March 2005 - 8

Further, there is likely to be discussion at the Summer NABC in
Atlanta of creating a limited boarda-match event opposite the Reisinger
Board-a-Match Teams (contested in
the fall).

Extras

To the Editor:
Regarding the article by David
Berkowitz (Nov., page 24), no
wonder declarer was shaking his
head. He had just seen his RHO
discard the 6 while he was look‑
ing at another 6 in his hand.
KEN BOFFIN
Carmichael CA
Those 6s get around.

Web slight?

To the Editor:
After reading Bob Bainter's letter
(Jan. 2005), I wish to voice my own
concern over the present masterpoint
plan. My specific concern is how
Internet players are being short‑
changed by the paltry credit
presently given for "colorless"
masterpoints.
Internet play is the only way I can
compete and learn. The local club
is physically inaccessible, and the
next nearest club is approximately
40 miles away. We Internet players
compete in pay‑to‑play sites sanc‑
tioned by ACBL, and many of us
are ACBL members.
Isn't it about time Internet players
get fair credit for our endeavors?
PAT HOWARD
Cambridge OH

Natty Newby fans

To the Editor:
I just wanted to let you know how
much my Tuesday evening 99ers and
I enjoy the Natty Newby columns
by Catherine Harris (in the Play
Bridge section). Newer players are
often hesitant to ask about some of
the proprieties (and improprieties) of
the game. Catherine explains them
so clearly and with such wit and
charm that it makes learning the
endless rules painless. She is a great
addition to your publication!
NANCY WAINER
Soquel CA
8

Wiser remembered

To the Editor:
I was shocked to read about the
passing of John Wiser. I missed the
obituary in the June issue (page 53).
John was the ever‑so‑rare director
(certainly not me) who, when he
gave a ruling, left everyone happy.
I knew Johnny for nearly 50
years. We worked together many
times, mostly at NABCs. One
incident I remember very well. At
the NABC at the Queen Elizabeth
Hotel in Montreal in 1967, I heard a
frantic scream for the director, and
at the same time I heard a loud yell
in a word I didn't recognize.
A French‑speaking pair and an
English‑speaking pair were at odds
and they could not understand each
other. When I went to the table, I
was helpless. With all the yelling
and jabbering in English and French
I couldn't figure out a thing. I found
out later that the French‑speaking
declarer had called for the jack in
French, and a defender, misunder‑
standing that word, had played a
wrong card. Johnny was also work‑
ing that event, so I ran to him for
help. He came, and in a short while
everyone was happy.
JERRY PRISYON
Valley Stream NY

Too tough

To the Editor:
Recently we played in the final of
a Bracket 1 knockout match against
an expert team. At our table were
a pair of Eastern Europeans who
were in this country to make some
money. They played a total relay
system. A 1 opening bid had
three different meanings. Of course,
they Alerted each bid and at the
end of the auction, at our request,
explained what each of the bids
meant. They answered the questions
that we asked.
That said, they had a tremendous
advantage. We couldn't begin to un‑
derstand nuances of their auctions.
For example, on defense we couldn't
rule out a certain kind of hand be‑
cause that kind of information or
nuance simply wasn't available to us.
We have no objection to non‑ACBL

players coming to this country,
but let's level the playing field. If
they were playing this system in an
international team event, they would
have to send notes to the organizers
so their opponents could prepare. At
a regional, there is no time.
I also noticed the same pair play‑
ing in the Sunday Swiss. I could
only imagine how a randomly
matched first‑round opponent would
fare against this system. My sugges‑
tion is that players be forced to play
a system with which we are familiar,
be it Precision or some other big
club system, or some version of
Standard American.
JANET ROBERTSON
BILL LANDOW
Timonium MD
It's possible the opponents were
using the Polish Club, which features a 1 opener that describes
different-strength hands. This is not
a relay system. If the opponents
were indeed employing a relay
system, the tournament directors
should have been notified, because
such systems are prohibited in most
ACBL events.

Higher earnings

To the Editor:
Tournament participation is mo‑
tivated, in part, by a quest for
masterpoints. Let's assume the aver‑
age 15‑pair stratified section now
awards six A places, four B places,
and two or three C places. Now look
at the expected finishes for these
pairs. The fourth‑place B pair and the
second‑ or third‑place C pair are apt
to score below 50%. If they believe
they will be denied a masterpoint
award, as some have suggested for
games below 50%, they may not be
as anxious to participate.
Some may view these awards as
out of line, but remember that over‑
all awards are based on the number
of pairs participating. Some pairs
may be rewarded for games below
50%, but their participation likely
results in your MP earnings increas‑
ing by an amount greater than what
is awarded for the low score.
LESTER McCRACKEN
Bonifay FL
Bridge Bulletin
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March 2005
