The Laws and Ethics Committee met and discussed the findings of the recent alerts and announcements survey. They were pleased to note that the findings gave a vote of confidence to the current position. They think that there are some areas worthy of discussion and, for example, the responses to the question about alerting doubles suggested this is an area that might be clarified. A significant number of helpful emailed responses had also been received which need to be considered. The committee was mindful that players dislike frequent change to alerting and announcing procedures and in line with previous policy will make no change until 1 August 2008. A meeting in the near future will be set aside to discuss the survey results and the correspondence arising from it. A note will appear on the web site following this meeting.
EBU Alerts and Announcements Online Survey
Figures displayed show percentage of total responses (gross)
RESPONSES: 744
FIRST RESPONSE: 6 Aug 2007 14:32
LAST RESPONSE: 31 Aug 2007 16:15
Figures displayed show percentage of total responses (gross) The following short survey will allow us to gather views on the announcing and alerting rules which have been in operation since August 2006. Our meetings with representatives of a small selection of 6 clubs around the country have enabled us to formulate questions about the key issues that may cause some concern with our players. We are not addressing all the changes only those highlighted by the clubs visited.
Information about the results of this survey will appear in the next available issue of English Bridge. Any changes that result from this survey will be announced through the Laws and Ethics Committee and will appear on this website and in the relevant issue of English Bridge.
We would like to stress to our players the importance of announcing the system that you play when you sit down at the table.This will help all players understand how to defend or compete before play begins and will remove the possibility of interpreting any questions made during the bidding as passing unauthorised information to partner.
This was an online survey only.
Where do you play Bridge? |
|
Club
|
  95.7%(712) |
County Events
|
69.09%(514) |
EBU Events
|
67.74%(504) |
Question 1
Announcing the value of an opening 1NT
Announcing all natural 1NT openers other than the 12 -14 1NT. I realise that I run the risk of the TD being called if I ask the value during the bidding.as this may be interpreted as giving unauthorised information to my partner. |
20.97%(156) |
All opening natural 1NTs should be announced |
42.34%(315) |
No opening 1NT should be announced. I realise that I run the risk of the TD being called if I ask the value during bidding.as this may be interpreted as giving unauthorised information to my partner. |
14.65%(109) |
Pre alert all 1NT openings. i.e. at the beginning of the round. I realise that I run the risk of the TD being called if I ask the value during the bidding.as this may be interpreted as giving unauthorised information to my partner.
|
21.64%(161) |
Question 2
Announcing Stayman over a 1NT opening
Stayman should be announced.
|
42.61%(317) |
Stayman should be alerted. I realise that I run the risk of the TD being called if I ask questions about the 2C bid as this may be interpreted as giving unauthorised information to my partner. |
20.56%(153) |
Stayman should neither be alerted or announced so any 2C response to a 1NT opener that is alerted will be something other than Stayman.
|
36.56%(272) |
Question 3
Announcing a transfer over a 1NT opener
Announce the transfer bid suit i.e. hearts or spades.
|
44.35%(330) |
Announce the transfer bid as transfer.
|
25.4%(189) |
Alert the transfer bid. I realise that I run the risk of the TD being called if I ask the meaning as this may be interpreted as giving unauthorised information to my partner.
|
29.57%(220) |
Question 4
Doubles
The only doubles that should be alerted are all take out doubles below 3NT.
|
12.23% (91) |
The only doubles that should be alerted are all penalty doubles below 3NT.
|
13.44% (100) |
No doubles should be alerted below 3NT.
|
22.58% (168) |
All doubles should be alerted including supportive, take out, penalty, lead directing etc…below 3NT.
|
6.18% (46) |
Alert all non take out doubles below 3NT.
|
16.53% (123) |
All non-penalty doubles of NT bids below 3NT should be alerted; all non-takeout doubles of suit bids below 3NT should be alerted.
|
28.23% (210) |
Question 5
Alerting over 3NT
Re-introduce alerting over 3NT.
|
26.48%(197) |
Retain no alerting over 3NT.
|
73.12%(544) |
Question 6
2 level suit openings
Should all be alerted.
|
12.63%(94) |
Should all be announced.
|
20.83%(155) |
Artificial bids should be alerted & natural bids announced.
|
36.56%(272) |
Artificial bids should be alerted.
|
29.57%(220) |
Thank you for taking part in the survey.
Your views do count.
- Copyright © English Bridge Union - by The English Bridge Union