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Bridge Basics : BB - UNDER 50 CHALLENGE NEWS AND FIXTURES
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Message 1 of 186 in Discussion

From:

SeaWitch_0 (Original Message)

Sent: 7/6/2002 1:21 AM

THE MSN BRIDGE CLUB UNDER 50 CHALLENGE FAQ

What is the Under 50 challenge?

The Under 50 challenge is a weekly team challenge whereby the challenger seeks to topple the current reigning champion.

Who can play in it?

Any team of four MSN Bridge Club members all of whom must have a rating under 50%.

What is the format of matches?

Matches are 14 boards with IMP scoring. Teams swap over at the half way stage so each pair plays each of the other opponents. Typically matches last 90-120 minutes.

Where are matches held?

Matches take place inMSN Bridge Club teams room 1.

When are matches held?

Weekly matches are held on Fridays at 4pm PST. This time may be changed by mutual consent.

Who organises the event?

We largely organise ourselves and generally ask one of the volunteer directors to direct matches.

Do we get net points?

No net points are awarded, but we all have a lot of fun and are hopefully improving our play.

How do we organise a team?

Ask your friends who are rated under 50 to form a team with you. Substitution is allowed in recognition of the fact that ratings change and people also have lives outside bridge.

How do we issue a challenge?

Challenges are issued and accepted on the MSN Bridge Club Message board. You can reach this direct on http://groups.msn.com/MSNBridgeClub/ or by going to www.msnbridgeclub.com and then clicking on the message board link. The thread on the Under 50 Challenge is within the Bridge Basics tab and you issue your challenge on that thread. Of course you can always use zone message as well. Challenges on the board should include a team list including current rating and confirmation of when the date of the challenge is.

How much time do we need to commit?

As much or as little as you want as you control when you can challenge the reigning champion. However the current reigning champion needs to be able to field a team weekly until they are dethroned. Any champion unable to field a team to meet a new challenger loses the match by default.

Are kibitzers allowed?

Yes and indeed encouraged to come and support the event and their teams. However, if you have friends coming to watch please remind them that kibitzers comments can be seen in the team rooms and at the tables so please ask them not to comment there.

Any more questions about the event then please feel free to email or message either of the volunteer organisers:

SeaWitch_0: [email protected]

Morgann: [email protected]

THE MSN BRIDGE CLUB UNDER 50 CHALLENGE FAQ.doc

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Message 172 of 186 in Discussion

From: MilesT5280 (Miles)

Sent: 12/15/2002 12:55 AM

Hats off to Morgann for the most original LoGo. Very Well Done.

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Message 173 of 186 in Discussion

From:

SeaWitch_0

Sent: 12/15/2002 1:44 PM

Well the month's challenge is over and wins by the Cacklers and the Dream Team put them into first and second place respectively with the Flying Horses and Southern Belles (oops Steel Magnolias) not that far behind.

	Team	VP b/f	VP this week	Total VP
1	Cacklers	38	24	62
2	Dream Team	29	17	46
3	Flying Horses	34	6	40
4	Steel Magnolias	19	13	32

Rumour has it that B_T_R (Tim to his friends) is willing to organise a challenge team, but we will accept a challenge from the first team that gets its act together and confirms a match for Sunday at 8pm PST. A week off for the rest of y'all and let battle recommence on 28 December (or do we want a proper start again in the New Year?)

A thought on a possible rule change to try and bring more teams in to the competition. How about amending qualification to make the total percentile of all four team members less than 200, with the proviso that all players must be rated less than 55 or even 51 if you wish? Captains and other participants your views please. As I see it the advantage of this would be to get round problems that a few participants have had with floating around the 49.5 to 50.5 mark including the esteemed dream boy himself (Gav to his friends).

Cheers

SeaWitch

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Message 174 of 186 in Discussion

From: flash7235

Sent: 12/15/2002 1:52 PM

very constructive suggestion:

instead of under 50 %,teams can be made up of players whose total doesn't exceed 200 %,that way others who want to join in our fun matches can now.

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Message 175 of 186 in Discussion

From: flash7235

Sent: 12/15/2002 1:55 PM

BTW,thank you "southern belles" for the great match last night.

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Message 176 of 186 in Discussion

From: Gavilanes_

Sent: 12/15/2002 5:48 PM

In response to your rule change I would welcome it as I do feel awkward being just over 50%. I would imagine a few more games in the shark tank and I will be back down below 50%, but for now if the others agree I would certainly appreciate it.

