[Edmunte1]

In fact i like that there are different boards in this stage of knock-out matches. More boards to watch, more fun for kibitzer who can move from time to time from one table to another.

[andy_h]

I understand the security measures that need to be taken, but as a kibitzer I prefer the same boards being played so I get to know what other players did on those specific boards. If I was player I might prefer the same boards being played too so at the end of the day I can discuss with friends what they did on those same boards too. Yeah it's true that you can now discuss more boards, but it just doesn't have the same feel to it lol.
Bad breaks or 'wild' ones have no effect. Luckiness/unluckiness happens all the time. That's bridge, deal with it. Your opponent's at the other table get the same hands too, so they too have to deal with it.

I'm guessing in the end it probably doesn't really matter.

[Hanoi5]

xcurt, on Jun 9 2009, 07:34 PM, said:

jdonn, on Jun 9 2009, 06:25 PM, said:

Hanoi5, on Jun 9 2009, 05:30 PM, said:

Quote

Your suggestions, that you need people on bathroom duty and you need to implement more penalties, are so much worse.

So it is better to give in to the players' bad behaviour than making them follow rules? Amazing. It's a good thing people thinking like that are not in congress...

Yes that's exactly what I said. Thank you for your fair and accurate quote so that we could have a reasonable discussion.

Hanoi, let's say you were playing in an event like this and you thought maybe one pair were using the break for nefarious purposes. But you have the "right" to insist they stay at the table. Let's say you enforce that right against only the one pair you suspect. Now you have de facto accused them of c******g. If you enforce the right against all pairs, everyone will wonder why you are being so difficult.

I'm not getting the issue here:

- During the RR all teams played the same boards. They were in the same room.
- Now on the KO teams are separated and sent to different hotel rooms and playing different hands on each match.
- Why do you need them to play different hands?

Quote

As for another reason to play different boards, there is no issue with a match that runs a little late (or early!), for them to start at different times.

Excellent. And then when the finals start what if some players don't want to play in the other's schedule? All right, the schedules were posted at the beginning, but it doesn't change the fact that you're giving in to the player's whims and it is bound to have some consequences, especially in the world of bridge where egos are so inflated.

Duplicated hands allow for better discussions and enjoyment of the game by players and kibitzers, as well as for easier reports and starting and finishing hours (order). Non-duplicated boards allow players to start at whatever hours they choose, go wherever they want to go during the match, smoke (and maybe even have a drink).

[jdonn]

Hanoi5, on Jun 10 2009, 05:48 AM, said:

Duplicated hands allow for better discussions and enjoyment of the game by players...
...
Non-duplicated boards allow players to start at whatever hours they choose, go wherever they want to go during the match, smoke (and maybe even have a drink).

Well as long as you're making sense I guess.

[Hanoi5]

jdonn, on Jun 10 2009, 11:24 AM, said:

Well as long as you're making sense I guess.

You guess what?

If you give people what they want they'll always want more. If you control people they'll tend to behave correctly.

What's the problem with them playing the same boards? Is it that they go to the bathroom and then comment on the hands? They can still talk about the hands they're playing and ask for advice and stuff, can't they? They could be leaving little pieces of paper for their partner's, they could write messages on the walls!

I mean, if you let a player go to the bathroom during a match he could go there and flip a coin in order to decide what to do on a hand, and that is not allowed! He could write formulas on the toilet paper, you know, so I'll tell you how to solve it (just as not playing the same hands solves the security problem):

You have the players sit at a toilet during the matches! There. Do you like my solution now? Does it make more sense?

Now, if you explain to me that there was a breach of security during a tournament, that some players had access to the computer with the hands and therefore it was deemed better to just shuffle at the table and that each table shuffles their stuff, alright, I would accept that, but only as a part-time solution. And if you tell me that the more hands played the betterm for there is more variety then we could argue, but then you know what opinions are like. And finally you could tell me there is not enough people, machines, or boards for duplicating the hands, and then I'll tell you to use your money better. But I don't think having the players start or finish the matches as they see fit as a proper excuse, sorry.

[mtvesuvius]

They are playing the same boards in the SemiFinal now