[Abadaba]

More and more, players are ruining the Tourney experience for everyone. Yes leaving tourneys and refusing to play or bid frustrates the Tourney Director, but it also makes the time spent to adequately help those playing, the timing of the tourney, and general enjoyment of all players.

For some reason this has been getting worse and worse and more and more difficult to control.

I believe that one of the reasons is that "anyone" can simply ask and start running tourneys on BBO. In the past few days I have had 4 known BBO TD's throw temper tantrums and bid 7NT with 4 HCP's and leave tourneys (because they were upset with partner), I have seen tourneys cancelled because the TD just wanted "experts" and had absolutely no idea what the rules of directing much less even simple bridge knowledge was (asked me across the lobby what 1♣ > 3♣ means and what is an inverted minor. This TD was running a 90 pair "expert tourney" with a lot of very unhappy players trying to escape.

I also constantly get informed by players that they do not have to follow the rules because they are BBO TD's. The players are confused because they expect some of the really bad TD decisions to be the Law of the Land.

I know BBO has always believed in an open policy for hosting tourneys but would it not be better for the players to keep track of Hosts and TD's that do not have the basic knowledge of the game before they are allowed to run these large tourneys. Maybe the answer is Beginner TD's only allowed 20 table tourneys - Intermediate TD's 30 tables etc.

Where is that Wizard of OZ when you really need the dude?

ABA

[csdenmark]

Abadaba, on Mar 29 2006, 10:00 PM, said:

More and more, players are ruining the Tourney experience for everyone.  Yes leaving tourneys and refusing to play or bid frustrates the Tourney Director, but it also makes the time spent to adequately help those playing, the timing of the tourney, and general enjoyment of all players.

For some reason this has been getting worse and worse and more and more difficult to control.

I believe that one of the reasons is that "anyone" can simply ask and start running tourneys on BBO.  In the past few days I have had 4 known BBO TD's throw temper tantrums and bid 7NT with 4 HCP's and leave tourneys (because they were upset with partner),  I have seen tourneys cancelled because the TD just wanted "experts" and had absolutely no idea what the rules of directing much less even simple bridge knowledge was (asked me across the lobby what 1♣ > 3♣ means and what is an inverted minor.  This TD was running a 90 pair "expert tourney" with a lot of very unhappy players trying to escape.

I also constantly get informed by players that they do not have to follow the rules because they are BBO TD's.  The players are confused because they expect some of the really bad TD decisions to be the Law of the Land.

I know BBO has always believed in an open policy for hosting tourneys but would it not be better for the players to keep track of Hosts and TD's that do not have the basic knowledge of the game before they are allowed to run these large tourneys.  Maybe the answer is Beginner TD's only allowed 20 table tourneys  - Intermediate TD's  30 tables etc.

Where is that Wizard of OZ when you really need the dude?

ABA

Pity it has gone in that direction - but I think no wonder.

I have no idea how many set-ups for tourneys a day - 50, maybe 100? Anybody knows that such has nothing to do with serious tourneys. 1 tourney a month or maybe a week with some qualification rounds. - I think many are to blame but not least those signing up for a tourney who are hurted by non-seriousity among the participants. They have a responsibility themselves - and events only have the quality all involved together are able to give it. - That seems to be too little and as your observations tells the outcome is diminishing.

Maybe to stop the trend with the more the better! Maybe to stop the trend the bigger the better. I think the tournaments organizers also need to ask themselves some serious questions.

[pigpenz]

free tourneys are a just what they say free!
granted the qualifications of the TD's vary but so do the qualifications of the TD's in pay tourneys like the ACBL ones. None of the TDs are infalllible but some general understanding of the laws of bridge should be known to direct. so maybe there should be a place in the tourney notice what the qualifications of the TD is like ACBL certified or some other organization certified.

[hrothgar]

Abadaba, on Mar 29 2006, 11:00 PM, said:

I know BBO has always believed in an open policy for hosting tourneys but would it not be better for the players to keep track of Hosts and TD's that do not have the basic knowledge of the game before they are allowed to run these large tourneys. Maybe the answer is Beginner TD's only allowed 20 table tourneys - Intermediate TD's 30 tables etc.

