team Match" again.
- You can actually leave that pop-up around until the time comes for the second stanza, and then you don't have as much entry to do (just move 4 people).
At the end of the match, don't worry if it says it cannot deliver the scores - that's just because the servers are overloaded currently, and the results will come, and are accessible later through Hand Records (from the BBO home screen).
Two videos by Paul Gipson are worth watching : https://youtu.be/5kiuLfsQRIY, showing the proper method is brilliant, and the second https://youtu.be/RJ9SsLN68aA, explains how not to do it,and it explains how to cancel a tournament, which is via the Director tab!

4. Do your best to support the principle of FULL DISCLOSURE, being profuse in your explanation of bids and your carding agreements. You can create a BBO convention card - video showing how is here. And there is a nice video also available on alerting your own bids. You are also encouraged to make your profile honest and complete - so that your opponents can tell against whom they are playing.

REALBRIDGE NEXT STEPS

2. Contact Patrick through rb@gcba.org.uk to do the setting up of the match. He will give you a link to be used by all players when the match time comes. it will be arranged so that (a) each stanza starts after both captains hit the button on their table and (b) there will be a scoring break at half time and the opponents will be automatically changed for the second half. It will also be set up to allow self-announcing and with screens which allow a player to converse with one of the opponents throughout the deal (you can talk to everyone between deals). If you really don't want this, then tell Patrick when arranging the match.

Cleverly Teams League Rules – 2023/24

1. A team consists of at least four nominated members plus as many substitutes as are needed throughout the season. A nominated player cannot be a nominated player for any other team and should play for other teams only as a last resort to avoid match cancellation.

2. Clubs or Groups of Players forming a team need not be GCBA or English Bridge Union (EBU) Members but it is hoped that taking part will encourage membership. (It is necessary to be an EBU Member in order to enter results on-line, see 6 below, and only EBU Members can be awarded Master Points)

3. A period is allocated for each fixture. The Home Team should offer a minimum of three dates, not all in the same week or same day of the week. There should normally be at least two weeks notice before the first date offered. We expect teams to be sufficiently accommodating to allow mutually acceptable dates to be found . If it proves impossible to arrange a match then both teams will be awarded a 40% score unless one team can demonstrate to the CTL organiser that the other team is at fault in which case the score will be 60% (or their average score if greater) to those not at fault, and 0 to the other team. Contact ctl@gcba.org.uk if necessary.

4. Matches will be of two eight board sessions with a change of opponents at half time. If both captains agree then matches can be 2x10 or 2x12 boards.

5. Scoring – each board will be scored in IMPs with the total difference for the match converted to Victory Points as follows

The VP scale in use FOR 16 BOARD MATCHES is as follows :

IMPS	0-1	2-4	5-8	9-12	13-17	18-22	23-28	29-35	36-43	44-53	54+
VPS	10-10	11-9	12-8	13-7	14-6	15-5	16-4	17-3	18-2	19-1	20-0

The VP scale in use FOR 20 BOARD MATCHES is as follows :

IMPS	0-1	2-5	6-9	10-14	15-19	20-25	26-31	32-39	40-48	49-60	61+
VPS	10-10	11-9	12-8	13-7	14-6	15-5	16-4	17-3	18-2	19-1	20-0

The VP scale in use FOR 24 BOARD MATCHES is as follows :

IMPS	0-1	2-5	6-10	11-15	16-21	22-27	28-34	35-43	44-53	54-54	66+
VPS	10-10	11-9	12-8	13-7	14-6	15-5	16-4	17-3	18-2	19-1	20-0

6. Team captains should agree the result of the match and one (usually the Home Team) record the result on the EBU web-site as soon as possible after the match, detailing the players taking part. Any team unable to do so should send its results (players on both sides and score) to ctl@gcba.org.uk Note that the system allows only EBU Members names to be entered and only they will be awarded Local Points for each match they win at the end of the season. Non EBU members are of course able to play though.

7. The structure of the league is County-wide. The bottom two teams in Div 1 should expect to be relegated in the following year and the top two in div 2 promoted. This does depend on the structure adopted and the number of teams entering.

8. The Cleverly Teams League is primarily a competition for friendly bridge players, the First Division includes many who have been playing for years but Division 2 can be the starting point for those of you who have played lots of Duplicate Pairs but little or no Teams Bridge. It is also designed to bring together players from all around Gloucestershire whose Clubs maybe too small to run Teams events and also to introduce them to the possibility of playing in other County events.

9. The default platform is BBO though RealBridge may be used if both captains agree and have access. Likewise Face To Face matches are great if both captains agree. Please be tolerant of technical issues such as temporary loss of connection, such things do happen in the virtual world. Should it lead to a match being abandoned then hopefully the two captains can reach a reasonable agreement on completing it later.

10. If disputes or law infringements occur reference to the Law Book will often suffice. Otherwise please send details to ctd@gcba.org.uk for advice.

11. Should any of the above be unclear please don't hesitate to contact ian.sidgwick@gcba.org.uk

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