The Master Pairs competition, open to Master grades only, will be held virtually on BBO over the weekend of 5-6 December. As with all our virtual events this season, this one will be played essentially for recreation; Masterpoints will be awarded, but national titles and monetary prizes will not. There are a few differences to bear in mind this year:

  • In particular, please note that we have changed the start times for both days from the usual in-person ones, in response to player requests – we will start at 12 noon on Saturday and at 13:00 on Sunday;
  • The entire event will be treated as one long single session on BBO, with an entry charge of BB$15; note that you will be regarded as playing in a competition throughout, so will not be permitted by BBO to play in any other tournaments from noon on Saturday until the close on Sunday, including overnight Saturday;
  • Entries online on the CBAI entry system; please note that you will also need to register on Saturday morning on BBO – we would ask that you do that no later than 15 minutes before the start time;
  • The BBO scoring system means that this event will be scored purely in accumulated IMPs this season, with no VP conversions, so every IMP counts, and you should play to the end, even if winning (or losing) by a wide margin.

The thorny issue of cheating in online bridge has raised its head again internationally in recent weeks, with allegations being levelled at some very well-known expert players (none of them Irish). The World Bridge Federation has revised its Disciplinary Code in response to this, and we have been asked to highlight to our members that the revised Code specifically allows the WBF to apply sanctions in cases of improper behaviour, including in events organised by parties other than the WBF itself, whether in-person or online. We would also draw your attention once again to the CBAI’s own Code of Conduct for players, which likewise applies equally to online bridge as to in-person bridge. Note in particular that the sanctions for violations of the Laws of Bridge (of which deliberate cheating would be among the most serious) include suspension or even expulsion from the Association.

We realise that the overwhelming majority of players are honest, and would be appalled even at any thought of cheating. But if you are in any way tempted, please don’t be … it’s just not worth it.
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