For better or worse, Fred and Uday don't want a formal reputation system implemented within Bridge Base Online. They have also indicated that they would take a dim view if anyone were to establish a private website that provided equivalent functionality.

Personally, I have mixed emotions regarding this decision. If I apply my formal training as an economist, I know that efficient markets require perfect information. The more information that players have regarding the quality/reputation of different directors the better the decisions that they are able to make.

With this said and done, there is also a political dimension to this entire question. Who would have thought that a simple decision like allowing players to great private clubs would have turned into an enormous pissing contest when the principles of different clubs started fighting with one another. A system that permits players to rate/rank the performance of directors might very well turn out to be more trouble than its worth.

In the near term, we'll just have to muddle along and take comfort in the fact that we always have the option to play in the main bridge club...

[uday]

I am concerned that external reputation systems would turn into blackboards for smear campaigns.

I guess I should start thinking about this again. Maybe it would not lead to abuse if implemented reasonably.

[inquiry]

I am not sure how this got to a ranking of directors. Clearly there are good and bad ones. But Aba's point was the behavior or players in tourneyments.

Let me start off by saying that I direct very rarely these days, and when I do, it is in homebase tourneys, which like most pay tourneys are small. The fee-based homebase tourneys are a delight to direct. Most events we have to find ZERO replacements other than filling possibly two sitouts at the beginning. And it is the rare tourney that has a director call for misconduct .. mostly we get called because a hand was not finished.

I contrast this with the few FREE ones we ran to introduce players to the web-page based complete results we produce with leaderboard, complete hand results, makeable contracts, often with hand commentary, etc, all hyperlinked (see http://www.homebasec.../377-114332.htm for an example). These FREE ones were a nightmare to direct. People felt fully justified to be rude to their partnes and opponents, to leave if they were getting a bad board, or to simply stall and get an average minuss rather than a bottom (btw, this doesnt work in homebase, as we adjust unfinished boards), etc. It was easy to see that we had 22% of the players who started one of the free ones not finish it. I have directed free tourneys in the past (even before I was a bbo yellow I was one of the first group of people with the power to start a tourneys). I can't imagine why anyone would want to direct under these conditions, and now I understand why TD's are threatening players and blackballing so many players. I will not be running large free tourneys, they simply are no fun to direct.

The BBO is trying to help. The computer issues automatic bans if you leave too many tourneys, but I am afraid some people are gaming that system. So we end up with unhappy and "rude" directors, and disappointed players. I think this is what Aba was talking abouit....

[Abadaba]

Actually it was a dual posting....

That said with sadness I just cancelled the very popular ABA Open tourneys that have been running 50 to 100 tables daily aat 11:00 am edt / 17:00 CET.

I spent the entire tourney replacing more than 30% of the players despite as many rules and warnings as is possible in life. These players simply are not nice to anyone, partner opponents, TDs, totally disregard all rules of BBO and the host clubs and.... I agree with Ben it just isn't fun anymore.

The point is ... the number of tourneys run that don't care and allow the conditions has grown. There is no time to really look at a board and make a good ruling because the stream of missing or refusing to bid or play players is 10 to 20 a round. That is my sorrow. It affects all the good players on BBO. Everything is going downhill and my fear is that as it grows, it will ultimately hurt the fine job done by so many over the past five years.

BBO needs to up the number of times someone can leave a tourney - what ever it is it it not enough and somehow needs a way to monitor how many times players are "replaced". This is the tatctic many use not to get the black mark of tourney leavers. They just disrupt the tourneys and hurt the masses terribly.

The other point is and was - the bad tourney directors. The hosts and tourney directors who have no idea what or how to manage and frankly don't care.

As I said - I played in a tourney run this week where the TD insisted everyone's level be stated as expert - it was the most insulting badly run tourney I have ever encountered. When asked for a ruling the TD responded publicly he did not know what bids were and if they were legal and how could he find out?

