Your Guide to the 2010 Seniors
Bowlers’ Club of NSW – 95 York Street Sydney
Key Dates

Entries Close - entries through website ONLY	17:00 Friday 26^th March 2010
Acceptances Advised	17:00 Monday 29^th March 2010
Lodgement of Systems	With Entries but in no event later than Friday 2^nd April 2010 Please note that due to the short time between the Seniors playoffs and the designated event – the PABF – all pairs will be required to lodge a WBF card with their entries or no later than 2^nd April 2010.
Entry Fees	$260 per player
Finalisation of Regulations	17:00 Friday 2^nd April 2010
Event Dates:	Wednesday 7^th April 2010 to Sunday 11^th April 2010 inclusive

Venue	Regulations	Eligibility / Nominations	Entry Fees / Subsidies	Designated Events
System Regs / Declarations	Tournament Format	Tournament Timetable	Pair Numbers / Draw	System Downloads

Venue Return to Top of Document

The tournament will be played on the second floor of the Bowlers’ Club of NSW 95 York Street Sydney.

Parking will be available for $25 a day on weekdays following validation at the office adjacent to the playing area. Saturday and Sunday the car park is closed but there are plenty of four hour meters around the venue.

Being in the centre of the CBD there are numerous hotels available. Please consider booking through Hello Gold Coast, a great supporter of bridge by visiting their accommodation website - click here for options at various standards

Regulations Return to Top of Document

The draft regulations are available for you to download here.

These will be considered to be in draft format until Friday 2^nd April 2010 so please consider downloading a final copy after that date.

We urge you to review these regulations and provide any comments or criticisms as soon as possible. The ABF has a policy of pre-publishing regulations for playoff events to allow player comments and provide an opportunity for comments and adjustments to be made as a result of proper commentary by the players. Please avail yourself of this opportunity.

Eligibility and Nominations Return to Top of Document

Players are eligible to enter the Seniors Playoffs provided their year of birth is 1950 or earlier Each player as part of a nominating pair must:

· possess 15 PQPs in total; AND

· possess 12 PQPs earned in Senior events during 2009; AND

· possess 1 PQP earned in the same unit (pair or team)

Standings can be found at: http://www.abf.com.au/pqp/standings/2009/PQP_YTD_Seniors.htm

Acceptances will be based on the eligible Playoff Qualifying Points (PQP's) of each nominating pair being the total PQPs , discounted by 50% for PQPs not earned in the same unit (pair or team) for each pair entered.

To determine your eligible PQP's you should consult the online calculator which can be found at the online calculator or consult the playoff point standing.

Players must enter as pairs through the ABF website ONLY.

Nominations are called for 14 pairs and close on Friday 26^th March 2010 at 5pm (EDT).

Pairs entering will be ranked in eligible PQP order and acceptances will be published after the closing date and will be subject to confirmation of the number of Eligible PQPs claimed.

An additional two pairs have qualified through the Butler Event known as the Seniors Last Train held in Canberra in January 2010. Please note:

· the last train pair will be deemed to be the 15th and 16th pairs accepted

· there is no pre-qualification other than age for the Seniors Last Train, i.e. there is no PQP requirement for entrants via the Last Train

· entry fee of $260 into the Seniors Playoffs will be payable by all pairs including the Last Train pairs.

Entry Fees and Subsidies Return to Top of Document

The entry fee will be payable at the venue prior to the commencement of play.

Pairs will be liable for the entry fee immediately upon acceptance of their nomination regardless of whether they actually compete and notwithstanding that it is payable on the first day

The first named player will be responsible for payment of the pairs entry fee prior to the commencement of the first session. i.e. the convener will not collect individual players entry fees.

All players are entitled to a subsidy as follows. The timing of payment of subsidies will be dependent on the availability of cash to pay such subsidies but will be paid some time during the first three days of the playoffs. In the event of wildcard entries the wildcard pairs will also be entitled to a subsidy.

The ABF have set the following subsidies.

