Page 17 - ABF Newsletter June 2025

System Cards
Most regular partnerships (and many casual ones) find it beneficial to go through the process of pre- paring a system card, since it facilitates discussion and thus generally helps consolidate whatever agreements one decides to employ. The simplest way to produce a permanent record of these agree- ments is to download and fill in the ABF PDF Form. This is available from the ABF website at: https:// www.abf.com.au/member-services/system-cards/ abf-convention-card-pdf/. The Form works via Acro- bat Reader (which is also free).
Many clubs however do not have any regulations re- garding the use of system cards in their duplicates. The issue of the use of a system card in club events remains solely within the remit of each individual club, and such decisions are often based upon the standard of the field and the general ethos of the group of players in question.
Conversely, in an ABF National event it is a pre-req- uisite to have a fully completed ABF System Card for the benefit of each of your opponents at the table. The opposition are thus entitled to refer to your card (in addition to their right to ask your partner about the agreed meaning of any call or play). This is in accordance with the general principle that your op- ponents are entitled to know as much about your methods and agreements as your partner does.
The next question to address is what one should do if a pair arrives at your table without the necessary cards? As with most other types of irregularity a player’s correct course of action is to call the Direc- tor. The TD will then usually hand the deficient pair a blank card (or cards) and get them to fill it out. For situations where a pair has only one properly filled- out card, it will often be easier and quicker for the TD to generate a second photocopy to replace the other missing one.
Otherwise, the Director should not allow the errant pair to start the round until after they have filled in at least the basic stuff (i.e., the information on the out- side of a ‘Standard’ card). Any boards missed in the interim that require the award of an Artificial Adjusted Score should receive one based upon only one pair being at fault (i.e., 60% to the pair who were incon- venienced and 40% to the pair with no system card).
If, as a player, you elect to simply tolerate the fact that the opponents don’t have system cards, then the problem will just be perpetuated until someone else at another table subsequently objects.
Whilst the above might seem overly officious or pe- dantic to some, the ABF wants disclosure to be on a level playing field for everyone, hence it behoves the Directors to enforce the current regulations. The players can assist in this by calling out anyone who flouts their obligations.
Laurie Kelso, ABF National Director
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Australian Bridge Federation Ltd. Newsletter: June 2025
Page: 17