Slow Play
 

This note sets out to explain to club members the consequences of slow play and some suggestions to avoid the difficulties which arise when members do not keep up to the standard tempo.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we start playing at a nominal 7.30 p.m. and must be clear of the building by 11.00 p.m. which means we need to finish playing by 10.50 p.m. We also have a 20-minute break, which means that we have 3 hours to play 7, 9 or 13 sets of boards. In these sets will be 4, 3, or 2 boards respectively. So each set of Boards can have, 25, 20 or 14 minutes to be completed and the next set started. This means that you have 6.4, 6.6 or 7 minutes per board respectively.

As you all know, Directors have significant powers, but club members should be aware of the authority under the Laws for any action taken by the Director. Law 90 states: -

"A. Director’s Authority

The Director, in addition to enforcing the penalty provisions of these Laws, may also assess penalties for any offence that unduly delays or obstructs the game, inconveniences other contestants, violates correct procedure, or requires the award of an adjusted score at another table.

B Offences Subject to Penalty

Offences subject to penalty include but are not limited to:

    1. Tardiness

      2. Arrival of a contestant after the specified starting time

    2. Slow Play

      3. Unduly slow play by a contestant

    3. Loud Discussion

…………………………. Et seq"

At their training day in November 2003, Directors agreed that the award of an Average to two pairs at a table was not a penalty under Law 90 but merely an attempt to keep towards the normal time for each step of the movement. Where a Director does not achieve such a happy conclusion, there is a potential for other players to be left waiting to play and subsequently not be allowed to complete – through no fault of their own – a subsequent board or boards. Clearly the award of an Average minus whether combined with an Average plus or not does require the Director to be aware of a fault.

The directors want to ensure that we all enjoy our bridge, but not inconvenience anyone. To that end the following suggestions are made to help promote timely play:

North at each table should keep all the unplayed boards for that round beside him/her, except for the one in play, which should be on the table. After each board is completed, that board should be moved to a position, which enables the subsequent table North an easy opportunity to collect the board. Table 5 North may have some difficulty!

In addition, all the directors will seek to help members to play to time. Some of the techniques that will be used include,

Warning members when they should be on the second and third boards;

Walking round and encouraging the tardier players to complete quickly;

Preventing a final board of a round being played unless started significantly prior to the calling of the move, (starting within a short time of the calling of the move may well result in the award of an average);

And calling for the move on time.

If members have any better or complementary ideas to limit slow play, any Director or member of the committee would be delighted to hear them. Bridge in your club will only be as enjoyable as the members make it for each other.