EBU online event with screens what are my rights here
#1
Posted 2026-November-08, 08:17
Partner overcalls 2♥ and I don't know if he self alerted because of the screens (well I do, but not which self alert he's given).
2♥ over a 3+ club shows 13 cards, at least 4 of which are hearts
2♥ over a 2+ club shows 13 cards, at least 4 of which are hearts and at least 4 of which are spades, can be 4-4, (5-4, 6-4 either way round) but not 5-5
My hand is 4-4 in the majors, so the potential of the hand changes depending on which he has.
What does the director do next when I call - in fact RHO bid over 2♥ before I could flag up the issue, but I believe that makes no difference
#4
Posted 2026-November-08, 14:53
It seems to me that you bid on the basis that you know the system and your partner knows the system. If your partner has forgotten and the lack of an alert didn't remind him then you and he may be damaged by the lack of alert and if so you should get some redress. I don't know if in practice you will but I think you should.
Having said that I am a little confused by the issue of screens. If you are on the side with the opener then you don't know if the opponent on the other side has alerted so surely must assume they have. If you are on the other side you don't know if the opener has alerted.
#5
Posted 2026-November-08, 15:40
Cyberyeti, on 2026-November-08, 08:17, said:
Partner overcalls 2♥ and I don't know if he self alerted because of the screens (well I do, but not which self alert he's given).
2♥ over a 3+ club shows 13 cards, at least 4 of which are hearts
2♥ over a 2+ club shows 13 cards, at least 4 of which are hearts and at least 4 of which are spades, can be 4-4, (5-4, 6-4 either way round) but not 5-5
My hand is 4-4 in the majors, so the potential of the hand changes depending on which he has.
What does the director do next when I call - in fact RHO bid over 2♥ before I could flag up the issue, but I believe that makes no difference
You have no right to know what your partner alerted or not (even without screens, although then you do unfortunately know).
Behind screens you have every right to ask your screen mate for an explanation of 1♣, even if not proffered.
The Director will remind you of this and ask your screen mate to explain 1♣ to you.
WTP?
#6
Posted 2026-November-08, 15:49
pescetom, on 2026-November-08, 15:40, said:
Behind screens you have every right to ask your screen mate for an explanation of 1♣, even if not proffered.
The Director will remind you of this and ask your screen mate to explain 1♣ to you.
WTP?
cyberyeti said:
Bridge should be fun!
SHAPE!
"And no matter what methods you play, it is essential, for anyone aspiring to learn to be a good player, to learn the importance of bidding shape properly." (MH)
#7
Posted 2026-November-08, 16:08
A screen mate still has the possibility to ask for an explanation, both immediately and at next turn of play.
#8
Posted 2026-November-08, 16:54
So LHO opens 1♣, we both see no alert no explanation. Partner overcalls 2♥ and explains it to both opps but not me as hearts.
#9
Posted 2026-November-08, 16:59
Cyberyeti, on 2026-November-08, 16:54, said:
So LHO opens 1♣, we both see no alert no explanation. Partner overcalls 2♥ and explains it to both opps but not me as hearts.
A hand diagram makes things so much simpler
But if I now understand correctly, LHO is on the other side of the screen.
I imagine that under your regulations RHO should have alerted the opening, but you have every opportunity and reason to ask for an explanation in any case.
#10
Posted 2026-November-08, 18:32
As for tv, screw it. You aren't missing anything. -- Ken Berg
Our ultimate goal on defense is to know by trick two or three everyone's hand at the table. -- Mike777
I have come to realise it is futile to expect or hope a regular club game will be run in accordance with the laws. -- Jillybean
#11
Posted 2026-November-08, 19:53
Your experience may be different in FIGB, EBU, SBU
Bridge should be fun!
SHAPE!
"And no matter what methods you play, it is essential, for anyone aspiring to learn to be a good player, to learn the importance of bidding shape properly." (MH)
#12
Posted 2026-November-09, 02:53
blackshoe, on 2026-November-08, 18:32, said:
Basically this.
If you know that the 1♣ opener is 2+, or check with your screenmate, then you assume partner has the same explanation and bid accordingly.
The EBU is one of the few jurisdictions that is fairly lenient with the 'protecting yourself' rule and judges the failure to alert as far more serious. As you play a different defence, your partner might check but could be worried that asking and passing after a non-alerted 1♣ that they could expose their hand to the opener especially if the opponents know your defence.
#13
Posted 2026-November-09, 02:58
pescetom, on 2026-November-08, 16:59, said:
I imagine that under your regulations RHO should have alerted the opening, but you have every opportunity and reason to ask for an explanation in any case.
The EBU regulations for online events with screens differ by platform, but the OP's description suggests it is RealBridge and so https://www.ebu.co.u...ith-screens.pdf apply.
Basically, as already mentioned, the player making the alertable call is the ONLY player responsible for alerting. Follow-up questions go to your screenmate, even though they will not have seen the alert.
On BBO, the player making the alertable call is the ONLY player responsible for alerting. Follow-up questions, using chat, are to the player alerting not your screenmate (as you don't have screens on BBO).
#14
Posted 2026-November-09, 03:39
paulg, on 2026-November-09, 02:58, said:
Basically, as already mentioned, the player making the alertable call is the ONLY player responsible for alerting. Follow-up questions go to your screenmate, even though they will not have seen the alert.
On BBO, the player making the alertable call is the ONLY player responsible for alerting. Follow-up questions, using chat, are to the player alerting not your screenmate (as you don't have screens on BBO).
Correct, realbridge, the Tolly yesterday. Didn't in fact matter on the board, I just thought it was interesting
#15
Posted 2026-November-09, 08:39
#18
Posted 2026-November-10, 16:18
Bridge should be fun!
SHAPE!
"And no matter what methods you play, it is essential, for anyone aspiring to learn to be a good player, to learn the importance of bidding shape properly." (MH)
#19
Posted 2026-November-10, 17:20
#20
Posted Yesterday, 02:52
mike777, on 2026-November-10, 13:08, said:
The EBU Premier League is the best event in the UK in my opinion. It is a face-to-face event of three weekends played with screens, typically with seven 16-board matches each weekend.
The event currently gets about 25-30 teams entering, so the top two divisions are each eight teams with the remaining teams playing a round-robin that might split them into two groups for the final weekend.
It is used as the selection trials for the Home Internationals, so players in the top division have to be eligible to play for England in that event: that is, you, or a parent or grandparent, must have been born in England, or you are resident in England, and have not played for another home international team recently. If you are not eligible to play for England, then you can play in the other second and other divisions but not be promoted to the first.
There is promotion between the divisions for the following year.
The standard is high. All the pro's play and we have foreign pro's in the lower divisions. Most of the first division teams are sponsored, typically all except Frances Hinden's team, and there are many other sponsorsed teams in the other divisions.
The final weekend of this year's event is 21-22 November. There will be BBO vugraph of the top division.
My team normally plays in the second division and we flirt with promotion or relegation most years but normally achieve neither. We are currently in the middle of the pack but a good weekend could get us promoted and a bad one relegated.
To give an idea of the standard, two pairs from England's European Championship team that finished sixth are in our division.
New teams generally start at the bottom of the ladder but it is fun to play whichever division you are in.

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