	Subsidy	Less entry Fee	Net Payment
Perth	$840	-$260	$580 Refund
Adelaide	$520	-$260	$260 Refund
Hobart	$520	-$260	$260 Refund
Melbourne	$440	-$260	$180 Refund
Canberra	$220	-$260	$40 Payment Due
Gold Coast	$440	-$260	$180 Refund
Brisbane	$440	-$260	$180 Refund
Darwin	$800	-$260	$540 Refund Due
Sydney	Nil	-$260	$260 Payment Due
Others	Apply to Convener for Assessment	-$260

Designated Events Return to Top of Document

As part of the entry each pair will nominate their eligibility for the Primary Designated event.

· PRIMARY EVENT Pacific Asia Bridge Federation (Far East) to be held in Hamilton New Zealand from 21^st to 29^th May 2010

There will be NO Zonal Playoff in 2010.

It is highly likely that Australia will be able to enter additional Senior Teams for the PABF. The ABF will pay the entry fee for those additional Senior Teams who wish to participate in the PABF on the clear understanding that the players who played in the Playoffs are given priority over those who did not.

Systems and Other Declarations Return to Top of Document

Systems are to be lodged with entries but in no event later than Friday 2^nd April 2010 all pairs must comply with the following where applicable:

· The relevant Convention Card Editor Files for their system; and

· The Declaration Of Availability/Acceptance Of Conditions and present (one for each pair) with the entry fee less any subsidies at the venue prior to the start of the first session and is available for inspection here

Please note that system regulations for this event will mirror those adopted at WBF events. These will include regulations that prohibit the use of both HUM systems and ‘Brown Sticker’ conventions. Brown Sticker Conventions are defined as follows:

Any opening bid of two clubs through three spades that:

· could be weak (may by agreement be made with values below average strength)

AND

· does not promise at least four cards in a known suit.

EXCEPTION: The bid always shows at least four cards in a known suit if it is weak. If the bid does not show a known four card suit it must show a hand a king or more over average

strength. (Explanation: Where all the weak meanings show at least four cards in one known suit, and the strong meanings show a hand with a king or more above average strength, it is not a Brown Sticker Convention.)

EXCEPTION: A two level opening bid in a minor showing a weak two in either major, whether with or without the option of strong hand types, as described in the WBF Conventions Booklet.

An overcall of a natural opening bid of one of a suit that does not promise at least four cards in a known suit.

EXCEPTION: A natural overcall in no trumps.

EXCEPTION: any cue bid suit that shows a strong hand.

EXCEPTION: a jump cue bid in opponent’s known suit that asks partner to bid 3NT with a stopper in that suit.

Any 'weak' two-suited bids at the two or three level that may by agreement be made with three cards or fewer in one of the suits.

Psychic bids protected by system or required by system.

The Tournament Format Return to Top of Document

The regulations contain detailed explanation of the format but in summary:

· Stage I Sixteen qualified pairs will contest a round robin of 15 ten board matches;

· Stage II either:

1. Should the leader at the conclusion of Stage I be leading by 12 VPS or more they will be deemed to have qualified and take no further part in the event. The pairs finishing 12^th through 16^th will be eliminated from the event. The remaining ten pairs will play a further round robin of 9 twelve board matches. Scoring for Stage II will be cross-imps converted to VPs. There will be a VP carry forward into Stage II; or

2. Should the leader at the conclusion of Stage I be leading by 11 VPS or less they will continue in the event and the pairs finishing 11^th through 16^th will be eliminated from the event. The remaining ten pairs will play a further round robin of 9 twelve board matches. Scoring for Stage II will be cross-imps converted to VPs. There will be a VP carry forward into Stage II; Carryover: 10 pairs from Stage I qualify for Stage II. Carryover VPs will be awarded to First 22 Second 18 Third 14 Fourth 12 Fifth 10 Sixth 8 Seventh 6 Eight 4 Ninth 2 Tenth 0.

