ACBL Board of Directors’ Meetings

October 14, 2024

I will submit a motion that ACBL entry fees for ALL team games be per team, not per player.  This is customary for virtually all tournaments except for some ACBL NABC+ team games. 

The rationale for charging per player was that “all players get all the masterpoints/overall awards”. That is patently false. For example, in a 3-day Swiss event, only 25% of the players reach Day 3 where everyone gets overall awards. Besides being unfair, many players have told me they refuse to pay 100% but play less. That hurts attendance. On the other hand, the per-player policy nets more than $100,000 per year from 5 & 6-person teams. 

What do YOU think?  The ACBL Board and management work as a team. Please send your viewpoint to me, ACBL President Margot Hennings and/or ACBL Executive Director Bronia Jenkins. Consulting with the membership before the vote in Las Vegas is preferable to voting first and discussing afterward!

Thank you for reading and caring. 

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August 28, 2024

I’m pleased to announce that I have donated $1,000 US to the Canadian Women Team Champion (CWTC) to help defray the costs of representing Canada in Argentina in October.

I also donated $1,000 US to La Ligue de bridge de Montréal to help defray the costs of moving from the original CAN-AM playing site (flooded) to the Sheraton Laval. Congratulations to Unit 151 President Simon Babin, Tournament Chair Normand Houle, and their team. Well-Done!

GNT CoC Update: The ACBL Board met on August 27 to reconsider (as requested by the Advisory Council) the GNT/NAP changes that were approved during the Toronto meetings. We listened to their concerns and have changed the GNT Flight C to 0-750 Non-Life Master.

1.2 The GNT competition will have four flights as follows: 

  1. Championship Flight: 0-unlimited 
  2. Flight A: 0-6000 masterpoints 
  3. Flight B: 0-3000 (changed from 2500 masterpoints)
  4. Flight C: 0-750 non-Life Master (changed from 500 masterpoints)

Effective date: September 1, 2024, to coincide with the start of the GNT 2024/2025 qualifying period. These strats will be in effect for the Summer NABC Finals of the Grand National Teams in July of 2025.

The NAP will have the same flights as the GNT. Since The NAP has already started the new CoC won’t take effect until the 2025-2026 season.

NOTE: There will be more review of data, study, and input from various parties. There may be more changes (no later than March 2025 Memphis meeting) that may change some of the masterpoint limits for both the GNT and NAP for the 2025-2026 season.
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August 10, 2024 

The reorganization of the ACBL Board of Directors from 25 to 13 members is now complete.

Please click here for a simple explanation and  view a map of all the Regions and Districts.

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August 7, 2024

On April 2 I wrote: “I voted against the increase in the Board of Directors stipend. Carried 7-5-1. I do not believe travelling from Halifax to Winnipeg (the extreme ends of the very large Region One) and places in between is a critical part of my volunteer work on the ACBL Board. I attend some local tournaments but more importantly communicate via this website, Zoom, email, text, Messenger, and personal interactions. I am always available to help with any issue involving the ACBL.

I will be donating the extra $2,000 stipend in 2024 ($1,000 in District 1 and $1,000 in District 2). Please send me your suggestions as to how best to use these funds. Thank you for your ideas”.

The first $1000 arrived in July; the second $1,000 will arrive in November. Attention all units in Districts 1 & 2:: Please think of some worthy programs you would like me to contribute. This is free money from the ACBL. Please send me your proposals. Thank you very much.

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Perhaps the most exciting news from the Toronto Board meeting is that the GNT and NAP will have 4 identical flights.
            GNT                                                                    NAP
Championship Flight: 0 – unlimited                 0 – unlimited
Flight A: 0 – 6,000                                           0 – 6,000  (Previously 0-2500)            
Flight B: 0 – 3,000 (previously 2,500)             0 – 3,000   (NEW)   
Flight C: 0 – 750 masterpoints (previously non-Life Master up to 500 points in both GNT & NAP)

NOTE: The ACBL Advisory Committee has asked us to reconsider the above motion; specifically to limit Flight C to either 500 masterpoints or, if 750, to not include any Life Master. A special meeting has been called for the last week of August to discuss this. If there are any changes, I will post them here.

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Canada Rocks! The Toronto NABC was a huge success with 9560 tables, up 15% from 8343 tables in Chicago last Summer and 7463 in Providence two years ago. The trend is encouraging.

