This article explains the EBU (English Bridge Union) website, how to access it
and
your NGS grade (National Grading System),
what it means and what other information is available when you investigate it.
EBU Website
The EBU website (www.ebu.co.uk) contains a wealth of information, and every member of the EBU has their own private area in it.
To access it you need your membership number and your password.
How Do I Set or remind myself of Receive my Password?
If you are a new member, you will receive a welcome letter advising you of your EBU number and password. Once you have logged in for the first time you can change the password that they sent you to something more memorable. Existing members will already have been advised of their password, but if you have forgotten it you can receive a reminder of the password by clicking on the ‘forgotten password’ button on the login page.
If all else fails, ring them, and have your EBU number ready when you do.
National Grading Scheme
Amongst other things, you can check your grade in the National Grading Scheme (NGS). To do so, go to the EBU website, click on the Menu at the top right of the page, select My EBU and log in. Click on NGS at the top of the screen that then appears, and you will see a graph of your progress, your current grade, and grades of all the partnerships you have had.
The National Grading Scheme (NGS) aims to give a measure of an individual’s current level of performance when playing duplicate bridge.
Unlike the Master Point Scheme, which reflects lifetime achievement, the NGS reflects an individual’s current standard of play, and can go down as well as up.
Your grade is calculated automatically based on the results submitted to the EBU, and is updated each time you play.
You will see both a percentage score (like you get at the end of a drive) and a playing card.
EBU grades have been divided into 13 playing card bands, ranging from ‘Ace’ at the top to ‘Two’ at the beginners’ end. Each band covers a 2% range of grade values, with ‘Eight’ having a range of 49‐51%.
Some competitions will be advertised as 7-high or 9-high etc. so it is important that you know your NGS “card” if you want to enter.
There is a lot more detail about Bridge in general and NGS and Masterpoints in particular on the EBU website.
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