His insistance that the time would be 7 minutes a board - led into constant delays. The last round was over 35 minutes - he refused to do anything and the five tables left just sat there. It was a joke. Why is someone like this running tourneys on BBO?

Why do real TD's (who run major tourneys) throw in 7NT bids because they are mad at their partners and then say - I'M A BBO TD!!!

Yes - I am sure no one who was a legitimate player will rejoin this tourney but the fact is - it begets the bad image and spirit that is multiplying among players.

I love and admire BBO and the wonderful people who started with an idea and the growth and success. But in my humble and non requested opinion - if there is no curtailment of bad tourneys encouraging bad play. td's and hosts... we all lose.

I am sincerely not flaming anyone - just wishing and hoping that someone some how will think about how really bad this is for the entire BBO community.

ABA
(she don't know nuttin anyway)

[inquiry]

Abadaba, on Mar 30 2006, 01:29 PM, said:

That said with sadness I just cancelled the very popular ABA Open tourneys that have been running 50 to 100 tables daily aat 11:00 am edt / 17:00 CET. I spent the entire tourney replacing more than 30% of the players despite as many rules and warnings as is possible in life. These players simply are not nice to anyone, partner opponents, TDs, totally disregard all rules of BBO and the host clubs and.... I agree with Ben it just isn't fun anymore.

Well. I assume you canceled your large 17 CET game for reasons other than poor directing of it....

Quote

The point is ... the number of tourneys run that don't care and allow the conditions has grown.  There is no time to really look at a board and make a good ruling because the stream of missing or refusing to bid or play players is 10 to 20 a round.  That is my sorrow.  It affects all the good players on BBO.  Everything is going downhill and my fear is that as it grows, it will ultimately hurt the fine job done by so many over the past five years.

Youi don't have time to do the job (too large event. too few directors, too many nut job players. I am not sure how any of that relates to other directors or events. What you are experiencing EVERYONE running large events (presummably free events) open to so many players experience.

Quote

BBO needs to up the number of times someone can leave a tourney - what ever it is it it not enough and somehow needs a way to monitor how many times players are "replaced".  This is the tatctic many use not to get the black mark of tourney leavers.  They just disrupt the tourneys and hurt the masses terribly.

To the contrary, I think BBO shouild REDUCE the number of times people can leave a tourney. I guess our opposite views on this suggest the level choosen is probalby a good compromise.

Quote

The other point is and was - the bad tourney directors.  The hosts and tourney directors who have no idea what or how to manage and frankly don't care. 

And re-reading your post I see you want to prevent these directors from directing or at the very least limit their tourney size. In theory this would be a very easy position for me to support. The less options (free or otherwise) available for players to choose the more attractive my fee-based homebase events will be (and your abalucy and Fred/Uday's ACBL). Uday could come here and say. aba makes so much sense and clamp down of the free ones and he would profit, I would profit, Aba would get better turn out. But I am not going to agree with this position. The reason is simple. Free tournaments benefit all (at least that is the theory). Yes bad dirctors need to be removed, and the directing rights are frequently removed from people who abuse directing priveledges. But there is always a new person to fill in the gap that causes, as more and more ask for the power. Despite that it would be good for me personally to support this view, I truly feel it would be bad for the BBO community, so I can not support it.

Ben

[uday]

I have no intention of restricting free Ts at any point in the forseeable future. Mind, I wear glasses.

I think a better answer might be to be able to include only "good guys" in tourneys (as a TD option). What is a good guy ? If we can define that, we'd be set. This would be username based, and if the process of becoming known to the system as a "good guy" took time and work, then we'd avoid the problem of people switching aliases.

Rain's been saying something along these lines for a long time.

[Abadaba]

I think you misunderstoon me Ben - And I think we are closer in line than far apart. I am NOT saying this to benefit ABA or ACBL or Homebase or any tourney well run.

What I am saying is that when you allow the running amuck tourneys - it seems to increase the running amuck players and believe it or not - I don't know that they are necessarily bad just have experienced the priviliege or running at leaisure so they go.

