FunBridge.com World Computer Bridge Championship
The upcoming 5th annual ACBL World Computer Bridge Championship will be held July 23-28, 2001 as part of the ACBL's summer Toronto North American Bridge Championships.
The ACBL reserves the right to alter the Conditions of Contest and the prize money awards.
Entry
Entries
are due by Friday, June 1, 2001 (late entries, through June 15, will be
considered)
There are no entry fees. A total of $1,750 in
prize money will be awarded to the top eight finishers. Computers will be
supplied.
Prize Money to Top Eight
Finishers
1st $500
2nd $350
3rd/4th $250
5th/8th $100
Play Format
(I) (a) If ten or less entries: Round Robin; followed by (II)
Semifinals; and (III) Finals.
(b) If eleven or more
entries: Round Robin in two brackets; followed by (II) Quarterfinals; (III)
Semifinals; and (IV) Finals
There are eight entries, so I(a) will be in effect, see bold type in (I), (II), and (III) below
(I) Round Robin:
20-board matches against each opponent, IMP
scoring converted to Victory Points using 20-VP scale; Top four reach
Semifinals. The number of boards may be changed.
Ties for the last position in semi-finals: If there is a tie for fourth position, a 10 Board playoff will take place, with no carryover. If there are multi ties for any position, then an eight-Board round-robin, without any carryover, will take place, with the positions to be determined by quotient.
(II) Quarterfinals or Semifinals, depending on format specified above:
For Quarterfinal match, first plays fourth in opposite bracket, second plays third in opposite bracket - no carryover. For Semifinal match, first plays fourth, second plays third - IMP carryover equal to lesser of (a) head-to-head VP difference and (b) overall VP difference, if finished ahead, no carryover if finished behind. So, only 1st and 2nd can get a carryover.
48 Boards, IMP scoring.
(III) Semifinals and Finals:
For Semifinal match, first plays second in the opposite bracket. NO carryover. For Finals, NO carryover.
64 Boards, IMP scoring.
(IV) Finals: (NA)
For finals, no
carryover.
64 Boards, IMP scoring.
Conventions and Systems allowed
Limited systems and conventions will be allowed, modelled after the ACBL General Chart, modified to allow only natural one bids. Details are given elsewhere. In general, non-standard systems and conventions will not be allowed. The final decision on allowable conventions will be made by the Tournament Committee. Convention Cards are due by June 8, by early submission is encouraged. Convention Card to be filled out can be found at Convention Card.
Table Manager
There will be only one competition. A Table Manager will be used. The Table Manager protocol to be observed is as defined on the BlueChipBridge website. A program must be able to play automatically using this TM. The exception to automatic play is when an Alertable bid is made. Then Manual Input (MI) may apply. Note that the explanation of an Alertable bid may come from the program, the operator, or a combination of both. Complete explanations are to be given, at least to the point that is useful to the recipient. The input may be either Electronic or Manual. An operator can always opt for Manually Input at any point. Details of Alertable bids are given elsewhere. Also note that information on Alerting appears at BlueChipBridge website
Program Restrictions
Programs may 'think' on their time or opponent's time. If a program 'thinks' on opponent's time, it must pause during 'time-outs' in the middle of the play of a hand.
Convention Cards Submission
Convention Cards will be submitted prior to the tournament. The tournament Convention Card must be filled out. One convention Card per program. Minor changes may be allowed before a match with the Tournament Committee's approval. Conventions cannot be changed during a segment of a match. The Tournament Committee can make exceptions for cause.
Equipment
PIII 800 MHz and 128 MB will be supplied running under Windows 98.
Speed of Computer Play
Round Robin: Speed of play will be at approximately 1/2 that of human play speed of 4 minutes per board, or 2 minutes per program per board. Timing of play may be adjusted if the participants use different computers. Each 16-board Round Robin match segment is expected to be played in less than 70 minutes. This excludes any set-up time or delays or time-outs due to rulings, power outages, or computer mishap, a 5-minute coffee break, or bathroom break. This 2 minutes per board does not include the time for MI. Slow play in the Round Robin will be penalized. A warning will be given for the first 7-minute delay, that is if a program is playing its side of the table at 40 minutes per 16-boards (instead of 32 minutes per 16 boards). Participants will time themselves and should ask for a monitor if their play seems slower than 4.5 minutes/board. If a program’s play continues to be slower than 40 minutes for 16 boards, a 3-IMP penalty will be assessed and play speed must be increased to under 32 minutes per 16 boards.
After start of each match a program may raise its speed of play but may not lower its speed, unless the tournament committee determine that circumstances exist to allow an exception. Such circumstances include a clear error or oversight. Intent and fairness shall be the deciding factor.
Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Finals: Speed of play in the Semifinals and Finals will also be at 4minutes per board. Timing regulations and penalties will be similar to those in the Round Robin. Timing and penalties will apply for each 16-board segment.
Malfunctions during Play
If a computer or system goes down during play, the hand in play will be replayed. The TD should be called in all malfunction cases.
Hands in Play
Matches in same round robin round will play the same boards. If starting time for a session is not at or near scheduled time a different set of boards will be played. Matches may be played earlier than scheduled time with the consent of the tournament committee. Hand records will be distributed within a 30-minute period before a match.
Coordinator, Al Levy
The Coordinator shall set the schedule of play. The Coordinator and/or Tournament Director shall distribute Hand Records for each match. The Coordinator shall be informed of any exceptions requiring approval, including, playing a Round Robin match at a different time than scheduled, playing two matches simultaneously, taking a break in the middle of a match, etc.
Tournament Director, Sol Weinstein
The TD will supply Hand Records for all matches. The TD will advise on playing conditions and scoring. The TD will make rulings at the table, although the usual problems of unauthorized information, revokes, penalty cards, leads out of turn, etc., do not take place in computer play. Appeals may be due to slow play, Mis-Information of an Alertable bid or failure to Alert. Mis-Information due may be rectified by replaying the hand without penalty. MI should not be penalized as in human play, with a set of best/worst results given. MI should be treated as inadvertent and fairness and equity should be the guideline. If a ruling is appealed, a 3-judge panel will decide the issue. The TD may sit in on 3-judge panel deliberations as a non-voting participant.
Tournament Committee
Joan Gerard, WBF Vice Chair of Appeals
Sol Weinstein, Director
Al
Levy, Coordinator
Judges
to be named by Tournament Committee
All appeals will go to a 3 judge panel for a final decision. The Coordinator and Tournament Director may sit in deliberations as non-voting participants.
Schedule
Round Robin, July 23-25 or 23-26
Round robin play will be in a 4-session/day schedule, with no entrant playing more than 3 sessions per day. Each 16-board match is expected to be played, both ways, in under 2:30, allowing 2 hours 15 minutes for play and 15 minutes for setup. The first round of Round Robin play will start on the morning or afternoon of July 23.
Semifinals, July 26 or 27
Finals, July 27 or 28
Additional Conditions of Contest
The Tournament Committee reserves the right to alter the Format of play. Each Participant must submit a copy of their program at the start of the round robin. Various program tests may be done during play.
Preliminary Schedule of Play
July 23:
10:00 AM meeting of all contestants
up to 3 sessions of
play each day for each entrant
session times be announced at tournament,
tentative schedule below
noon - 2:30 PM
3:00PM - 5:30 PM
6:00 PM
- 8:30 PM
9:00 PM - 11:30 PM
July 24 - July
25:
tentative session times
10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
1:00 PM - 3:30 PM
4:00PM - 6:30 PM
8:30 PM - 11:00 PM
July 26 - July 28:
10:00 AM