As promised, here are the pictures showing the screens i was so excited about playing behind.
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Here’s a picture showing the tray with an auction on it. You can see the tray is passed back and forth through a small opening under the screen. It is designed so that neither person on one side can see their partner during the bidding. Also, all bids are explained in written form; you can see the note paper provided. Thus, less “unauthorized information” is transmitted, either by partner’s hesitations during the bidding or by partner’s verbal explanations of bids. |
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This is me looking through the opening in the screen once the bidding is over and the play begins. The door hinges up and the dummy is placed on the table. All cards are now visible once they are played face-up on the table. However, note the screen is designed such that you can’t see your partner’s face, unless you hunch down as i am here. That’s deliberate – on defense, you’re still not supposed to know if partner is surprised or confused by any play of the cards. |
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Lance sits here, waiting for the bidding tray to come to his side of the table. |
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Doug is shown “in the tank” (ie thinking) about what to do in this situation. He’s holding his head, but because he’s behind a screen, his partner doesn’t know the degree of the quandary he’s put his partner in. Funnily enough, Doug emerged from his tank and bid 6D. The 2C bidder is holding the AK of diamonds, but woe is him, his partner “sacrificed” in seven clubs. Whoops. |
August 1st, 2010 4:48 pm
That’s really wild! I can imagine that would be tough for some teams if they are used to reading their partners’ faces.
August 1st, 2010 6:15 pm
In theory, you’re not supposed to take advantage of any information you get by interpreting your partner’s tempo or facial expressions, even if you are not behind a screen. There are all sorts of rules governing “unauthorized information”. However in higher levels they use these screens to limit the possibility of that happening.
August 2nd, 2010 12:07 am
stop speaking bridge and go back to english please. Oh no, not to 2D and a slide to 4 clubs! what are we going to do now? better play some blackwood!
August 3rd, 2010 11:12 pm
Cool photos of the screens!!! I remember caddying for some of these events when I was a kid. It’s neat to hear the stories of you playing in them now. Very, very cool!