[bluejak]

The strange thing is that, as one of the TDs who plays the most, I have very little experience of what you say either directing or playing, and really do not think it happens in EBU events. Sure, there is bad behaviour - the worst I saw today was from a player who made a mistake. If it had been me no TD would have been required, but he expected in a thoroughly nasty way the rules not to be applied. Typical - and it happens in clubs as well.

[Echognome]

Having played a lot of club bridge in england, it varies tremendously by club. There were some clubs where I felt the opponents were outright cheats. They would pause at will to convey values, ask about specific bids in the auctions (and get the corresponding leads), etc. At these clubs, the TD's were unwilling to enforce the laws, because that's what the clientele wanted. They always felt they did nothing wrong and were outraged.

At other clubs, with good TD's (and the better players I might add), the TD's enforced the laws. Those that tried to take advantage of UI were dealt with and the occurrences were rare. I'm sure it helped that we had two national TD's, one regional TD, and one county TD.

I guess people sorted themselves accordingly and I know where I enjoyed playing. There are always two sides to the coin.

[FrancesHinden]

I half agree with NickRW.

I agree with both of you that the biggest problem is bad behaviour.

I think that asking for a ruling after any possible hitch in tempo is bad behaviour, and I do see it happening. I do see the attitude that says "because my opponents have hestitated/given MI/forgetten their system, I deserve a good board" and that is regrettable. I do see TDs sometimes ruling (IMO) too readily for the supposedly non-offending side.

On the other side, I see all sorts of things playing in clubs that generally would be unacceptable at a tournament. Aside from the vast amounts of UI given and used (particularly when it comes to alerts), the following have all happened in club bridge:

"You aren't allowed to think for more than two minutes"
(Player folds up cards, puts them on table, and says) "You thought for a long time, so I am not going to play a card for the same length of time"
[note that we are usually one of the fastest pairs at the club]
"That is very bad manners," (after a defensive claim) "because I always insist on playing the hand out"
I once stopped someone from opening out of turn by saying somewhat sharply (to attract his attention) "it's not your go", so he complained about my tone of voice to the director

Poor players are quite capable of behaving extremely badly, impolitely and unpleasantly. So are good players. It's nothing to do with the event, or the standard, or who is running it.

[jeremy69]

I'm afraid I am full of double standards. Whether I am entitled to call the director or not I generally don't at club level because
a. the player has no idea that they have done something wrong
b. their partner has not picked up on it anyway
c. they are old and infirm and going to score 36.8% on a good night
d. the club duplicate is essentially a social game
e. in at least one club I play in the TD is not to be found anyway except when calling the move (late)!
f. many of them won't use their law book and guess! That does wind me up so I try to avoid it if possible

I would be more inclined to summon the law at a tournament. I wouldn't do so for an insignificant length pause, I wouldn't do for a longer pause against some players who I know and trust. I would ask for a TD rather than try and sort out most technical rulings myself however if I did call the director and avoided doing the "Director (at 110 decibels), my opponent is cheating me" approach then, in my view, the opponents should not get upset but quite often they do and become hostile and deny everything whether it happened or not. At that point the people skills of the director is quite important in deciding which way it goes but once I've started.....................

[bluejak]

I find the best approach to calling the TD is to say:

"Oh, dear, I do not think that is right, perhaps we should call the Director since I am sure the rules are too complicated for me to understand."

Unfortunately my partner has a habit of spoiling the effect by falling off his chair, laughing.

[blackshoe]

bluejak, on Aug 20 2009, 06:16 PM, said:

Unfortunately my partner has a habit of spoiling the effect by falling off his chair, laughing.

Before I read that, I was thinking that's exactly what I would do if I heard you say that.

[NickRW]

bluejak, on Aug 20 2009, 10:16 PM, said:

Unfortunately my partner has a habit of spoiling the effect by falling off his chair, laughing.

I mean - I don't think you know me - but I know people who know you - that would just be a total hoot.

Best post I've read here in a while

Nick

[richlp]

bluejak, on Aug 20 2009, 05:16 PM, said:

I find the best approach to calling the TD is to say:

"Oh, dear, I do not think that is right, perhaps we should call the Director since I am sure the rules are too complicated for me to understand."

Unfortunately my partner has a habit of spoiling the effect by falling off his chair, laughing. 

Your partners are spoilsports.........

My college roommate is now an ACBL National TD and if he ever used that line (believe me, he WOULD), there would be less than a two second pause before I chimed in with something like "I agree completely. Let's get the director"

or, more likely, "That's surprising considering how many director calls there are at your table"