Thanks all for playing in our Handicap Pairs this past Friday.

Some of you have asked how to read the rankings and figure out what happened. Below is what all the numbers mean.

First there are two sets of rankings one for the Handicapped scores and one for the Raw scores. Half of your award comes from each category. The results are listed in order by highest to lowest handicap scores. Also, because this was a Grass Roots fund game, there is a Section Rank and an Overall Rank. There are four rankings columns, the first is the handicap ranking in your section (either NS or EW), the second is the raw ranking in your section, the third is the overall handicap ranking (both NS and EW), and the fourth is the overall raw ranking. E.G. using Cathy and Dottie's NS results they were 2nd NS in the handicap, 3rd NS in the raw score, 2nd in the handicap over both NS and EW, and they did not place overall in the raw score.

If you are interested in the score computations, that is, how does the score, the handicap, the game percentage, and the matchpoints relate, read on. It's easiest to describe these from right to left. The 'score', is your raw matchpoint score. Your 'game percent' is based on this and the number of boards you played. NOTE that NS pairs played 27 boards while most EW pairs played 24. Ron and George got lucky and didn't have a sit-out and so played 27 boards. Your 'game percent' is your 'score' divided by the matchpoints available (# of boards times multiplied by top score, 8 today, so either 216 or 192). Your 'handicap' is assigned, and is a function of your average game, so far this year. Your 'handicap' represents the percent bonus you will receive based on your current average game percent. In the rankings, 'handicap' is your individual handicap and must be multiplied by 2 to get your pair handicap. Lastly, 'matchpoints' is your handicapped score. It is computed by adding your 'score' to your total matchpoints available times your pair handicap. E.G. again using Cathy and Dottie as an example, their score is 119.5, their total possible matchpoints is 216 (they played 27 boards), so their game % is 119.5/216=55.32. Their pair handicap is 8.88*2=17.76 multiplied by 216 is their matchpoint bonus of 38.36. 'Score' plus 'bonus' = handicap score ('matchpoints') or 119.5+38.36=157.86. On the results you'll see 157.84 because their assigned handicap was 17.75 instead of the computed 17.76.

Lastly, if you want to compare NS and EW results, the game percentages are directly comparable. If you want to compare the handicap scores, the 'matchpoints', then you'll need to multiply the EW scores by 27/24.

WHEW, but that's what all the numbers mean. If you have further questions, please let me know.

Is there a meaning for BAM, other than "loud noise?" YES there is. In the bridge world, BAM means Board-A-Match team game. Right!, but what does THAT mean?!

BAM is a team game that is scored as win/loss. That is it is not scored with matchpoints or IMPs. You either win, lose, or tie a board; so for each board you get 1, 0, or 1/2. In a BAM, because it's win/loss, every score difference matters (e.g. the 10 point NT bonus), but there is no protection from the "field"; it's a team game, there is no "field." It's just "did you beat the other team or not?" And 10 points can make the difference. That's it.

Logistics-wise, a BAM plays just like a pairs game. The movement is arranged such that when your teammates play the board you just played, they will be playing against the teammates of your opponents for this board. NS stay stationary and EW move around the room. EW move in a peculiar fashion, usually boards down 1 table and pairs down 2 tables each round. But, it's almost just like pairs. 

Strategically, you should also play this game almost just like pairs. There is no game or slam bonus to preserve, it's just, did we beat the other team. So, if you think the other team will be in game or slam, you should be there too (unless you think it's going down)! Positive scores don't matter unless they're more positive than the other table. 

Please plan to join us. Sign up at the club as a team, or sign up as a pair; that way we can make certain everyone has a team.

You don't need to make one to come and play and enjoy.

Peggy, Haley, and Karen will provide a variety of pies for you to sample.

I expect we'll have more pie than we can eat, but please feel free to prove me wrong! 

Our first Eight Is Enough (8=E) team game will be held on Friday May 31.

As you know, for 8=E, teams may only be comprised of players combined to be 8 or less 'points'. Points are assigned based on master point holdings. Here is the breakdown for our May game:

• 1 'point' if you hold less than 500 master points
• 2 'points' if you hold between 500 and 2000 master points
• 3 'points' if you hold more than 2000 master points

If you are unsure of your 8=E status, there is a paper listing at the club with everyone's status for this game.

The intent for 8=E games is to create a field of more evenly matched teams, increase competition, and camaraderie.

Please plan to join the fun. We hope you'll bring a snack to share. The game will be a Grass Roots Double Point game with no extra fee.

Your NKBC Board of Trustees has been hard at work for you ALREADY this year!

We have reviewed and updated our ByLaws, and they are ready for your review.

The updates proposed are designed to get us on an even keel for our elections. We want to be electing two new members to the Board of Trustees at each election (instead of the current one and three every other year). The proposed changes also streamline the ByLaws removing extraneous items.

Please review the new document in preparation for the approval vote.

Click here to view the updated ByLaws proposal.

Click here to view our current ByLaws.

We will hold a vote for approval of the new ByLaws at our Longest Day game on Friday June 21.  We want to approve these changes before the November election. Hopefully, after reviewing the updates, you'll agree these changes will help streamline our organization.

Every member of the Board of Trustees fully supports these changes and urges you to review and then approve them.

If you have any questions, please contact any member of the board:
President: John Wolfe
Vice President: Howard Simon
Secretary: Peggy Ammon
Treasurer: Tim Martin
Club Manager: Cordell Coy