20 times a day i get an "emergency" request to leave. Emergencies are - another tourney to play in - i don't like this partner anymore - I am not winning here so why should I bother. And btw - these I appreciate more than the ones who just click off.

How about as an idea.....

1. Make TDs go up the line in terms of experience level to the size of the tourneys they run
2. If a player leaves a tourney - when returns he is put on a sublist for the tourney and unable to play anywhere on BBO until the tourney is completed (I like that one alot)
3. Any TD who flagrantly disrupts other tourneys gets a week off to think about it (just so us TD's know our behavior is important whether we are TDing or playing)
4. No tourney can be listed without a TD for every 30 - 40 tables (need 2 TDs for 160 pairs)
5. The names of the TDs and hosts must be shown so players can choose not to play in tourneys that are poorly run.
6. Any player who "leaves" or is removed (they sit and won't bid or play so we have to remove them) gets a one week ban from all tourneys?

Just ramble thoughts - my own feeling what might help - not my club or your club or the ACBL - but the BBO community at large.

Humbly,
ABA

[hrothgar]

Abadaba, on Mar 30 2006, 10:48 PM, said:

2. If a player leaves a tourney - when returns he is put on a sublist for the tourney and unable to play anywhere on BBO until the tourney is completed (I like that one alot)

I like this suggestion a lot...

[golfacer]

From my experiences of directing hundreds of BBO tournaments over the last 2+ years, and playing BBO tournaments for the last 2.5 years, I agree that there are some problems:

1. Players who think they can leave whenver they want
2. Directors who provide inadequate service for whatever reason (not following his/her own format and rules, inexperience, etc.)

How do we solve these problems? Some ideas...

Players:

1. Allow a director to block players who have an unfinished tournament rate of x% or higher (choice of the director). That would be a huge motivation for players to finish tournaments more often.

2. I would set the automatic ban rate lower than it is now. I believe the cutoff for an automatic tournament ban is currently set at 35% of tournaments (with a certain minimum number played) within the last week, is that correct?

3. Add a player's unfinished percentage and number of completed tournaments automatically to everyone's profile. Players who don't finish tournaments frequently may find it more difficult to get partners in the future.

4. I like the idea of the "good guys" list. A "good guy"= someone who has played in 40+ tournaments, has less than a 10% unfinished rate, and has not flagrantly broken the rules of BBO?


Tournament Directors:

This problem seems to be more difficult to solve. Being a certified director, or having a knowledge of the Laws, does not necessarily make one a good director. Experience, by itself, also does not make someone a good director. I know of several people who have directed on BBO for over a year who don't set up tournaments properly (allow too many pairs, constantly delay the start time, etc.) or not follow the Laws, even in very common situations. Of course, I don't expect a director to know everything, but one should know that players must disclose their system and partnership agreements (a problem a friend had in a tournament last night, with an "experienced" director).

Also, there appears to be no fair and adequate way to distinguish and categorize "good" directors.

[inquiry]

Abadaba, on Mar 30 2006, 02:48 PM, said:

1. Make TDs go up the line in terms of experience level to the size of the tourneys they run
2. If a player leaves a tourney - when returns he is put on a sublist for the tourney and unable to play anywhere on BBO until the tourney is completed (I like that one alot)
3. Any TD who flagrantly disrupts other tourneys gets a week off to think about it (just so us TD's know our behavior is important whether we are TDing or playing)
4. No tourney can be listed without a TD for every 30 - 40 tables (need 2 TDs for 160 pairs)
5. The names of the TDs and hosts must be shown so players can choose not to play in tourneys that are poorly run.
6. Any player who "leaves" or is removed (they sit and won't bid or play so we have to remove them) gets a one week ban from all tourneys?

I disagree with number one, for a variety of reasons. One is who will determine and how.

Like richard I like number 2, but there is a problem. For one thing, getting back in is not always easy, for another thing, there is some problems that have occurred in the past when people played in a tourney left and then re-entered randomly (playing same hand twice -- rare but has happened) and similar issues (I think not that big of a problem).

