THE ABA & BBO ( BRIDGE BASE ONLINE)
Please see message below regarding ABA/Bridge Base Partnership. George would like for me to provide a list of MAS members interested in BBO directing. Please give this information to those in your area. Members interested in BBO directing, should send name and contact information to me (cc to MAS Staff Director, rozdx2@aol.com ) as soon as possible.----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2011 1:16 AM
Subject: ABA and Bridge Base
Hello board members,
As we discussed in Arizona, I've been in touch with Bridge Base to inquire about the ABA hosting games on line. They are very interested and excited about us joining BBO (Bridge Base Online). Here's a brief outline of how this could work:
- We first need to identify ABA Directors that will direct our games. BBO will train them and furnish at no charge any programming needs the ABA would require. Directing online is the same as in person except no calls are needed for leads/play out of turn, revoking or insufficient bids as the computer doesn't allow this. BBO says most calls are for failing to alert because the bidder alerts; not the partner. The TD also does not set up nor take down or clean up afterwards.
Do you have any directors in your area that might be interested in directoring on line? BBO and I have suggested $10 per hour for club or sanctioned games. ACBL pays $13.50.
- Entry fees are handled by the software, collected by BBO and be sent to the ABA once a month. They are willing to go for a 70/30 split for a year or longer to get our program running. 70 to ABA.
- Point awards are also accumulated monthly by BBO and sent electronically to Atlanta. They will set up the algorithm for ABA points for their system.
- When we start sanctioned club games awarding city points, we suggest a fee of $2.00 a person.
BBO suggests we start with free games for a few weeks or months to get players and directors familiar with the system and then introduce sanctioned games awarding points.
If the board approves the concept, I'd like to publish something in the coming bulletin announcing the introduction of the ABA to Bridge Base Online. This appears to be a win/win. How about it?
I also urge you to sign on to Bridgebase.com if you're not a member, click on Play Bridge Now and register. You'll see a link to ACBL. The ABA will have it's own link with anything we want the link to say.
Please e-mail me any questions or concerns. I've cc: the NTA for their comment if they have any.
We can begin as soon as we get our directors trained.
George Hudson