[jillybean]

I have heard from a reliable source ,just back from the Nationals.
1nt openings are no longer announced in the ACBL

[pescetom]

jillybean, on 2025-April-07, 14:13, said:

I have heard from a reliable source ,just back from the Nationals.
1nt openings are no longer announced in the ACBL

Meaning that you have to guess the range or ask, in absence of a system card?
I would actually be strongly in favour, so long as cards were obligatory, but otherwise it sucks IMO.

[jillybean]

CC's are not obligatory here.
I assume you guess or ask. Most people play 15-17

After I questioned my RHO's 1nt opening, I was told that a player, who is both an international player and Director, just back from the NABC, told “the Club” that 1nt was no longer announced.

As there has been no announcement here from TD's who were at the NABC, I assume it is the nasty, constantly circulating "don't announce 15-17 nt openings" rumour.
I was surprised at the apparent source and the conviction that this was true.

[pescetom]

Maybe I shouldn't throw stones from a glass house.

We have an announcement of range (as I thought ACBL still had) but also a long standing "Alert 1NT with anomalous distributions". Which was bad enough in itself (what is anomalous?) but became worse when a list of allowable (by agreement) distributions was clearly defined (but only for pairs tournaments) in 2020, without specifying which if any were alertable.
My (pained) interpretation as a Director is that 6m and singletons are "anomalous" whereas 5M332 is not: both because it is close to becoming (if not already) the majority treatment and because it is the same distribution as 5m332.
My desire as already firmly expressed is that 1NT should not be alertable in pairs tournaments (so long as the list remains in place), with range remaining announced. If opponents really need to know the possible distributions during the auction they can read the card, or ask if it is not available for some reason.

[barmar]

Where did you hear this? I can't find minutes of the Board meeting from the Memphis NABC.

[jillybean]

barmar, on 2025-April-08, 15:20, said:

Where did you hear this? I can't find minutes of the Board meeting from the Memphis NABC.

I was told by an opponent at the local club after questioning their 1nt opening, (no range announced).
I am now convinced it's the usual rumour that often originates from snowbirds returning from clubs in Florida.

And after the following incident, I understand how these "truths" take hold.

1H : 2NT
3S : 4H

After I made my FDOL, my partner asked about the auction and was told 2NT is Jacoby, 3S is shortage.
When our opps were reminded, nicely, that both bids must be alerted, Declarer looked shocked and said it was standard, and what’s more, they did not alert online as it is "standard".
Oppo called the Director for clarification.
Director said, with an exasperated look (at the players who made the "fuss" expecting an alert) "Well, it is alertable but most people know what 2NT and 3S mean"

[akwoo]

jillybean, on 2025-April-08, 15:42, said:

I was told by an opponent at the local club after questioning their 1nt opening, (no range announced).
I am now convinced it's the usual rumour that often originates from snowbirds returning from clubs in Florida.

And after the following incident, I understand how these "truths" take hold.

1H : 2NT
3S : 4H

After I made my FDOL, my partner asked about the auction and was told 2NT is Jacoby, 3S is shortage.
When our opps were reminded, nicely, that both bids must be alerted, Declarer looked shocked and said it was standard, and what’s more, they did not alert online as it is "standard".
Oppo called the Director for clarification.
Director said, with an exasperated look "Well, it is alertable but most people know what 2NT and 3S mean"

Well in one of my partnerships, 2N would be alerted, 3S would not be, and 4H wouldn't be passed.

[Gerardo]

Announcing 1NT range even if 15-17 prevents the defense asking what the range is.

[blackshoe]

jillybean, on 2025-April-07, 14:13, said:

I have heard from a reliable source ,just back from the Nationals.
1nt openings are no longer announced in the ACBL

Reliable source or not, I'll believe this when I see an official pronouncement by the ACBL BoD.

[jillybean]

blackshoe, on 2025-April-09, 12:51, said:

Reliable source or not, I'll believe this when I see an official pronouncement by the ACBL BoD.

How would this information filter down to players who may not read the Bulletin or attend tournaments?

[paulg]

blackshoe, on 2025-April-09, 12:51, said:

Reliable source or not, I'll believe this when I see an official pronouncement by the ACBL BoD.

jillybean, on 2025-April-09, 19:25, said:

How would this information filter down to players who may not read the Bulletin or attend tournaments?

The official route would be to update the Alert regulations (https://web2.acbl.or...-Procedures.pdf), which have not been changed since 15 April, 2024. Of course they may be updated shortly following a committee meeting in Memphis and your official source is just reflecting that, but it is not official policy today.

If players do not read the Bulletin, attend tournaments or read the regulations governing the game, then they will rely on other club members who do. Alternatively a club does not have to follow ACBL Alert regulations.

[blackshoe]

"Players at my club are too damned lazy to read the bulletin or read the regulations, so we just won't follow ACBL Alert regs." Sure, why not? Apply the same to the Convention Charts. Surely there's no chance these club players will ever participate in an actual tournament, so it'll never matter. And the club doesn't need to actually publish whatever regulations they will be using; the players will just automagically know what they are. Besides, if they won't read ACBL regs they won't read club regs either, will they?