I disagree and or don't understand number 3. Any TD who "flagrantly" dirupts another tournament deserves more than a week off. But then, to be honest, I am not sure what is being considered as "flagantly disrupts". Can you name some ways such things occur?

#4 is hardly functionable. I can list 100 directors name before the TD can be listed. But I agree with todays tournament players on the bbo, no TD can effectively handle more than 30 to 40 tables, and maybe a lot less if what I witnessed a few weeks ago is now typical behavior.

#5 is not only a good idea, but I would ad that playing TD's should be identified. A playing TD in a large tournament is a disaster everytime. I would like to see playing TD limited to 8 to 10 tables.

#6 contradicts numbe 2. How can they get back in if they are banned. And there are real reasons people leave,,, and there are some TD's who incorrectly remove players (at least imho). The way it works now is if you leave too often, you will get a five day ban from all tourneys. This allows the legitimate reason departure (bad connection, incorrect TD decision, true emergency) to occur without penalty. These events should be rate occurences, so the current rules seem fine to me.

[andych]

My experience with BBO tourneys has also been not so great. I seldom participate in BBO tourneys nowadays. So I may not have the clear picture of what the current situation is. Sounds it is becoming worse and worse.

Just my 2 cents ....

I agree with the current policy that virutally all players could be tourney directors if they take the move to apply for it.

I have a dim view of any form of tourney directors rating system.

More importantly I agree to limit the size of the tourney, REGARDLESS of who the director is. No matter how capable an individual director is, it may just be too tough for one single person to direct a 100/160!! pair tourney. It may be better to see a few smaller size tourney than a really big one. The smaller tourney would run faster. There would be fewer problems. There would be fewer unhappy faces. Indirectly it may reduce the no. of quitters (I hope so ...).
Even there could be co-directors, multiple smaller sized tourney is still more preferable to large size tourneys.

[rona_]

Quote

That said with sadness I just cancelled the very popular ABA Open tourneys that have been running 50 to 100 tables daily aat 11:00 am edt / 17:00 CET.

With all due respect, all open tourneys are popular, but I am sure the members appreciate the plug. There are open tourneys, with playing TDs and no adjustments, that attract 60-80 tables, and one, in particular runs a few times a day with no less than 60 tables each time. A listed tournament that specifically said "please do not sign up this is a test", had 117 players in a matter minutes. What does this say to you? The majority of members don't even read the tournament description but just sign up because they want to play a tournament. For some it's any tournament and any TD.

Quote

I love and admire BBO and the wonderful people who started with an idea and the growth and success. But in my humble and non requested opinion - if there is no curtailment of bad tourneys encouraging bad play. td's and hosts... we all lose.

In my view we don't lose. There are times when there are 7000 players logged on to bbo so the more TDs, the merrier. We all have the option not to play tournaments of TDs we don't like but at least we have options. Decreasing the options cannot be a particularly good thing for BBO or the majority of the players. The only people who would benefit from your proposals are TDs who have been around a long time. This could have a negative effect, discouraging new people from taking TD duties, and, in effect, cutting down on the total number of tourneys.

Quote

3. Any TD who flagrantly disrupts other tourneys gets a week off to think about it (just so us TD's know our behavior is important whether we are TDing or playing)

Right!!


NOT so humbly,
Rona

[Mr. Dodgy]

I have 2 cents too.

I agree with a lot of what everyone has said. 22%, Ben? I had 50+% leave. OK, a somewhat higher attrition rate is to be expected when it's 40 Boards, but that's ridiculous, and it happened the last tourney I ran. Maybe I'm a bad TD? I don't think so. I try my best. I keep my tourneys under 40 tables almost all the time. I never play when Directing. I have a reasonable understanding of the Laws of Bridge and apply it as fairly as I know how to, albeit not perfectly. I try to keep notes on 'bad' players and exclude repeat offenders with little mercy.

I would think my own leave rate is perhaps 3%. If I play a tourney, I finish it unless I CAN'T.