A huge number of volunteers worked together to make the Toronto NABC so enjoyable. I salute all of them. The ACBL survives on volunteers at every level of the game.

Congratulations to all of you!


 2024 Summer National Board Report

Please click here (or the link above) to read the full report from the Toronto Summer 2024 ACBL Board Meetings.

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 August 2, 2024

ACBL’s 2024 Marketing presentation from Executive Director Bronia Jenkins.

You can read it here

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 August 2, 2024

Please click here to read the latest update, re: Edgar (July 17, 2024)

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 June 19, 2024

The EDGAR Computer-Based Cheating Detection (CBCD) Tool

is in full operation and working well. As with any new program, adjustments are often needed. 

Please click here to read the changes that have been made.

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 May 18, 2024

As of May 1, Region One has 11,307 members (up from 11,248 on January 1).

District 1 has 4,388 members, an increase of 6. 

District 2 has 6,919 members, an increase of 53.

ACBL Management report as of April 30

Please click on the link above to read the full report. The ACBL has a very solid balance sheet. We are making progress.

I am optimistic and looking forward to the Toronto NABC July 18-28, 2024. Hope to see many of you there.

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 April 2, 2024 

2024 SPRING NATIONAL BOARD REPORT

Click on the link above for the full report. Of special interest please note the following changes: 

For weekly clubs, increases Club Championship sessions for each regularly
scheduled weekly game from four to eight yearly. Effective March 13, 2024.

Requires clubs to hold two of the eight Club Championship sessions during a different
calendar quarter of the year. Also, to not allow clubs to carry over Club Championship
sessions from one quarter to the next. Effective March 13, 2024.

I voted against the increase in the Board of Directors stipend. Carried 7-5-1. I do not believe travelling from Halifax to Winnipeg (the extreme ends of the very large Region One) and places in between is a critical part of my volunteer work on the ACBL Board. I attend some local tournaments but more importantly communicate via this website, Zoom, email, text, Messenger, and personal interactions. I am always available to help with any issue involving the ACBL.

I will be donating the extra $2,000 stipend in 2024 ($1,000 in District 1 and $1,000 in District 2). Please send me your suggestions as to how best to use these funds. Thank you for your ideas.

Attendance of  6757 tables surpassed expectations and the budgeted estimate. The ACBL met its room block requirements. Most importantly, players were happy with the facilities, the city, and an abundance of restaurants to fit any budget.
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Congratulations to the Louisville NABC Chair  Joanne Traver plus all the amazing and numerous volunteers who ensured that Louisville would be an enjoyable experience.

 March 30, 2024

Statements from ACBL about Sensitive Matters Click here

Important Notice Regarding Settled Cases

Two cases had been brought against ACBL that have now been settled.

These are the Marcus case and the Hann case. Please be advised that details of most settled cases are confidential
and cannot be discussed publicly. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter.

EDGAR vs Hammond Software

On February 22, 2024, Hammond Software initiated a countersuit against EDGAR (a computer-based
cheating detection—CBCD—system). This suit named ACBL as a defendant in response to the patent
suit filed by EDGAR against Hammond Software. We are taking all necessary legal steps to address this
situation and will keep our members informed of significant developments.

Future of online bridge

ACBL management, together with the Board and Advisory Council, recognize the importance of the future
of online bridge. We want to assure you that we are actively exploring all possible options to meet the
expectations and needs of our community, both now and in the future.

 Important Membership Update for ACBL Members

Dear Members,

For greater simplicity and inclusivity, we are taking steps to enhance our membership structure. We are
transitioning to a new membership database that does not support the Life Member category.
Consequently, we are removing this category from our membership options.

As a result, all Inactive Life Members will be reinstated as regular members through the end of 2024. For
2025 and beyond, to continue to remain an ACBL Member, reinstated Life Members will need to pay
annual dues.

We understand changes of this nature may prompt questions. Please rest assured, we are dedicated to
making this transition as smooth as possible and will be here to address any of your concerns.
Thank you for your continued support and dedication to the ACBL.

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The ACBL takes cheating seriously. After extensive testing, the EDGAR automated cheating detection program is now being used.

