MOUNTNESSING
BRIDGE CLUB
Meets
every Thursday at 7.25 for 7.30
at
Mountnessing Village Hall, Roman Road, Mountnessing, Essex, England,
CM15 0UG
ABSOLUTES:
No ‘revenge’ rounds. Revenge rounds are a lazy way of coping with, e.g., 12 tables, whereby EW pairs play against one of the NS pairs TWICE – but skip one other NS pair. All pairs should play an equal number of boards against as many opponents as possible.
No 3-board sit-outs. The implication is that we will usually play 2-boards per round
HIGHLY DESIRABLE:
Preference is given to playing the club as two sections SUBJECT TO: the absolute minimum number of tables in a section is 5, the minimum desirable is 6.5
Whenever we play with two sections, there should ideally be the same number of boards-per-round in both sections. Occasionally – especially when there are ‘late arrivals’ – a 2 / 3 mixture cannot be avoided in order to achieve both ‘absolutes’. [If need be, someone else may be asked to call time in one section.]
NUMBER OF WINNERS:
With 16 or fewer tables in a section, a single-winner movement will be deployed, given that wine prizes are only then offered to one pair. This effect can often only be achieved if arrow switches are deployed.
With more than 16 tables in play the club will normally play in two sections, with a single winner movement deployed in each one. The winning pair in each section then wins wine.
NOTE: in club championship events a single-winner movement will always be deployed
ARROW SWITCHES
The official guidance says that 10% of the boards in play should be arrow-switched (if an arrow switch is needed – see above). Given that we normally play 24 boards-per-evening, that approximates to ONE ROUND of two boards. However, if there is a half-table, then some pairs will 'miss out' on the arrow switch, so in that situation TWO ROUNDS will be arrow-switched.
SIT OUTS
Few people like sit out rounds, but the club cannot control the number of pairs who arrive to play and it does not wish to turn anyone away.
As above, 3-board sit-outs will be avoided by choosing movement(s) appropriately
Some movements clearly work best where the 'phantom pair' is North/South (to avoid board shares). Subject to those constraints, sit-outs will be equally shared between EW and NS
No of Tables (in section) |
Preferred Movement |
Viable Alternative (s) |
---|---|---|
5 |
One section |
8 three-boards, triple hes. Mitchell |
5.5 |
NOT VIABLE - One section |
NOT VIABLE - Turn into 5 or 6 tables |
6 |
One Section |
8 three-boards, double hes. Mitchell |
6.5 |
Full Howell, play 12 two-board rounds * |
Turn into 6 or 7 tables |
7 |
Full Howell, play 12 two-board rounds * |
8 three-boards, hesitating Mitchell |
7.5 |
8-table ¾ Howell, 12 two-board rnds |
Turn into 7 or 8 tables |
8 |
8-table ¾ Howell, 12 two-board rnds |
8 three-board, share & relay |
8.5 |
9-table ¾ Howell, 12 two-board rnds |
Turn into 8 or 9 tables |
9 |
9-table ¾ Howell, 12 two-board rnds |
8 three-board with 27 boards in play |
9.5 |
10-table double hes. Mitchell |
Turn into 9 or 10 tables |
10 |
10-table double hes. Mitchell |
8 three-board with 30 boards in play |
10.5 |
11-table hesitating Mitchell |
Turn into 10 or 11 tables |
11 |
11-table hesitating Mitchell |
8 three-board with 33 boards in play |
11.5 |
12-table share & relay |
Turn into 11 or 12 tables |
12 |
12-table share & relay |
Double-weave Mitchell |
12.5 |
'Hesitation Bowman', 24 boards |
Straight Mitchell, 26 boards |
13 |
'Hesitation Bowman', 24 boards |
Straight Mitchell, 26 boards |
13.5 |
'Switched Bowman', 24 boards |
Straight Mitchell, 28 boards |
14 |
'Switched Bowman', 24 boards ** |
Straight Mitchell, 28 boards |
14.5 |
'Hesitation Bowman', 26 boards |
Straight Mitchell or Two Sections |
15 |
'Hesitation Bowman', 26 boards ** |
Straight Mitchell or Two Sections |
15.5 |
'Adapted' Mitchell, 26 boards *** |
Straight Mitchell or Two Sections |
16 |
'Adapted' Mitchell, 26 boards *** |
Straight Mitchell or Two Sections |
16.5+ |
Two sections |
Straight Mitchell (only at Xmas Party) |
* Only NORMALLY permits ONE stationary seat – North / South at table 4 – though I now have a variant that can accommodate a second fixed seat, but with more complex board movements
** Ideally, these movements require duplicated boards to avoid complex board-shares
*** Board set A: tables 1, 2 and 3; Board set B: tables 4 – 16; Board sets swapped after 6 rounds
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