Tournament Timetable Return to Top of Document

2010 Seniors Playoff
Wednesday 7th April 2010
Start		Finish	Stage	Time Allotted	Appeals Expire
10:00	-	11:15	Stage 1 Match 1	01:15	09:30 Thursday 8th April
11:15	-	11:30	Break	00:15
11:30	-	12:45	Stage 1 Match 2	01:15	09:30 Thursday 8th April
12:45	-	13:55	Lunch	01:10
13:55	-	15:10	Stage 1 Match 3	01:15	09:30 Thursday 8th April
15:10	-	15:25	Break	00:15
15:25	-	16:40	Stage 1 Match 4	01:15	09:30 Thursday 8th April
16:40	-	16:55	Break	00:15
16:55	-	18:10	Stage 1 Match 5	01:15	09:30 Thursday 8th April
Thursday 8th April 2010
Start		Finish	Stage	Time Allotted	Appeals Expire
10:00	-	11:15	Stage 1 Match 6	01:15	09:30 Friday 9th April
11:15	-	11:30	Break	00:15
11:30	-	12:45	Stage 1 Match 7	01:15	09:30 Friday 9th April
12:45	-	13:55	Lunch	01:10
13:55	-	15:10	Stage 1 Match 8	01:15	09:30 Friday 9th April
15:10	-	15:25	Break	00:15
15:25	-	16:40	Stage 1 Match 9	01:15	09:30 Friday 9th April
16:40	-	16:55	Break	00:15
16:55	-	18:10	Stage 1 Match 10	01:15	09:30 Friday 9th April
Friday 9th April 2010
Start		Finish	Stage	Time Allotted	Appeals Expire
10:00	-	11:15	Stage 1 Match 11	01:15	16:40 Friday 9th April
11:15	-	11:30	Break	00:15
11:30	-	12:45	Stage 1 Match 12	01:15	16:40 Friday 9th April
12:45	-	13:55	Lunch	01:10
13:55	-	15:10	Stage 1 Match 13	01:15	16:40 Friday 9th April
15:10	-	15:25	Break	00:15
15:25	-	16:40	Stage 1 Match 14	01:15	16:55 Friday 9th April
16:40	-	16:55	Break	00:15
16:55	-	18:10	Stage 1 Match 15	01:15	18:40 Friday 9th April
			Hospitality Canapes and Drinks
Saturday 10th April 2010
Start		Finish	Stage	Time Allotted	Appeals Expire
09:30	-	11:00	Stage 2 Match 1	01:30	09:30 Sunday 11th April
11:00	-	11:10	Break	00:10
11:10	-	12:40	Stage 2 Match 2	01:30	09:30 Sunday 11th April
12:40	-	13:40	Lunch	01:00
13:40	-	15:10	Stage 2 Match 3	01:30	09:30 Sunday 11th April
15:10	-	15:20	Break	00:10
15:20	-	16:50	Stage 2 Match 4	01:30	09:30 Sunday 11th April
16:50	-	17:00	Break	00:10
17:00	-	18:30	Stage 2 Match 5	01:30	09:30 Sunday 11th April
Sunday 11th April 2010
Start		Finish	Stage	Time Allotted	Appeals Expire
10:00	-	11:30	Stage 2 Match 6	01:30	15:55 Sunday 11th April
11:30	-	11:45	Break	00:15
11:45	-	13:15	Stage 2 Match 7	01:30	15:55 Sunday 11th April
13:15	-	14:25	Lunch	01:10
14:25	-	15:55	Stage 2 Match 8	01:30	16:10 Sunday 11th April
15:55	-	16:10	Break	00:15
16:10	-	17:40	Stage 2 Match 9	01:30	18:10 Sunday 11th April

Pair Numbers and Draw Return to Top of Document

A consolidated copy will be posted when all cards are received

Pr #	Players	System Card – Click on Names
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Download One File with All Cards by Clicking HERE

System Downloads Return to Top of Document

Systems will be posted on this website as soon as they are available but likely at least 7 days prior to the event. . If there is nothing to download then the pair has not submitted their system declarations as provided in the regulations.