It does seem to me that players can leave tournaments repeatedly with some impunity. I appreciate the need for some tolerance for those with poor connections, or frequent natural disasters. Whatever the current threshold is set at on BBO, it's not enough. I like golfacer's idea of a %Tleave option for directors in the create/edit tourney dialog A LOT (actually, minimum %TFinish would be ideal).

As for we bad directors, I agree with BBO's policy. It's a free market and with a free tourney, you get what you pay for. Avoid tourneys you consider to be badly managed. I do; this includes any with playing director(s), although I'll consider it if small and run by someone I like. I may even to offer to TD it.

I think at most 20 tables is manageable without a non-playing TD, and that's optimistic. Realistically, I feel that about 40 tables is all a RealTD can manage safely and comfortably alone although you have good days and bad days. More is OK, sometimes. less is a headache, sometimes.


Regards,


Justin

[candybar]

A very large part of this problem is that the software still doesn't allow a good TD to do their job properly.

A long time ago, I posted and emailed to Fred and to Uday, something called the TD WISH LIST. I'm posting it again, with a HUGE PLEA to Fred and Uday to implement it! Once available, TDs will be able to do their job so much better and easier and so much more in line with Bridge Laws, and then we can start talking about teaching them how.

====================================================

TD Wish List



Highest Priority

Ding the dealer with the usual sound when the round starts (beginning and round change). When waiting for a tournament, or when there is a long wait between rounds, people often go off to get a drink or check their email, and without ringing a sound to recall them, there is frequently a delay in starting each round.

Create a Tournament Management Window for the TD. This window should be open for the TD permanently during the entire tournament and contain all the functions as shown below. It should not ever force itself to the top focus, but leave the TD free to do other actions without interruption.



High Priority

The TD should be able to see red spots on disconnected players.

Director call windows do not pop on top. This constantly slows down the activities of the TD. Move this function to the Tournament Management Window.

Clearly display to all players who the TD is/are in the tournament info. Many times a player wants to ask the TD a question before the tournament starts but cannot find out who it is. Also, some players prefer to avoid certain TDs. Included in this should be a note as to whether the TD is playing or not.



Medium Priority

Allow a player to "withdraw" from a tourney just like they can from a team match. Then let the software ask for a sub instead of making the TD do it. Make them give the reason for withdrawing, but record and track withdrawals (maybe a popup to warn them of consequences), as well as logouts and closing BBO. This will save a lot of the deliberate logouts to escape from a tourney, and save the TD and tourney time when someone actually takes the trouble to ask to be sub'ed and waits. It will also save the time that TDs often wait to see if someone will come back. As a TD, I don't need to hear the excuses, all I care about is getting the sub and keeping the tourney moving.

Allow TD to specify the "withdraw" limit for players when they create a tournament. This will avoid the constant "blacklist" threats and even the need for the TDs to do the blacklisting. If the TDs could specify that they won't take anyone with, for example, 4+ withdrawals in past week, it would smooth the operation, eliminate the need for individual blacklists, and make the same information available to all TDs.

Add two Chat Options in tournaments, one to the TD for players, and another separate one for TDs to other TDs in the same tournament.

Give TDs the ability to penalize 1/4 or 1/2 board penalty for repeated or procedural infractions, and the ability to assign a different result/score for each direction. Move this function to the Tournament Management Window traveller screen.

Allow TDs the ability to do UNDO's, even if the players cannot.

Change the Call Director button to a different color when the TD is already at the table. This will avoid multiple calls for the same problem.

When a sub refuses an invitation or becomes unavailable, delete them immediately from the Sub List. Currently, the same sub must refuse at least twice before someone else is invited, and this means multiple attempts to sub for the TD. Also when a sub becomes unavailable (offline, join a different tourney, etc), delete them so we don't have to get the refusal before getting to an available sub.


Low Priority

The ability for a TD to see chat that occurred at a table for the current round prior to the TD arriving. This would be extremely helpful and save time for complaints of rudeness or bad explanations. Currently it is necessary to ask people to repeat what was said. I know it was stated in the BBO Forum that this is not possible with the current logging, but permanent logging it is not required, just saving it for the duration of the round for each table would be enough.

