INNOVATION and IMPROVISATION

When a bridge four = FIVE

Our modus operandi at the Club will include many competitions with prepared boards where each one has a middle score for either pair to beat. This has two significant advantages over traditional comps. It not only allows just one table of four to have a competitive game, but it allows five people to likewise compete against each other via a very fair individual competition where those five chop and change partners.

There is always one sitting out, of course, but the players can change whenever they want. Moreover, the planned changeovers can be revised at any time during the session. Perhaps to allow an individual to have a longer break to rest their brains or have a snack meal.

It matters not if some players want a longer or shorter break. Irrespective of the number of boards played, all scores quickly translate to a percentage at the end. As long as everyone has partnered at least two of the other four players, there will always be an outright winner. And someone who deserves the wooden spoon as well.

It follows that, when thirteen want to play a session, it is not necessary to turn one away. One of the many options is for five to play an individual competition and the other eight play a team comp. 

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INDIVIDUAL COMPETITIONS

are the ultimate test of whether your bridge club is a friendly place to play

If you`ve never played one, come and try ours to discover why.

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PLAYER RATINGS

Most players belonging to a bridge club affiliated to their national association will have a rating. One of the practical advantages of having an official rating is that you can travel to other clubs around the world and find competitions that best suit your level of play. Playing against people of a similar standard not only improves the enjoyment, but also your chances of winning. Which in turn gives you more confidence and increases the incentive to improve your game.

Ratings also give clubs a way of levelling the playing field for all participants. When there are large numbers, they can be split into two groups. In big clubs this is often via multiple sessions where some tournaments will be for average players and others for the more experienced.  Not so easy in a club where all will be wanting to play on the same day. But it can be done via a movement that ensures the best play the best whilst the less serious play only those pairs who are of a similar standard.

To give a fair overall winner, an adjustment is made at the end which effectively gives two percentages. a system that was applied each time I played recently in a simultaneous competition in Las Americas. Over 500 pairs were playing the same hands simultaneously in clubs across Europe.. Because the standard of our group (based on the computer record of the official ratings of each player) was lower than some clubs where there are many highly ranked players, our scores were always adjusted downwards after the results were collated at head Office in Paris. I had no complaints about that. Nor did the student who partnered me playing in her first international tournament. As you can see in the photographs, a 54% score and 2nd place at the club in Las Americas translated to 48.9% and 73rd place against 567 pairs Europe wide. We were both delighted with that achievement. 

Beginners and those who do not belong to a club at home will not have a rating. We can give a provisional one to such players as happened to enable Suzie to play in Las Americas.