In your last post Witchy you said 8:00 Pacific time on Sunday. Is that Australian in you coming out since you are a day ahead? I assume you meant to say Saturday which is correct time for the rest of the world? Miles and I will set up the bar, and cheer your team on as you kick some shark butts. Inspire us Cacklers, and enjoy it while you can. The Dream Team will be back to assume our rightful place in the standings :))). Gitchy your team is turning into a force to be recconded with, keep up the good work. Another team in the mix would be fun, these team games are turning into quite an event. I also think they are helping all the participants improve their individual games.

Gav

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Message 177 of 186 in Discussion

From:

IRDOZ

Sent: 12/15/2002 8:06 PM

Actually at 8pm PST Saturday - except for Nth and Sth America and some islands in the Pacific....in 'the rest of the world' (where over 80% of the population lives..) its Sunday.

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Message 178 of 186 in Discussion

From:

SeaWitch_0

Sent: 12/15/2002 11:21 PM

LOL duh I get all the difficult stuff like scoring right then literally don't know what day it is. Of course I meant Saturday. Thanks for the offer of the bar Gav, you are on. Take it being bridge it is of course an honesty bar

Cheers

SeaWitch

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Message 179 of 186 in Discussion

From: b_t_r

Sent: 12/16/2002 12:08 AM

The rumor is confirmed, the"Pidgeons" does hereby formally challenge the "Cacklers".

The "Pidgeons" will consist of me (B_T_R) and ??? for my pard since lovely Babs will be travelling for the holidays, Ladymacbeth5, and her partner Macduff_dlr5.

All I can say Witchy is that the refreshments better be as good as you promised.

Tim

P.S Any volunteers for my partner?

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Message 180 of 186 in Discussion

From:

SeaWitch_0

Sent: 12/19/2002 3:48 AM

OK the final Cacklers line up who have now gone into retreat and intensive training with the England cricket team is as follows:

SeaWitch_0 - back from classes at the Hogwash School for Confused Witches

xuok - undergoing intensive training in the shark tank as this is written

Moondove1 - on a special diet of beer flavoured bird seed as match preparation

TN_SMITH_NASA - a man actually let in to play with the gals in a first for this revamped Cacklers side.

Show us your worst Tim (to your friends) and happy bridging all.

Cheers

SeaWitch

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Message 181 of 186 in Discussion

From: MoonDove1

Sent: 12/19/2002 7:45 AM

Witchy ! Snow birds don't drink beer in the winter time! Butsome bird seed with a nice Special Coffee...now that's an incentive! Here's a copuple of my faves!

Spanish Coffee
lemon or orange juice
tsp granulated sugar
1tsp Demerara sugar
1 oz. Tia Maria
1 oz. Cognac
Splash of White Creme de Cacao
Fresh brewed, strong hot coffee
Cinnamon stick
Whipped cream

Rim a prewarmed Goblet or footed glass mug with the juice and sugar and add the demerara and liquers.
Fill to ½ inch with coffee, then a dollop of whipped cream
and cinnamon stick

Danish Coffee: Substitute Cherry Brandy or Kirsch for Tia Maria,
and a Maraschino Cherry for cinnamon stick.
Dust with cocoa powder is nice too.

Celebration Coffee

(ONE per customer!)

juice and granulated sugar to rim snifter
1 oz. Grand Marnier
1 oz. Cointreau
1 oz. Tia Maria
1 oz. Vodka
whipped cream
chocolate shavings

Rim a large brandy snifter, then pour in the liquers. Fill with coffee
and then the dollop of whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
Best consumed while sitting down.

Cheers everyone

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Message 182 of 186 in Discussion

From: Gavilanes_

Sent: 12/22/2002 3:01 PM

Last night witnessed an exciting match between the reigning champions of the "Under 50% Team Playdown" and a challenge team of over 50% players named the "Pidgeons" led by b_t_r. In the first half the Pidgeons racked up an impressive score as Seawitchy had one blonde moment afteranother. The second half featured wild hands and a very gritty performance by the Cacklers (and possibly a change of hair colour by Seawitch). The final outcome a 48-37 victory for the Cacklers. Well done, Cacklers!!!. Tim thank you so very much for putting a team together to make our challenge series a very interesting event. Any chance of you putting another team together in month?

According to our intrepet leader, her majesty Seawitch. We also have lots of room for another team or two of under 50% players. Any takers out there? The next series of playdowns will begin on "Saturday" January 4th. So get your entries in now.

