[hawkwind]

The BBO undo facility would work better if all players had impeccable ethics.

Unfortunately that's not the case so I would like to suggest in brief what I think would be an improvement.

Where undo is allowed that the software in the first instant validates whether the undo request should be submitted to the opponents.

That the software decides using two criteria: time and circumstance.

Note, trusting the software to rule on the order in which events happened ie. when the request for an undo was submitted.

TIME
That BBO has a time limit on when an undo can be requested. Thinking time by the side who are next to play/bid is not thinking time to submit an undo.
I imagine BBO are best placed to say how long it takes to submit an undo request following a genuine misclick - presumably some delay because of software constraints?

CIRCUMSTANCE
During the play that BBO rejects requests for an undo after the next opponent has played.their card.

During the bidding that BBO rejects requests for an undo whenever the requester is certain to have another opportunity to bid. eg LHO has subsequently bid.

During the bidding that BBO rejects requests for an undo whenever the requester's partner has subsequently acted. eg bid or passed.

[sfi]

Two issues with this proposal come immediately to mind. First is that some people play social games, where it is entirely reasonable to allow an undo for any number of reasons that aren't strictly in line with the laws. Second, how do you handle the situation where West and North both bid something, but then West adds a late alert? The timeframe may be messed up, and you can't even expect North to ask for an undo immediately.

[pilowsky]

On other gaming sites this is handled by allowing one of the players to set the game to "no undo".

[hawkwind]

sfi, on 2022-March-06, 20:13, said:

Two issues with this proposal come immediately to mind. First is that some people play social games, where it is entirely reasonable to allow an undo for any number of reasons that aren't strictly in line with the laws. Second, how do you handle the situation where West and North both bid something, but then West adds a late alert? The timeframe may be messed up, and you can't even expect North to ask for an undo immediately.

Concerning social games you are absolutely right. So maybe three settings - no undo; undo social; and undo competitive?

Messed up timeframes. Resetting the clock to zero would resolve these situations where the late alert is initiated by West. However if North bids then requests an explanation of West's bid it is questionable as to whether they should then be allowed an undo.

[hawkwind]

pilowsky, on 2022-March-06, 21:30, said:

On other gaming sites this is handled by allowing one of the players to set the game to "no undo".

That's a good idea.