EDGAR Computer-Based Cheating Detection (CBCD) Tool

Fitness for Use

During 2022 and 2023, ACBL officials engaged with developers of EDGAR (Everyone Deserves a Game Above Reproach) to explore its potential use in detecting and disciplining players who have cheated in ACBL online bridge games. EDGAR’s developers took a conservative approach: a pair that has a run of luck over several sessions will not be flagged. A player needs to appear materially better than even a “lucky” expert over a large sample of deals.

ACBL’s Appeals and Charges Committee conducted a rigorous review and analysis to determine if EDGAR was fit for use in ACBL’s disciplinary regime. At the forefront of this effort was the imperative of ensuring an extraordinarily low probability of false positives (e.g., innocent pairs identified as cheating), while catching a large majority of online cheaters.

The review process included:

  • Feedback from independent bridge experts who examined and affirmed the “bridge logic” underlying EDGAR and the way it makes assessments.

  • Independent reviews by expert statisticians, validation testing employing deals and pairs independent of those used to develop the tool, access to documentation.

  • Configuration management provisions to ensure the tool is not revised without an assessment of attendant effects on its efficacy.

  • Review of over 100 anonymous pairs by expert investigators to confirm EDGAR’s findings. Both cheating pairs and non-cheating pairs were evaluated.

  • A test which demonstrated EDGAR can distinguish expert play from cheating. For example, “clean” players who win online regional events, or who regularly score over 65% are not flagged as cheating, however “known” cheaters are flagged even when they have poor results.

Through these efforts, ACBL has determined that a rating of “Red” far exceeds the standard of proof necessary to show that a player/pair is cheating.

During a Special Meeting on January 12, 2024, the ACBL Board of Directors approved a revision to the Code of Disciplinary Regulations implementing computer-based cheating detection, leading to release of the February 1, 2024, version of the CDR.

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 EDGAR Update
 March 13, 2024
Larry Sealy

Click here to read the full report with graphs and statistics.

Process
• We began using a Computer-Based Cheating Detection (CBCD) Program, EDGAR (Everyone Deserves a Game Above
Reproach), on February 1, 2024.
o Began with an Initial “Soft Launch” phase to allow the process to be refined/streamlined.
• EDGAR bins players as “Green” (not cheating), “Red” (Cheating beyond a Reasonable Doubt), and Yellow (Needing
Further Review).
• Six Weekly Runs have been Completed, as of March 7.
o A total of 7226 players were screened. 96 were identified as “Red.” They have Masterpoints® totals ranging from fewer than 300 to over
10,000.
o 7044 were “Green” and an additional 84 require further review.
• Partnerships where both players have fewer than 300 Masterpoints® will be given Warnings (if no aggravating factors
exist).
• Partnerships where both are under 2500 Masterpoints® are eligible for “Fast Track Discipline” (if no aggravating factors
exist).
• Partnerships where one or both have 2500 or more MPs are not eligible for FTD. They will be sent to The Institute for
Bridge Arbitration (IBA) if an agreement for a “Negotiated Resolution” is not made.
• Aggravating factors: previous discipline for ethical violations, members in position(s) of authority or honor (BOD,
employees, Advisory Council, National Committee members, District/Unit officials, Awardees), cheating with multiple
people, people with more than 5 Platinum Points.

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 March 4, 2024

Masterpoints and Bridge Clubs

I would like to clarify some misunderstandings about online bridge clubs and the ACBL’s awarding of masterpoints.   

The online games on BBO, called “ACBL” games, are not run by the ACBL.   They are run by BBO.  BBO is an independent bridge club, just like other virtual bridge clubs. 

BBO decided to replace 18 board games with 16 board games because it is more profitable for them.    16 boards, under ACBL regulations, do not constitute a full game, so the masterpoints awarded at BBO “ACBL” games are now 40% lower than other online and face-to-face bridge clubs. 

The largest masterpoint awards available are at your local face-to-face club, where you receive full masterpoint awards for playing 18 boards and additional proportional awards for every board played over 18 boards.

Most virtual clubs on BBO, except the BBO “ACBL” games, are still playing 18 boards and pay full masterpoint awards.   To get the best payout of masterpoint awards online – go to “Virtual Clubs” and then click on “ACBL-North America” and you will see a list of available games for you to play in, starting in the next two hours, that pay full masterpoint awards.  