The ability for the TD to pop up a list of bids, alerts, and explanations with timestamps for a given table. This would help determine when alerts were made, if more than one explanation was given, and would show if one pair or the other was delaying the round. Saving this is not required beyond the current round for each table.

A way to stop a substitution. Many times, I have substituted for a disconnected player, only to have him return just before he was replaced with a sub. It would be nice to be able to quickly click a "stop" of some sort and not replace him after all, or better yet, for the system to automatically stop the substitution if player was red and returns.

Provide the TD an option to forbid players to register as subs if they could not register for the tournament.

A way to boot a player from a tournament without replacing them. This would be for Survivor format tournaments, so the seats would dissolve.

A way to boot a kibitizer from a tournament and lock them out.


-----------------
Tournament Management Window


The Tournament Management Window should contain all of the following:


Round Status (updated real time as tables finish), each unfinished table number is a click to join.

Scrollable list of all players in alphabetical order, with right-click options same as current. This will allow a TD to find a player easily, without having to look through the entire table list to find him.

A Place to enter board number and see the board traveller as of the moment, with easy way to find a specified player. Be able to show Movie directly from the traveller. Be able to adjust scores directly from the traveller.

A button to add 1 minute to current round without affecting subsequent rounds.

A list of TD calls in order showing those that are unanswered with "take this call" and "ignore this call" buttons which delete it from the list. NO MORE POPUPs! When a TD call is answered, the call is deleted from the list but the call information stays visible to the TD who answered the call.

Button to delay Results (to allow late adjustments), and to then to complete Results after adjustments are finished.

A button to pop up a substitutes window. The sub window should be organized as a 3 column table, showing all subs and their skill levels in 1st, red players in 2nd, and the skill level of the PARTNER for each red player in 3rd. Then allow click on sub, on red player, and replace button.

[Abadaba]

I second that emotion.

Incredibly and impressive ideas. I really hope BBO will give all that you mentioned a lot of consideration.

Thanks for your constructive effort on behalf of all.

ABA

[pigpenz]

yes most of the ideas above posted are very good, i have often wanted to penalize someone for constant slow play or tardiness

[golfacer]

The pattern I see way too often in tournaments is:

Two minutes before the listed start time, 82 pairs are registered to play in a tournament with one director. Director adds another five minutes to the start time. Tournament finally starts. Director adds 2-4 minutes to the first round and most other rounds. Players complain that there is too much time between rounds. Other players complain that they have been waiting for the director for five minutes and there is still no response. Director complains that the players are unable to finish two boards in 18 minutes. Director seems to be under too much stress. Some players are now unable to finish the tournament because of all of the extra time that was added, and no one seems happy.

Almost all of these problems would be avoided if directors would use a sensible TD-to-player ratio. I currently limit my tournaments to 25 tables, so that I can provide good and quick service to the players. I would suggest 25-30 tables as a maximum for an experienced director, depending on the time of day. For a playing director, I like inquiry's suggested limit of 8-10 tables.

Quote

Give TDs the ability to penalize 1/4 or 1/2 board penalty for repeated or procedural infractions, and the ability to assign a different result/score for each direction.

I think this should be the highest on the priority list, next would be

Quote

A way to stop a substitution.

and

Quote

Allow TDs the ability to do UNDO's, even if the players cannot.

Those functions are necessary to direct a tournament properly and in accordance with the Laws.


Many of the other items on the list would be nice to have, but don't appear to be as important.

Quote

Ding the dealer with the usual sound when the round starts (beginning and round change).

This function is already available, if the user has the "Sit down" sound activated. (although the sound is also heard if someone else at the table gets disconnected and returns)

Quote

Provide the TD an option to forbid players to register as subs if they could not register for the tournament.

I believe this is now done automatically.

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Allow a player to "withdraw" from a tourney just like they can from a team match. Then let the software ask for a sub instead of making the TD do it...

I hope this is never implemented. Not only does that make it easier for a player to leave (and register for another tournament that is starting very soon), but that player's partner also loses the ability to choose his/her own sub.