gelino

I hope I am writing these lines for the benefit of the game in general.

The TDs main task is to help the players and to insure the keeping of the fairness of the game.

We all would be happy if every player would announce the system and alert artificial bids.

In the last period of time, I have noticed a tendency between the TDs to get rid of the players who ask for fairness. So if, for example, I ask the TD

to help me because the opponents made an artificial bid which wasn?t alerted, the TD rather removes me than to try to sort out the problem. The excuse is I am delaying the game. So the TD?s aim is to finish the job as quick as possible, which in most of the time it is not to the benefit of the game or to the pleasure of the players. Do you know how frustrating is to discover a bid which wasn?t alerted? It changes the whole defence and can bring a bad result. And, worse, the players are looked to with suspicion and distrust.

The second observation addressed to the TDs is about the actual fitness to be a TD. Some of the TDs think their place there is to remove players and they are very proud to do it. They want to show who is the boss. My opinion is this type the people are not fit to be TD. I have noticed one TD who introduced himself like this (all in caps): ?Pay attention: I am here to direct this tourney. Players should know who I am?. Who he thinks he is? His ego is too big to direct bridge tourneys. No wonder he was very satisfied he removed 11 players in one tourney. The TD are there to help the players to enjoy the tourney not to hate it.

On the other hand there are lots of disturbing players, who lack of politeness and kindness, who forgot this game is a gentlemen?s game and play it like going to war. I agree this type of players must be dealt with firmness, but in a correct way. There are TDs who abuse their position. And if they have to remove a player, they should explain what are the reasons behind such a severe measure. But most of them keep quiet and don?t offer any reason. Then they are others who come to your table and start counting, 1, 2.... and the player doesn?t know what is going on, maybe he or she was thinking how to play. It is annoying and puts an unnecessary pressure on the player. And there are others on the English tournaments who can hardly understand what he or she is talking about. To these TDs I would suggest to brush up their English.

Hoping I made myself clear and I congratulate all the TDs for their voluntary work.

Kind regards

gelino