A player’s or a pair’s score may be adjusted for a number of reasons. Under the bridge “Laws”, the Director may adjust for such things as failing to follow correct procedure, especially where this results in another pair not being able to play a board (for example, if a pair goes to the wrong table and starts to play before the error is discovered). Other things may involve breaking laws (the first time this happens, the law will probably be explained to the player; the second time, he will get a warning; subsequently he will be penalized by having his result adjusted and/or having a “score adjustment”; at some stage, he may be subject to sanctions by the ARNB).
Be aware that what is being reported here are adjustments for serious, and especially repeated, breaches of the laws. The most serious breaches involve playing illegal conventions (if you play something most people don’t and are not sure whether it is legal, ask the Director or send a query to an ARNB Board member), having “Concealed Partnership Understandings”, and using “Unauthorized Information ” on purpose. In particular, the latter two items are considered cheating and are subject to severe sanctions by the ARNB.
This record of adjustments (anonymous) is provided to help you understand the types of things that result in adjusted scores and to show you that adjustments are made and Disciplinary and Procedural Penalties assessed.
| Date | Adjustment | Reason | Explanation | Basis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-05-02 | 1 VP | Cellular telephone used during National Championship. | Disrupts the game. Detracts from other players’ enjoyment of the game. | Law 74A2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009-04-29 | 1 Board | Cellular telephone rang and answered during the game. | Disrupts the game. Detracts from other players’ enjoyment of the game. | Law 74A2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009-04-29 | Adj. Score | Unauthorized Information | (see below> | Law 16B, 12C | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A 1NT opening (13-15) was overcalled 2H. The 2H was alerted and, when asked, explained as a transfer to spades. It was intended as a natural overcall (mis-bid or mis-information). The director determined that, absent the unauthorized information provided by the alert, the opener’s side would have defended 4S Doubled. Consequently the score was adjusted to 4S Doubled which was judged to lose 1,700. Note: Law 16B3 says, “The Director shall assign an adjusted score (see Law 12C) if he considers that an infraction of law has resulted in an advantage for the offender.” | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Note: References below to the “Laws” refer to the 1997 laws; references above to the 2007 laws, adopted by the ARNB in September 2008. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008-09-20 | 1 VP | 2 incidents. Cellular telephone used during the game. | Disrupts the game. Detracts from other players’ enjoyment of the game. | Law 74A2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008-09-13 | Adj. Score | Misinformation. | (see below> | Law 21B3, 40C | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A 1NT opening was overcalled 2D. The 2D was alerted and, when asked, explained as a transfer to hearts. It was, in fact, a natural overcall. The director determined that, absent the misexplanation, the opener’s side would have defended 2H Doubled rather than competing to 3D (which made). Consequently the score was adjusted to 2H Doubled which was judged to lose 1,100. Note: Law 40C says, “If the Director decides that a side has been damaged through its opponents’ failure to explain the full meaning of a call or play, he may award an adjusted score.” | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008-09-13 | 1 VP | Cellular telephone used during the game. | Disrupts the game. Detracts from other players’ enjoyment of the game. | Law 74A2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008-09-12 | Adj. Score | Misinformation. | (see below> | Law 21B3, 40C | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| An opening 2H bid was alerted, and when asked, explained as Flannery, 11-15 points with 4 spades and 5 hearts. The opponents proceeded to reach 3NT (failing by 2 tricks). The 2H bid was, in fact, a weak-2 bid. Without the misexplanation, it was judged the opponents would have reached 4S (making) rather than 3NT. The score was adjusted to 4S making. Note: Law 40C says, “If the Director decides that a side has been damaged through its opponents’ failure to explain the full meaning of a call or play, he may award an adjusted score.” | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008-07-25 | 1/2-Board | Cellular telephone used during the game. | Disrupts the game. Detracts from other players’ enjoyment of the game. | Law 74A2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008-07-23 | 1/2-Board | Cellular telephone used during the game. | Disrupts the game. Detracts from other players’ enjoyment of the game. | Law 74A2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008-07-23 | 1-Board | Cellular telephone used and spoken on during the game. | Disrupts the game. Detracts from other players’ enjoyment of the game. | Law 74A2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008-07-18 | 1/2-Board | Cellular telephone used during the game. | Disrupts the game. Detracts from other players’ enjoyment of the game. | Law 74A2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008-07-12 | 1.5 VP | Blatant use of unauthorized information | (see below) | Law 16A2, 91A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Based on what occurred, the score was adjusted to 5C Dbl down 4 and a Disciplinary Penalty of 1.5 VPs was imposed.
(2) Alerted and explained at the table as a splinter bid (3) Considering that partner is short in spades, this has the appearance of allowing for what actually happened. Most good players would immediately launch into Blackwood for the club slam (4) This is a blatant use of unauthorized information, as the player had already bid his hand and if his partner does not like spades, he should be happy to pass 4C (5) If one alerts a splinter bid and partner rebids the splinter suit, how can it be anything else but first round control of the splinter suit? The hands:
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| 2008-07-11 | 1/2-Board | Cellular telephone used during the game. | Disrupts the game. Detracts from other players’ enjoyment of the game. | Law 74A2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008-07-07 | 1/2-Board | Cellular telephone used during the game. | Disrupts the game. Detracts from other players’ enjoyment of the game. | Law 74A2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008-06-28 | 1/2-Board | Cellular telephone used during the game. Two different players (same adjustment). | Disrupts the game. Detracts from other players’ enjoyment of the game. | Law 74A2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008-06-27 | Full-Board | Cellular telephone used during the game. Occurred twice. | Disrupts the game. Detracts from other players’ enjoyment of the game. | Law 74A2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||