ALT BOARD-A-MATCH INVITATIONAL IV

CONDITIONS OF CONTEST

1. The Alt Board-a-Match Invitational IV will be hosted in Bridge Base Online from 9^th to 11^th of July, 2024.

2. All participants are bound by the regulations contained within this document.

The Alt Organization emphasizes that all their events are on invitation.

Teams who are interested in getting such an invitation and have the idea they meet the standard of Alt’s various events, can apply for that.

There is no limit to the number of players on each team.

Alt reserves the right not to invite any team/player without giving a reason.

At the moment teams and/or players (also who have played in the Alt before) are applying, they agree on the reserved rights as mentioned.

Should a team be disqualified and/or withdrawn by themselves (before or during the event), no refund of the entry fees will be made.

3. Schedule of play: three days, 4 x 8 = 32 boards per day from 10:00 Eastern Time (16:00 Paris Time) till 15:00 Eastern Time (21:00 Paris Time).

Two days (Tuesday and Wednesday) of Qualification stage: 8 rounds of 8 boards, 4 rounds (32 boards) per day.

One day (Thursday) of Knockout stage (2 x 8 SF and 2 x 8 Final) and consolation Swiss for 5^th place: 4 rounds of 8 boards (32 boards).

Tuesday, 9 July 2024

10:00 Eastern Time / 16:00 Paris Time – Qualifier (Round Robin or Swiss), R1 (8 boards)

11:15 Eastern Time / 17:15 Paris Time – Qualifier (Round Robin or Swiss), R2 (8 boards)

12:30 Eastern Time / 18:30 Paris Time – Qualifier (Round Robin or Swiss), R3 (8 boards)

13:45 Eastern Time / 19:45 Paris Time – Qualifier (Round Robin or Swiss), R4 (8 boards)

Wednesday, 10 July 2024

10:00 Eastern Time / 16:00 Paris Time – Qualifier (Round Robin or Swiss), R5 (8 boards)

11:15 Eastern Time / 17:15 Paris Time – Qualifier (Round Robin or Swiss), R6 (8 boards)

12:30 Eastern Time / 18:30 Paris Time – Qualifier (Round Robin or Swiss), R7 (8 boards)

13:45 Eastern Time / 19:45 Paris Time – Qualifier (Round Robin or Swiss), R8 (8 boards)

Thursday, 11 July 2024

10:00 Eastern Time / 16:00 Paris Time – Semifinal (Segment 1/2) and Swiss for 5^th place, R9 (8 boards)

11:15 Eastern Time / 17:15 Paris Time – Semifinal (Segment 2/2) and Swiss for 5^th place, R10 (8 boards)

12:30 Eastern Time / 18:30 Paris Time – Final (Segment 1/2), match for 3^rd place (Segment 1/2) and Swiss for 5^th place, R11 (8 boards)

13:45 Eastern Time / 19:45 Paris Time – Final (Segment 2/2), match for 3^rd place (Segment 2/2) and Swiss for 5^th place, R12 (8 boards)

4. Qualifying Stage

The qualifying stage will be played either in the form of a “Round Robin” or “Swiss” and will consist of 64 boards played in 8 matches of 8 boards each.

Scoring: board-a-match (1:0 – 0.5:0.5 – 0:1).

In order to determine the grouping for the knockout stage, a tie between two teams will be broken by the result of the match between those two teams. If there should still be a tie, then the team with less losing boards will get the higher place.

The top 4 teams from the qualifying stage will advance to the knockout stage.

Teams that do not qualify will continue playing the consolation Swiss for 5^th place (with full carry-over).

5. Knockout Stage

The knockout stage will consist of Semifinal (2 segments x 8 boards) and the Final (2 segments x 8 boards).

The winner of the qualifying stage will pick up an opponent for the semifinal from 3^rd and 4^th places.

In the semifinal no. 1 – 2 get a carry over of 1.1 – 0.1 respectively;

In the final the higher ranked teams in the Round Robin get a carry over of 0.1.

6. Line-Up

All 8-board matches/segments will be played without change of the line-up; unless there is a serious reason for that, to be decided by the TD.

The teams are expected to submit their line-up as soon as practical but in any case not later than 30 minutes before the start of the round.

Teams who infringe this regulation will be subject to VP penalties according to this scale:

• 1st occasion – warning;
• 2nd and any subsequent occasion – 0.5 VP penalty.

The line-up must be submitted through the line-up web utility. All captains will be provided with the respective link and the password.

It is possible to change the submitted line-up but not later than 15 minutes before the start of the round.

The line-up is completely blind and will not be published before the start of the round.

7. Running the matches

All players involved must be online and logged in to Bridge Base Online 5 minutes before the start of the round at the latest.

Players should have their official name on BBO profile. Private isn't allowed. Teams who infringe this regulation will be subject to VP penalties according to this scale:

• 1st occasion – warning;
• 2nd and any subsequent occasion – 0.5 VP penalty for each match for each player without official name on BBO profile.

The Tournament Director will create the tables and send invitations to the players in accordance with the submitted line-ups. Players are requested to accept the invitation immediately upon receipt.

All tables will play duplicated boards (same boards for every team).

The table settings will NOT allow kibitzers. Some selected matches will be shown in the BBO VUGRAPH AREA with 30 minute delay.

Undo and claiming: Alt encourages the players to accept the opponent’s undo in the obvious misclick situations during the bidding as well as play. In case such undo is refused a player gets one “challenge” whereby the TD can be summoned to the table. Play at the moment of the refusal must be shut down till the TD arrives. The TD is the one who can assess the situation, and if he believes the undo is justified by an obvious misclick that no reasonable player should refuse, the undo has to be accepted by the opponents.

If players explain bids via chat they should set the recipients to Opponents, not Table, so that only opponents see the explanation not partner. But the best way is to explain the bids via the BBO alert mechanism.

Players alert their own bids.

The use of both HUM systems and ‘Brown Sticker’ systems is prohibited.

Players may not consult their own system card and use any aids to their memory, calculation or technique between the commencement of the auction period and the end of play. They only are permitted to consult a described defense against the Multi convention.

The gravest possible offence is for a partnership to exchange information through prearranged methods of communication other than those sanctioned by the Laws of Bridge or self-kibitzing.

Players are expected to finish 8 boards within 1 hour. The  Tournament  Director  may  remove  unplayed  boards  if  in  his opinion a delay in finishing the match in the allotted time would interfere with the  smooth  running  of  the  competition.

8. Request of the TD ruling

This tournament will of course be played in the most respectful way possible. Fun and good bridge are paramount. Netbridge relies on reluctance and restraint to call the Director. Should a team find a serious cause for demanding a ruling, then this will only be dealt with if the captain of the team announces this via email within 45 minutes after the last board played (with an explanation and a request for a specific adjustment of the score). Netbridge will inform the other team and give that team the opportunity (through its captain) to respond via an email within 45 minutes after being informed. The protest will be decided by a qualified director; or world class player; no further appeal will be possible after his/her decision.

To submit protests, you should send email to: info@netbridge.online

9. These Regulations may be amended and augmented at the discretion of the organizing committee if circumstances so warrant so as to ensure the smooth, efficient and enjoyable running of the tournament.

Although this tournament isn't aligenced with any bridge federation we will cooperate and provide them with all the information necessary to detect and prevent cheating.

Last update: July 8, 2024