Master Point promotion – extensions to the trial of discounted entry fees to the Ranked Masters

 

Questions and Answers.

 

Question 1. What was in the original announcement?

Answer. the EBU agreed in principle to reward promotions within the Masterpoint scale by offering discounts on the entry fee to appropriate competitions.

The initial trial gave a 50% discount on the entry fee to the relevant event in the 2009 Ranked Masters for members promoted in 2008 to one of 4 Masterpoint ranks – Master, Premier Master, Regional Master and National Master.

It was continued with the same conditions for those promoted in 2009.

 

Question 2. What extensions to the trial has the EBU announced?

Answer.

• Free entry to the relevant event in the Ranked Masters for those promoted to one of the 4 Landmark ranks – Master, Regional Master, Life Master and Grand Master.
• Continuation of the existing 50% discount for promotions to National Master.
• Relaxation of the partnership rules to allow a) a Life Master to invite a National Master to play in the Life Masters Pairs and b) a National Master to invite a Regional Master to play in the National Masters Pairs
• Relaxation of the partnership rules for Landmark promotions, so that, in the year of their promotion, they may play with a regular partner in the section for which the more senior player is eligible.

These extensions will apply to those promoted in the years 2010 and 2011 playing in the Ranked Masters events in 2011 and 2012. Eligible players unable to take advantage of the programme in one year may opt to play in the same event in the following year, provided they remain eligible.

 

Question 3. Why are the EBU running this scheme?

Answer. The scheme has 3 objectives: –

• to reward members who achieve a qualifying promotion
• to promote the Masterpoint programme
• to stimulate interest in EBU events which promoted members might otherwise not have considered.

 

Question 4. What is the rationale for the relaxations in partnership rules?

Answer 4a:- 

Under the current Ranked Masters Pairs rules, both National and Regional Masters are restricted in two respects which these changes seek to remedy:-

• they can only play in the National / Regional Masters events, in which Premier National / Premier Regional Masters may also play.
• they do not have the opportunity afforded to all higher ranks to be invited to play in the next higher event.

Answer 4b:-

Having given a member, via a Landmark promotion, free entry to the event, the aim of this extension is to ensure that he/she is able to play with his/her regular partner. (but paying the full entry fee).

Question 5. What if I’ve had more than one eligible promotion in 2010?

Answer. Congratulations. For the purposes of the Ranked Masters Pairs in 2011 and 2012, only one promotion will be discounted. Please note that if you have sufficient local points, you may be promoted directly to Star Premier Master and Star Regional Master. Such promotions are eligible, because it is the achievement of the requisite Green Points that matters. On the other hand, promotions to Star Premier Master from Premier Master, or to Star Regional Master from Regional Master are not eligible for the trial.

 

Question 6. With whom can I play?

Answer. The regulations of the Ranked Masters event apply. You may play with any eligible member. Note, however that, unless they are entitled to a discount as a result of their own promotion, they will have to pay the full entry fee.

 

Question 7. How do I claim my discount?

Answer. Members should contact the EBU Competitions department (01296 317203/219) to claim their discount and at the same time to enter the Ranked Masters event.

 

Question 8. The EBU diary says that Butler scoring is used in all events. Please explain what it is and why it is used.

Answer.

The next 3 questions set out to explain what Butler scoring is, why it is used and how to do well at it.

 

Question 9. What is Butler scoring?

Answer. Butler scoring for duplicate pairs games is an alternative method of scoring that makes a pairs event more like a teams match. Like the scoring method used for team events it is based on the use of International Matchpoints, or IMPs.

It works like this: you take all the scores on a given board, discard the top and bottom scores (in case they’re freak results) and take the average of all the others. This gives you a ‘datum’, against which all scores are measured (Think of datum = average).To the extent that your score is better or worse than the datum, your score for a board will be positive or negative. The actual numerical value is found by using the IMP chart which is on the bottom of most regular scorecards.

Example. Let’s say the datum (or average score) for a board is +100 for NS. A NS pair with 90-110 will score zero (or average) for that board. A pair with 140 will score +1 IMP (140 minus 100 = 40: and 20-40 is worth 1 IMP), a pair with 420 (= 320 better than average) will get +8 IMPs, and a score of 620 (= 520 better than average) will get you +11.

If you fall short of the datum, you get a minus score: 50 (= 150 below average) will score –2 IMPs, –100 will be –4 IMPS, and –500 (2 off, doubled vulnerable) will cost you a hefty 14 IMPs.

(Note that although best and worst results are discarded in computing the datum, they are of course used in computing your score: if you’re the only pair that bid and made the slam, you’ll still get your deserved big swing. Similarly, if you’re the only pair that went 4 down doubled, you’ll get a similar swing against you.)

Your final score is the total IMPS you have gained (or lost), with adjustments for skipped boards. An above average score will be positive, average will be around zero (rather than 50%), and minus shows a below average score.

 

Question 10. Why do we use Butler-scoring?

Answer. Many people feel that IMPs scoring is fairer than normal pairs scoring, and leads to ‘better bridge’. In pairs scoring, a freak overtrick can make the difference between an average score and a runaway top, and it is often advantageous to choose an inferior no-trump contract rather than a more suitable major game, just for the extra 10 points, which again can make a large difference to your score. With Butler scoring, these distortions disappear - the extra 10 points for no trumps doesn’t gain you a single IMP, and an overtrick is worth just 1.

It is more important to make your contract. Elegant safety plays in which a possible overtrick is sacrificed in order to ensure the contract are best avoided in pairs scoring; but with IMPs scoring, they come into their own: it would be foolish to risk going down and losing 10 IMPs by attempting to gain an overtrick reward of a single IMP.

 

Question 11. How to succeed in Butler-scored events?

Answer.

The main points are:-

• Stretch a little to bid your game and slam contracts – especially when you’re vulnerable – eg if you are fairly confident you will make three hearts, but perhaps you can make four on a successful finesse - bid 4, not 3. Note however that Six No Trumps minus one will score very, very badly compared to three no trumps ‘tick’ or three plus one or two.
• If presented with a safe choice e.g. 2 diamonds, or a rather more speculative one no trump, always strive to pick the safer choice.
• Focus on making your contract. Overtricks are nice, but not important. Unlike duplicate scoring a contract of, say, 1NT will score much the same whether it is ‘tick’ or plus 1 or 2

Avoid giving away large penalties that can cost you lots of IMPs.