recorder
chief tournament director ~ laurie kelso
Have you ever wanted an outlet for frustrating complaints about occurrences at the bridge table that do not warrant a call of "DIRECTOR"? Matters like discourtesy, infringements of etiquette, ethics, ‘coffee housing’ and many others.
Talk to one of the recorders. Their task is to listen sympathetically in confidence and note the problem. Even if the Recorder takes no further action, such a report helps to establish a ‘history’ and may be instrumental in overcoming future problems.
Len Meyer & Blaine Howe are the recorders for this years ANC.
the ABF tournament unit
congress director ~ sean mulamphy
For many players this may be their first opportunity to play in a major ABF event. In addition to the ANC Committee of the Host State, the ABF Tournament Unit has overall responsibility for every ANC.
Members of the ABF Tournament Unit can be identified by the Red jacket they wear (sometimes). They work hard to ensure that the ANC runs smoothly for your enjoyment.
restaurant guide
Zio's Italian Restaurant ~ Italian
14 Lansdowne St, East Melbourne
(03) 9419-0252
Le Gourmet ~ French & Other European
366 Albert St, East Melbourne
(03) 9416-3744
Bistrot Balzac ~ French
62 Wellington Pde, East Melbourne
(03) 9419-6599
Fitzroy Gardens Pavilion ~ opp. Fitzroy Gardens
Wellington Pde, East Melbourne
(03) 9417-2544
Prodigy ~ Modern Australian
166 Wellington Pde, East Melbourne
(03) 9419-5700
Syd's ~ Modern Australian & International
132 Wellington Pde, East Melbourne
(03) 9419-1951
Star Kingdom Restaurant ~ Chinese
82 Wellington Pde, East Melbourne
(03) 9417-6735
M C G Hotel ~ Pub
192 Wellington Pde, East Melbourne
(03) 9412-3081
eric ramshaw
Chair of the ABF Tournament Unit, a member of the ABF Tournament Committee and ABF Management Committee, Eric has been one of the driving forces behind ABF events for many years. His first ANC was in Melbourne in 1961 where he directed the ANC pairs.
ivy dahler
Chair of the Appeals Committee, Ivy is a National Director who also supervises appointment and conduct of the Appeals Committee during the event. Ivy has been an active participant as a player, captain & administrator since the 1960’s (watch out for her in the Mixed Pairs!)
chris diment
Floor Manager, Chris is a National Director who also looks after organization of tables, scorebooks, boards etc., always with a smile on his face. He is frequently invited to officiate at World Bridge events.
martin wilcox
Computer Manager, Martin is a National Director who also scores the events using his Masterscore computer program and displays the results in hard copy and by electronic display.
alerting procedures
(valid from 1st january, 2004)
the new alerting regulations apply to all events held by the ABF
The following aspects of the alerting procedures are effectively unchanged:
- All doubles, redoubles, cue bids and calls at the 4-level or higher are self-alerting.
- A cue bid is defined as a bid of a suit shown by an opponent or of the denomination bid by an opponent.
- Skip bids are not given any special status - generally they should be alerted if conventional and not alerted if natural.
- A natural bid is alertable if it is forcing or non-forcing in a way the opponents may not expect, or if its meaning is unexpectedly affected by other agreements (e.g. canapé sequences, jump responses to an opening bid or overcall that are weak, a 1© opening that denies 4+ spades, etc.)
New aspects of the alerting procedures.
- There are now three stages of the alert procedure, viz.
- The pre-alert stage before bidding starts. This was part of the previous regulations, but is now formally defined. Before the round starts you should draw the opponents’ attention to any unusual agreements you have which might surprise them, or to which they may need to arrange a defence (e.g. transfer pre-empts, unusual two level openings, canapé style bidding, etc.) Pay particular attention to unusual self-alerting calls (e.g. very unusual doubles, unusual cue bids of the opponents’ suit, etc.) Highly unusual carding (e.g. leading low from doubletons) should also be pre-alerted at this stage.
- Alerts during the auction. Procedures here have not changed.
Delayed alerts. At the end of the auction, the declaring side should draw attention to any unusual features, particularly any unusual self-alerting calls. Delayed alerts should be indicated by a small plus sign (+) in one corner of the appropriate square of the bidding pad. (If bidding boxes are in use, the declaring side should verbally indicate which calls require a delayed alert.) Takeout/negative-type doubles and penalty doubles do not require a delayed alert, but support doubles, single suited doubles and other conventional doubles do. Defenders must not give delayed alerts.
- Bidding style is not alertable. Some players bid ‘up the line’, some prefer to show a major ahead of a 4 or even a 5 card minor, some skip a 4 card major in making a NT rebid, etc. Be aware of these different approaches and protect yourself by asking where necessary.
Some common auctions and treatments.
Sequences marked with an asterisk (*) are treated differently under the new regulations.
- *Canapé style bidding should be pre-alerted. During the auction, the natural opening should not
be alerted, but rebids in which the second suit is longer than the first must be alerted. - *A rebid in a (natural) 3-card minor is not alertable.
- *A natural 2§ opening that promises a four-card major if there are only 5 clubs is alertable.
- An opening bid of 1§ or 1¨ is alertable if it may contain less than 3 cards.
- Acceptance of a transfer bid is alertable if it conveys any meaning relating to hand strength or length in partner’s shown suit.
- A strong, artificial 2§ opening is alertable.
- Any pre-emptive jump raise below 3NT such as 1© :3© where it is possible for partner to have less than 8 high card points is alertable.
- Fit showing jumps are alertable.
contributors
any contributions for the bulletin can be emailed to
cassiec@tpg.com.au or handed in at the hospitality desk