August 2021 - 8

IN Box
Handicapped analysis
In the April issue of the Bulletin,
Frank Stewart commented about
handicaps in team events penalizing
" players who applied themselves to
the game. "
In bowling and golf, handicaps are
very common. What fun would it be
if I typically shot 80 in golf, and you
shot 90, and we had a match without
providing strokes?
If I was a 200 bowler and you were
a 160 bowler, would the match be fun
unless I provided some handicap to
make it interesting?
I'm a big fan of Frank Stewart, but
I don't agree with his criticism of the
handicap system.
FRED BATKO
Phoenix AZ
No masks
In the June editorial, " The Path
Forward, " you stated, " Masks will be
required for everyone. This shouldn't
require a defense or explanation,
as it is as much a safety protocol as
a courtesy to fellow players. " Why
should we accept something not
based in reason or, better yet, data?
Everything else in bridge requires an
appropriate explanation, and most
players are intelligent and rational. If
you are vaccinated, you can neither
get COVID nor give it.
JOANNE GORENSTEIN
Ridgefield CT
(Ed. note: While the vaccine is highly
effective, medical experts have been
clear that even fully vaccinated people
can be infected with COVID. It's rare,
but possible, hence the reason why
masks are still recommended.)
I am one of many that take exception
to one of your safety rules for face-toface
tournament play. I agree that full
vaccination should be a requirement
for attendance at a tournament. I
disagree that social distancing and
masks should be required. We should
follow the example of President Biden
who, on the advice of his experts, goes
maskless under most situations.
Fully vaccinated people are at no
risk to themselves or to others under
the conditions of full vaccination for
tournament play. If someone ignores
this requirement, then the only people
that are at risk are themselves and any
other unvaccinated people.
The requirement to wear a mask
when fully vaccinated is an overreach
of authority and does not make any
scientific sense. I think that this rule
will actually decrease the attendance
of many players at tournaments.
Mask-wearing does not make anyone
safer under the existing protocol.
I suspect by the time you read
this opinion, this protocol will be
rethought, and we will come more to
our senses.
DR. DARREL MOONEY
Boise ID
As an avid bridge player, I read with
interest the In First Seat column in
the June issue of the Bridge Bulletin
laying out the rules for resumption of
face-to-face playing. There are three
requirements for all participants:
being vaccinated, being able to prove
it, and wearing a mask.
We have been informed that a
vaccinated person cannot get infected
or infect others, whether wearing
a mask or not. If this is wrong, I'm
willing to be convinced otherwise; but
no evidence was even alluded to in
your column. But if it's right, then the
mask rule makes no sense. What is its
purpose? If everybody is vaccinated,
what is the point? The column should
have addressed this basic point.
8 | Bridge Bulletin | August 2021
The rationale for the proof rule is
also unclear. Who is it supposed to
protect? The group of people who
would make a false claim about being
vaccinated are a risk only to themselves.
They should be free to play
Russian roulette if they so desire.
CHRISTIAN GILLES
Santa Barbara CA
I agree with requiring vaccination.
I am utterly opposed to adding the
requirement of masks. What is the
point of being vaccinated if you have
to continue to cower in a corner and
stifle behind an oppressive mask? It is
a ridiculous requirement.
I have enjoyed online bridge, but it
is not the same as being at the table.
This great game of ours is simply not
the same online; certainly, the rigid
timing issues are a pain.
I have the great privilege of being a
member of the Duncan Bridge Club
in Palm Desert CA (as well as the
Vancouver Bridge Club in the summer).
Bev Hartin and Bob Wernick
and their crew opened what must
be one of the treasures of the bridge
world with their new bridge center in
February 2019. It was open for a very
short time, before being closed due to
COVID. All of us must be excited to
get back to the table, but masks are a
nonstarter, at least for me. It is absurd
to require masks for someone who is
fully vaccinated, and the ACBL must
revoke this requirement.
BARRY KIRKHAM
West Vancouver BC
Letters to the editor are welcome
by regular mail and email. 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. Send emails to
editor@acbl.org.
August 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of August 2021
