[Sir John D]

criptik, on 2020-April-17, 13:02, said:

Is there a way to chat to everyone registered for a tournament before the tournament actually starts? For me, neither Chat->Tournament from the director's menu, nor picking Tournament in the regular chat window seems to do anything.

On a related question is there a way to chat to a list of usernames?

I wish there was a way to do this, too. Other than to create a separate email list, I can'f find a way to talking to all. With current Data Protection legislation, I am loath to set anything so formal.

I have noticed that if I am looking at the details of a tournament and it starts, then I get the welcome message to the tournament. There is a way for a Director to chat to the tournament during play, but I can't find a way before or after the tournament.

It is times like this that I wish I understood how to create computer programmes, as it would be a useful to respond quickly to this query and set something up.

To all, keep safe

[Sir John D]

Yippee!

I have been given the facility to run Howell Movements. I am not sure why it has to be given. It would be a lot easier to tick a box when setting up a tourney. But, at least I can now set up a Howell Comp.

Now the problem is the number of boards and the number of rounds.

So, I have worked out or found this out:

I put +howell+ in the description of the tournament (not +Howell+) and the BBO computer "knows" that it is to be a Howell Movement. Plus, I make sure that all my tournaments are CLOCKED so that the pairs don't move earlier than the rest.

There is a way to let the computer put breaks in to the movement or automatically work out the number of boards, but for the moment, I haven't got my head round those. So, until I do, I have to consider the following:

To work out the number of rounds in a Howell, I multiply the number of tables by 2, and then deduct 1 from the answer. So, for a 3-table Howell, I would expect 5 rounds. That is, ((3x2)-1) using my simple math's brain that uses thick crayon.

Now the number of boards. I find that players don't want loads and loads. So, I can consider:

• 2 tables - 4 pairs - 4/5/6 boards per round, which equals 12/15/18 in total as there are 3 rounds. I would probably aim for 18
  
• 3 tables - 6 pairs - 3/4 boards per round, which equals 15/20 in total as there are 5 rounds. I would probably aim for 15, but with a stronger field, 20
  
• 4 tables - 8 pairs - 2/3/4 boards per round, which equals 14/21/28 in total as there are 7 rounds. I would probably aim for 14, but with a stronger field, 21
  
• 5 tables - 10 pairs - 2/3 boards per round, which equals 18/27 in total as there are 9 rounds. I would probably aim for 18

With 6 tables (ie 12 pairs), then it would be 11 rounds and the total number would be 11 boards or 22. Many players seem to dislike one board per round but 22 boards would be too many. The more tables, then the more boards. So, a similar problem.

It is interesting that in F2F clubs, players don't mind 24 or more boards, but for some reason, they dislike that many whilst playing online.

As for Mitchell Movements, then I have discovered that the BBO computer does its own version. As long as I organise a CLOCKED tournament, the computer will let the N/S "stay and the E/W pairs, will "move". However, as everyone plays the same boards at the same time, I doubt that the movement works out in the same way as if F2F. I am not going to even try to work it out. But, there does not seem to be a need for a skip or share and relay with even number of tables.

But, what I like is that by using the CLOCKED element in the creation of the tournament, there is no worry that players will be playing the same pairs over and over.

Again, I need to consider the number of rounds and the number of boards.

The BBO computer will create the Mitchell-styled Movement for tables up to and including 15 tables. So, I can consider:

• 5 tables - 10 pairs - 3/4/5 boards per round, which equals 15/20/25 in total as there are 5 rounds. I would probably aim for 15, but with a stronger field, 20
  
• 6 tables - 12 pairs - 2/3/4 boards per round, which equals 12/18/24 in total as there are 6 rounds. I would probably aim for 18
  
• 7 tables - 14 pairs - 2/3/4 boards per round, which equals 14/21/28 in total as there are 7 rounds. I would probably aim for 14, but with a stronger field, 21
  
• 8 tables - 16 pairs - 2/3 boards per round, which equals 16/24 in total as there are 8 rounds. I would probably aim for 16
  
• 9 tables - 18 pairs - 2/3 boards per round, which equals 18/27 in total as there are 9 rounds. I would probably aim for 18

The problem for me is that for 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 tables, I would end up with one board per round or two boards per round. That would give 10 to 15 boards or 20 to 30 boards. This part of the Movement is awkward.

However, once the tournament can register 32 pairs, then the BBO computer will create two section of 8 tables. So, each section keeps to itself and can play 16 or 24 boards.

I haven't experimented any further but would imagine that the computer will create another section if more tables were added. What the split would be, I don't know. There does not seem to be a clear document that gives such information. For me, it has been trial and error and trying to figure out from others.

Ideally, I would be happy with two sections of 9 tables playing 18 boards. Sadly, I doubt that I would get that many players to register.

Also, the Howell Movement does not permit more than one section and so, the BBO computer does not automatically do it and the movement is capped. I didn't register at what limit as I would only use the movement for at most, 5 tables.

Although not ideal, and there is room for improvement, at least I can now manage my smaller tournaments.

Am learning lots but just wish it was all in the same place.

Keep safe ♥

[Sir John D]

biometrics, on 2020-April-19, 12:15, said:

For sure BBO knows we are waiting for Howell movements. Let´s wait and see. I don´t think pushing to hard will help the issue to be solved

Just to confirm, a few weeks ago, I set up my first Howell tournament. It was an experiment and I set it up for 6 pairs only (ie three tables) and for one board per round. So, as there would only be 5 rounds, we had a maximum number of 5 boards. The tournament was CLOCKED. But, it worked. Each pair met the other pair and played their board.

I usually organise my tournaments for up to a maximum of 36 pairs. I do this as it would give me two sections of 9 tables, and thus, it would run like two Mitchell-styled tournaments. With 18 boards, the field is happy. Again, the tournament is CLOCKED. So, each N/S plays all the E/W.


I only use the Howell Movement if I have 3, 4 or 5 tables. This means that I can organise the number of boards per round around sensible numbers of 5, 7 or 9 rounds. However, the BBO Computer can cope with up to 40 pairs. How that would work, I can't imagine. With 20 tables, the mind boggles as to how it organises the boards per round. My lot prefer to play all the other pairs and have around 18 boards.

But, the Howell works. So, thanks to BBO Management and BBO IT Team [see https://blog.bridgeb...all-tourneys/].

Those Hosts with permission can now set up a Howell Tournament.

Keep safe