May 2010 - 7

Letters to the Editor

cally states that a each player "plays
a card by detaching it from his hand
and facing it on the table."
It would be nice if all players would
do exactly that and directors would
indicate that it is the correct way to
play a card.
RUTH JOHNSON
Longmont CO

Like a computer
To the Editor:
In the Swiss Teams at the Sarasota
Regional in February, my partner,
Betty Tilton, picked up a nearly
all-black hand (spots approximate):
A K Q 7 6 5 4 A K J 8 5 4.
She made 7.
When I picked up my cards for the
next board, you can imagine my surprise at the amazing juxtaposition
when I looked at (spots approximate):
A 8 7 5 4 6  - K Q J 10 7 6 5.
I made 4.
I always knew that our teammates
played with the efficacy of computers, but I had no idea that they could
shuffle and deal like them, too!
DEAN CONGBALAY
Longboat Key FL

Good choice
To the Editor:
I was thrilled to see that Roy
Welland was named 2010 Sportsman
of the Year (March, page 19). I have
known Roy for more 20 years. During that time, he has been my bridge
teammate, my employee (albeit for
only a couple of months), my business partner, investor and, most
important, my friend, advisor and
confidante.
In all that time, I have never heard
Roy speak a self-aggrandizing or
self-serving word. He always hastens
to give credit to partners, teammates
and employees, leaving blame for
himself, even when undeserved.
Roy is a man of impeccable honesty
and integrity. He is a true sportsman

and a credit to the ACBL.
ROBB GORDON
Sedona AZ

Giving back
To the Editor:
Over the past several years, ACBL
has made great strides to make the
game of bridge challenging and pleasant at the same time. I would like to
suggest requirements for obtaining
Silver and Gold Life Master status beyond simply accumulation 1000 and
2500 masterpoints, respectively.
My idea is that to become a Silver
Life Master, one must earn five red
points playing with a non-Life Master.
To become a Gold Life Master, one
must earn 15 red points playing with
a non-LM.
Beginners would enjoy the chance
to play at a higher level, and the Life
Masters would have the satisfaction
of helping new players advance.
TAROKH TAEFI
Atlanta GA

Adjustments
To the Editor:
Small regional tournaments often
have only two to four brackets in
their main knockout events. As a
result, there is a wide range of masterpoint totals for the teams within
the brackets. The top bracket typically has teams with 5000 or more points
and usually includes several "sponsored" teams, each with two or more
professionals. Teams at the lower end
of the top bracket have little chance
of advancing unless they get lucky
with the draw.
"Playing up" once in a while is
good, and playing against the top pros
can be a great learning experience,
but people are not keen to invest an
entire week of time and card fees in a
futile attempt to compete with people
who play for a living. Players in teams
in the 4000 to 6000 masterpoint range
are becoming disillusioned with the
knockout events and are reducing
their playing schedules accordingly.
The same is true in the lower brack-

ets. The middle bracket of three
typically has teams with point totals
of 1500 to 5000. The point ranges in
all three brackets are wide. Teams
at the lower end of the brackets feel
they have little chance of being competitive.
Attendance at larger regionals is
growing, in part because they have
many knockout brackets so that
players can be assured of competing
against their peers. Smaller regionals,
however, are struggling.
My recommendation is that all
brackets be handicapped whenever
there are three or fewer brackets in
a knockout. This would renew interest in the knockouts and help reverse
the dwindling attendance trend at the
smaller regionals.
MICHAEL STRONG
Chicago IL

Appealing idea
To the Editor:
I have never liked the fact that key
matches are often decided by committees. Clearly, anyone losing a close
match can protest a director's ruling
and have a second chance at winning,
which just isn't right.
I suggest the following for all
events, but especially for team games.
The entry form should come with a
box that says: "We accept that the director's ruling is final." If both teams
(or pairs) have checked the box,
there is never an appeal or a committee. If neither check it, then either has
the right to appeal.
The tough case is what happens
when only one side checks the box.
I think the best would be that if
➤

Letters to the editor are welcome
by regular mail, e-mail editor@acbl.
org or fax 901-398-7754. Brevity is considered a virtue, as is subject matter with
relevance to a majority of ACBL members.
Unsigned letters are not considered for
publication, so please include your name
and hometown. Letters may be edited.
All letters will receive a response.
May 2010 Bridge Bulletin

7
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of May 2010
