[jillybean]

Now that everyone is keeping an eye on the clock, I've turned off results from previous tables, if the game is running ahead of time I am considering adding another round.

When I look at adjusting the number of rounds, I get a warning message
"All scores posted may not be correctly retained"

To be honest, I haven't considered how adding another round effects the game. I should sit down and work through it.

I will typically have 9,10,11 tables in each of 2 sections. 3 boards a round.
If we get to 12 tables, 2 board rounds.

[mycroft]

• ALWAYS bring in scores before changing a movement, if those scores are going to remain valid. This is the big exception to "never bring in scores until you have to".
  
• provided the movement for the rounds that are in haven't changed, you shouldn't need to worry. That does not override #1.
  
• Bridgemate Control Software blows up real good sometimes on movement changes (witness arrow-switch hell), I don't know when and how. I don't think anybody does.
  
• I have never *added* rounds, only *curtailed* them (which is no problem, but again, this does not override #1). So I will happily set the game for N rounds (if things go to time) and reduce it, even if the players hear that I'm running N-1 rounds "but if we keep up, I'll add the Nth".

[jillybean]

Thanks. Adding an extra round at the start sounds very wise - IF I remember to remove it before the 5-6 speedy pairs start the 'extra' round.

[mycroft]

You should know by halfway through if you're going to be able to get the last round in; or at least "maybe not today, let's keep track".

Absolutely, you want to do the truncation before the last round; at worst, at the beginning of the (originally) antepenultimate one (7 of "9 or 8"). Not only does it avoid the problem you mention, it's just considerate to the players to let them know when the last round is coming up, so they are comfortable. Plus, mentioning when you *do* allow the last round early helps ensure that the 5-6 non-speedy pairs don't automatically walk out after "the game's over" (but not today).

[jillybean]

Thinking a little more, With our new super round clock, the players can see what time the game will end.
I would be best not to mess with this and just wait for the players to ask to add a round.

[mycroft]

Alternatively, you can set a policy: "We will attempt to play all 8 rounds. However, we will not start a round after time X and instead will stop after 7."

At which point, as you say, the players can see what time the game will end...and know that the round will be added if and only if they keep the game moving.