[aguahombre]

O.K., but the procedure merely explains what the alerting person does. He/she "says alert". I thought that was not a command to only say alert; even though I would like it to be one.

Seems if they wanted it to be the only thing said, they would have used "should", "must", "shall" some other way of insisting. Would much prefer that Blackshoe is right about that.

Bluejack doesn't seem so sure for EBU.

[bluejak]

The term "alert" is only accepted by regulation for someone unable to alert in any other way, and even then it is only recommended. I know some people say "alert", but as in the other thread this is merely an accepted misdemeanour, not correct practice, so if it goes wrong a player who says "alert" unnecessarily must expect to be ruled against.

[blackshoe]

Are speaking of the EBU specifically, David?

[barmar]

If they didn't mean "say 'Alert'" to be exclusive, I think they would have written "say 'Alert' or words to that effect". Without such limitation, by agua's logic, you can say anything; after all, the alert regulations don't say you can't say "Foo".

I still think that if someone says something that is obviously equivalent to "Alert", and they're consistent about it, I wouldn't complain. However, if I were directing and someone called me to the table over this, I would instruct the player on the proper procedure, but I wouldn't penalize them unless they ignored my instructions.

[bluejak]

blackshoe, on 2011-December-23, 19:57, said:

Are speaking of the EBU specifically, David?

Sure, but the thread was an EBU problem.

I think the difference comes from the fact that without bidding boxes, the alerting method in the ACBL is to say "Alert" but in England it is to tap the table.

[blackshoe]

Actually, the method in the ACBL is to say "alert" while tapping the alert tab (a long skinny blue card which is supposed to be place in a slot on the bidding box, but which seems to have been removed from almost all the bidding boxes around here). Anyway, I just wanted to clarify your comment, David.

Heh. When I first got back to the US from England, great confusion ensued when an opponent tapped the table (meaning "pass") and I asked what the alert was about.

[aguahombre]

blackshoe, on 2011-December-24, 11:56, said:

Actually, the method in the ACBL is to say "alert" while tapping the alert tab (a long skinny blue card which is supposed to be place in a slot on the bidding box

And a great addition it is, which we embrace. Maybe that somewhat recent "tap" requirement will soon find its way into the ACBL Site's document for the benefit of travellers who are supposed to be able to find out how things are done in ACBL.

[blackshoe]

I don't know what you mean by "somewhat recent", but as far as I can remember, it's been it place for at least fifteen years.

[barmar]

And it's in ACBL's online document.

http://www.acbl.org/...procedures.html

Quote

Using bidding boxes, an Alert is made by tapping an Alert card on the table or by tapping the Alert strip on the side of the bid box. In addition, the Alerter must say "Alert."

It's true that many people remove the alert strip, because they find that it gets in the way of pulling cards from the box.

[jillybean]

I didn't realise the alert card is also used for announcements, I have never seen this done.

Quote

HOW TO ANNOUNCE
When Bid Boxes are not in use, the partner says aloud the required spoken statement.
When Bid Boxes are being used, the Alert strip is tapped and the appropriate spoken statement is made.

[bluejak]

I don't know about clubs, but in the NABC events the only ways people alert are either with the alert card or by saying "alert". The only way people announce is by saying it. No-one uses the alert card plus something else.

I carry an alert card with me because there often isn't one.

[blackshoe]

Apparently no one at NABCs knows the regulation, then.

[jillybean]

bluejak, on 2011-December-25, 09:52, said:

I don't know about clubs, but in the NABC events the only ways people alert are either with the alert card or by saying "alert". The only way people announce is by saying it. No-one uses the alert card plus something else.

I carry an alert card with me because there often isn't one.

In my games at the last NABC, players used both the alert card and spoken alert.

I carried an alert card with me at the NABC because the majority of bidding boxes had the alert strip, which I hate.

[Mbodell]

jillybean, on 2011-December-25, 10:36, said:

In my games at the last NABC, players used both the alert card and spoken alert.

I carried an alert card with me at the NABC because the majority of bidding boxes had the alert strip, which I hate.

Yeah, I tend to use both the alert card and the spoken announcement (and thought I probably did for a 1nt opener at Jillybean's table at the NABC, but maybe it didn't come up). I diverge from the practice if there is no alert card (although I'll use a stop card as an alert card). I also don't do the tap of the strip but instead waive the alert card (usually by tapping the boards with the alert card).

It makes sense since there are players who are hard of hearing, especially since at times I play nt ranges that are variable by vulnerability and position, so I want people to notice I'm announcing the range.

[barmar]

In my experience in the ACBL, compliance is pretty good for normal alerts, but people hardly ever use the alert card or strip when making announcements.

[mycroft]

The "alert strip" is also known as "that damn thing that I caught my wrist on and spilled the cards all over the floor *again*." This is why it tends to disappear.

The "alert card" - also in the boxes - tends to disappear because a strong club (usually) pair sits down, takes the Alert card out of the box, plays 12 boards, and doesn't put it back. Then it goes walksies.

There are people with hearing problems, that don't actually notice that anything's been said, unless it has to be (1NT openers, anyone?) or there's something visual to go with it. My cousin, for instance, is deaf, and requires this. There are people with vision problems (one of my partners effectively has only one eye, so won't see anything to his left that he doesn't expect and go look for), so an audible component needs to be there as well.

That's why the regulation. Because we have so few of these impairments in the League, and most of them are obvious about it, the fact that we don't by habit follow the regs doesn't matter, almost all of the time. It's just another one of those things that "are improper, but almost always never matter, so you get away with it. When it does matter, however, you did something wrong, and are being ruled against."

I don't *always* follow the Alert regs, myself (usually, I make a flourish of putting the Alert card on the table and don't say anything, or Announce by pointing at partner's call and doing the Announcement), but I do work very hard at the other part - ensure that the opponents have noticed the Alert/Announcement. And if it turns out that one of my shortcuts actually does damage the opponents, I will take my rectification without comment (or with "thank you, Director").