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2023 FALL NATIONAL BOARD REPORT

The Atlanta NABC finished with 6,643 tables,very close to budget and expectations. What hurts the ACBL is that too few players stay at the host hotel. Going forward, the meeting services model is being reviewed as we look for ways to improve both customer experience and the bottom line.
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Congratulations to the Atlanta NABC Co-Chairs Becky Butler, and Jack Feagin plus all the volunteers who made the Atlanta NABC such an enjoyable tournament.

2023 Summer Chicago ACBL Board Report

The Chicago NABC was an outstanding location in the heart of the “Magnificent Mile” and directly adjacent to the Riverwalk. Final attendance of 8,343 tables was almost 1,000 greater than Providence last Summer. It was 1,300 tables larger than New Orleans in the spring.

Congratulations to Toronto’s Linda Wynston (& Sondra Schubiner of Boca Raton FL) who won the Wagar Women’s Pairs for the second time (Atlanta, 2018, Chicago, 2023). 

The ACBL is doing very well as the pandemic recedes and F2F bridge returns in ever-growing numbers. There are multiple positive signs. Please read the official report from the ACBL Summer Board meetings here

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2023 Spring New Orleans ACBL Board Report

New Orleans is a popular destination and the numbers proved it. There were 7,124.5 tables which was about 1,000 more than pre-tournament estimates. If current trends continue, Chicago this summer will be larger.

Kudos to former Montrealer Vince Demuy who won the Platinum Pairs. Stephane Turcotte & Jean La Traverse were 2nd in the Golder NAP B. Toronto’s Jacob Freeman 5/8 in Vanderbilt.                       __________________________________________________________________________

2022 Fall Phoenix ACBL Board Report

The 2022 Phoenix NABC with 6,677 tables was larger than Austin one year earlier but smaller than the Summer Providence NABC. The fear of illness remains among many of our members who still prefer not to travel and/or attend large gatherings.

Downtown Phoenix was an attractive location: perfect weather, excellent playing facilities, and an abundance of dining options to fit any budget.

As ACBL President Joann Glasson wrote to all of us: “The recent resignation of our Executive Director, Joe Jones, has provided the ACBL Board of Directors the opportunity to streamline the ACBL management structure to improve internal communication, process and teamwork. The ACBL is blessed with dedicated, hard-working employees that will keep the operation running seamlessly through this transition. Employees are already bringing forth opportunities to save money, to improve operations and to increase revenue as part of the effort to finalize the 2023 budget. The reduction in senior management positions in 2022 will save the ACBL more than $500,000 annually. These funds can be directed towards membership growth and retention initiatives and the improvement of ACBL technology.”

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2022 Summer Providence ACBL Board Report

The Providence NABC was well attended with 7,463 tables, close to the high end of official estimates. 3,207 players won masterpoints. It was a well run enjoyable tournament.

Unfortunately, there were widespread reports of players, officials, Tournament Directors, yes – even ACBL Board members – who tested positive during or after the NABC. After returning home, I developed very mild symptoms and tested positive two days later. Within a few days, I was feeling fine and within a week, I tested negative. Fortunately, my experience was similar to many. I have heard of no reports of serious illness or hospitalizations.

My personal view is that Covid today is not what it used to be. The milder Omicron strain combined with vaccinations and anti-viral medications has reached a point where most people believe we have to learn to live with Covid as we do with other ailments. Players will decide for themselves whether or not to travel and attend F2F tournaments. My vote is a resounding yes.

I was very pleased that the motion I submitted would disallow GLM status and/or ACBL Hall of Fame recognition to any player convicted of a first-degree ethical violation with a suspension of two years or longer. It was approved by a 17-3 vote, effective as of July 15, 2022.

I am optimistic that the new pilot project between the ACBL & The ACBL Educational Foundation to find & teach duplicate bridge to prospective ACBL members will bear fruit. This refers to F2F teaching with an affiliation with F2F bridge clubs. The ultimate goal is to increase ACBL membership.

There is still a long road ahead of us to restore ACBL membership and enjoy healthy F2F bridge clubs and well-attended tournaments.  That is my fervent goal, one that is shared with all of my colleagues on the ACBL Board of Directors.