There will not be any scheduled team matches on December 28th. Rather there will be informal team matches at the regular scheduled time of 8:00 PM (Pacific) for anyone who wants to participate. Hopefully we will get a number of new players and a good mixture from the existing teams. The plan will be to mix up the teams so the people that are not regular teamates will be on the same team. A departure from our regular venue. Then in the New Year it will be back to business with the Dream Team fully intending to kick the sweet butts of the Cacklers and anyone else who dares to participate.

All the Best for Christmas Holidays and Good Bridging

Gav.

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Message 183 of 186 in Discussion

From:

SeaWitch_0

Sent: 12/27/2002 3:14 AM

Hey all - it's that time again already.

First of all

DON'T FORGET THE FUN MIXUP TEAM GAME

Saturday 28 December 7pm team room 1 where we will allocate teams - open to all minnows and sharks alike - refreshments guaranteed.

Now to the serious business......

Saturday 4 January 7pm:

Cacklers vs Magnolias - team room 1

dREAM tEAM vs Flying Horses - team room 2

Saturday 11 January 7pm

Cacklers vs Flying Horses - team room 1

DrEaM tEaM vs Magnolias - team room 2

Saturday 18 January 7pm

Cacklers vs Dream Team - team room 1

Flying Horses vs Magnolias - team room 2

Saturday 25 January 7pm

Challenge champions vs Challenge side organised (hopefully) by B_T_R - team room 1

In view of the wish to open this up more the following rule change has been agreed by the captains:

All players with a rating less than 55 are welcome to play providing the team total rating is less than 200.

We have been and are still having a lot of fun ........... new teams always welcome to join in - we are more than happy to accomodate you in the fixture list.

Cheers

SeaWitch

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Message 184 of 186 in Discussion

From:

SeaWitch_0

Sent: 12/29/2002 4:10 AM

OK all - our new time is proving less than popular now there is a new 8pm net points tournament at the same time on Saturdays. As I see it we have the following options:

1. Remain with this time

2. Go back to the old Friday night time (which now clashes with ivar's 4x3 fun tournament)

3. Go to a new time - I had a look at the calendar and the gaps that I see (allowing for 2 hours) are as follows:

4pm Mondays but clashes with Leo play and practice session
3.15pm Tuesdays after Taraca tourney but before pairs (time will be very tight though)
2pm Wednesday but again clashes with class
3.15pm Thursdays after Jeanne's tourney but before pairs (time will be very tight though)
Friday very early morning 6.30am PST before net points (but I think that there is a new team game then anyway)
Friday 4pm to clash with the lesson yet again.

Weekends already seem to be full.

Two final suggestions are to ask Lorne to give us an official slot (Lorne do you have a view on this?) or to discontinue and just support the new team games that Steve is organising.

Speaking personally, I enjoy our challenge event, win or lose, and accept that if you guys want to go ahead and organise at a time I can't do that is fair enough since I am in a totally different time zone from the majority.

I suggest that captains get ALL their team members to comment on these suggestions and either post a summary for the team or else get all team members to post responses individually. Will canvas captain's views during pairs league Thursday before making a final decision. If you want to email your comments direct to me then send them to [email protected]

Over to you folks - and whether we continue or not thanks for your support

Cheers

SeaWitch

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Message 185 of 186 in Discussion

From:

SeaWitch_0

Sent: 1/3/2003 1:05 AM

Hi all

Seems that the new time is very unpopular to the point where the Flying Horses have come to earth, (not least because they are also East Coasters) and withdrawn because of difficulties in finding a team. I am going to be off line for most of this month as well and so the revamped Cacklers will be struggling.

We have agreed, in view of the new team games and the general lack of response and interest to put the challenge on hold pending further firm demand for its reincarnation.

It was fun while it lasted and thanks to all who participated with special thanks to IRDOZ our able director and Gav who stood in as organiser for longer than he deserved.

If any of you feel strongly about recommencing in February or March then post here with some constructive suggestions about times and rules ........... otherwise see you in the zone and other team games.

Cheers

SeaWitch

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Message 186 of 186 in Discussion

From: lucky_55

Sent: 1/27/2003 9:46 PM

It is almost February so i thought would bring this back to mind and see if there are any teams out there that are interested in starting the challenge again.

My preferences for time would be friday 3:30 PT or Sat. 7:30PM PT . I know this conflicts with Ivar and Terrance fun games, but as an east coaster, i would prefer to commit to a 7:30 PT game where i am less subject to boots, lags and sitouts.

I would suggest the game be open to just about any rating group which is willing to field a team and make the commitment far enough in advance to make it fun, interesting but above all, with the least hassle for the organizer.

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