The official report from the Providence Board meetings can be found here  

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2022 Spring Reno NABC & ACBL Board Report

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2021 Fall Austin NABC & ACBL Board Report

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ACBL Electronic  Device Policy (Effective immediately)
 
This policy applies to all events at NABCs and events where ACBL is the Sponsoring Organization. Regional and Sectional tournaments are encouraged to adopt and apply this policy or one more well-suited to their players. A violation of any of the restrictions below will result in an automatic penalty, pursuant to Law 91 of the Laws of Duplicate Bridge.
 
1. Any electronic equipment must be kept in silent mode (except for health-related equipment, where silent mode is unavailable or could constitute a health risk). It is recommended, though not mandatory, that any such equipment remain switched off while in the playing area during a session.
 
Penalties: If it is determined that an electronic device is not compliant with (1) above, the penalty for the first offense is 1/8 of a board, 1.5 IMPs, or ½ VP. For each subsequent offense during an event, the penalty will be doubled. Beginning with the third offense, the player may be subject to disqualification, upon approval of the Sponsoring Organization.
 
2. Players are expected to be paying attention to the game. While at the table, players may not use or interact with their electronic devices during bridge play. When between rounds or sitting out, use or interaction with electronic devices is permitted, provided it is inaudible. For other situations, permission to use or interact with an electronic device will be granted upon the director’s judgment and on a case-by-case basis.
 
Penalties: If it is determined that an electronic device was operated in violation of (2) above, the penalty for the first offense is ½ of a board, 6 IMPs, or 2 VP. For each subsequent offense during an event, the penalty will be doubled. Beginning with the second offense, the player may be subject to disqualification, upon approval of the Sponsoring Organization.
 
The above restrictions apply to all players, captains, coaches and kibitzers, except those persons granted permission by the ACBL, and are in force throughout any playing session or segment of play.
 
A kibitzer in violation of these policies must leave the playing area and may be readmitted only by permission of the tournament director.
 
Penalties for captains and coaches: Same as for players.
 
For the purpose of this policy, each day of a multi-day event is treated independently.
 
Further restrictions and requirements may apply in events involving live internet and/or VuGraph coverage and/or instruction from the Sponsoring Organization.
 
For the purpose of this policy, Sponsoring Organization is the ACBL for NABCs, the organizing District for Regionals, and the organizing Unit for Sectionals.
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Introducing EDGAR
 
Methods of investigating and proving online cheating have not kept up with the times, and
bridge organizations around the world have struggled to adapt. The ACBL is excited to
announce the development of a new tool in detecting and prosecuting online (and perhaps inperson) cheating that offers great potential in changing the way we approach this problem.
 
Developed by chief architects Franco Baseggio and Brian Platnick, “EDGAR” (Electronic Data
Gathering and Anti-cheating Radar) will allow bridge organizations to scan thousands of cases
and look for telltale signs of cheating. EDGAR is currently being tested and refined, and we
expect to place it in use in ACBL cases later this year, initially in support of “traditional”
investigations. The name pays homage to the great Edgar Kaplan, the father of modern bridge ethics.
 
Instead of identifying single hands that look suspicious in a vacuum, EDGAR will be able to
identify whether funny-looking bridge decisions are representative of a larger pattern or
constitute a one-off aberration. Inspired by the work of Nicolas Hammond, Kit Woolsey, and
others in the field, EDGAR will finally show us the forest through the trees. We believe that
players will have confidence in EDGAR’s ability to identify cheaters without raising suspicion of
innocent players.
 
While refinements to EDGAR continue, we are also considering how to best balance concerns
around transparency, accessibility, validation, maintenance, and control. Our goals include:
 
* Providing everyone the information needed to understand how it works, which
gives bridge players important security in being evaluated by a machine;
 
* Providing access to the cheating algorithm and operational details, which means it
can be verified by statisticians, programmers, mathematicians, and anyone else
who wants to “look under the hood” to see if it works as intended;
 
* Inviting contributions of the brightest minds in the bridge world towards
improvements and refinements
 
* Making EDGAR available to all bridge organizations at little to no cost. This
project has been a labor of love and good will for the benefit of bridge (running the
algorithm at scale will provide entrepreneurs an important opportunity here).
 
The project has been managed by AJ Stephani, Chair of the ACBL Appeals and Charges
Committee, as part of a comprehensive transformation in the way cheating cases are handled
by the ACBL. However, we are hopeful that EDGAR will prove to become a critical tool in both
detection and prosecution methods around the world.