ACBL sanctions three levels of tournaments - North American Bridge Championships, regionals, and sectionals. This Chapter describes each level of tournament and the corresponding rules and regulations which apply.

Each year the American Contract Bridge League sponsors and conducts three North American Bridge Championships. Sites are selected by ACBL management with the approval of the ACBL Board of Directors. These tournaments are rotated around the United States and Canada. ACBL runs one tournament each year in each of three zones, Eastern, Central and Western, and tries to arrange that each zone has a spring, summer and fall tournament within a three-year period.

Once an area has been selected for an NABC, the district organization is assigned the responsibility of arranging for volunteers and hospitality. The district, at its option, may assign the responsibility to a local unit, but the district organization retains overall accountability to ACBL.

The purpose of the manual is to delineate the various areas of responsibility and financial obligation for the host organization and ACBL Headquarters in order to provide ACBL members with an enjoyable and memorable NABC. The division of responsibility for an NABC is as follows:

• ACBL Headquarters provides the staff and equipment necessary for the technical operation of the tournament.

• The host organization is primarily responsible for arranging all entertainment and hospitality and for providing volunteers.

• Funds are provided by the ACBL to the host organization based on ACBL’s estimate of attendance for the implementation of the activities and services provided by the host organization. Additional funds may be provided by the host organization to enhance the hospitality or provide special events.

Each day of the tournament there are at least two National Championship sessions scheduled. In addition, every day has a schedule of various two-session regional events as well as Intermediate/Newcomer events. There are also non-championship one-session events.

The schedule of national events is established by the ACBL Board of Directors.

The following chart is a listing of the National Championship events by NABC.

Note: In order to participate in a Nationally-rated event at an NABC, a person must be an ACBL member whose service fees or dues are current.

Wednesday

NAOP – Flight A

GNT – Open Flight A

GNT – Flight B (eve)

GNT – NLM (eve)

Thursday

NAOP – Flight A

GNT – Open Flight A

GNT – Flight B

GNT – NLM

Friday

Open Pairs

GNT – Open Flight A

GNT – Flight B

GNT – NLM

LM Pairs

Mini LM Pairs (LM-5000)

Mini LM Pairs (LM-1500)

LM Open Pairs

LM Women’s Pairs

Non-LM Pairs

Saturday

Open Pairs

GNT – Open Flight A

GNT – Flight B

GNT – NLM

LM Pairs

Mini LM Pairs (LM-5000)

Mini LM Pairs (LM-1500)

LM Open Pairs

LM Women’s Pairs

Non-LM Pairs

Sunday VANDERBILT

Silver Ribbon Pairs

LM Pairs

Mini LM Pairs LM-5000)

Mini LM Pairs (LM-1500)

Open BAM

Women’s BAM

Senior KO Teams

Monday VANDERBILT

Silver Ribbon Paris

SPINGOLD/Mini-Spingold

Women’s KO

Senior Swiss Teams

Open BAM

Women’s BAM

Senior KO Teams

Tuesday VANDERBILT

Mixed Pairs

SPINGOLD/Mini-Spingold

Women’s KO

Senior Swiss Teams

Open Pairs

Blue Ribbon Pairs

Senior’s KO Teams

Mini Blue Ribbon Pairs

Wednesday VANDERBILT

Mixed Pairs

49er Pairs

SPINGOLD/Mini-Spingold

Women’s KO

Open Pairs

Blue Ribbon Pairs

Senior KO Teams

Mini Blue Ribbon Pairs

Thursday VANDERBILT

IMP Pairs

Women’s pairs

Red Ribbon Pairs

SPINGOLD/Mini-Spingold

Women’s KO

Mixed BAM Teams

Fast Open Pairs

199er Pairs

Blue Ribbon Pairs

Senior KO Teams

Friday VANDERBILT

IMP Pairs

Women’s Pairs

Red Ribbon Pairs

SPINGOLD/Mini-Spingold

Women’s KO

Mixed BAM Teams

Fast Open Pairs

REISINGER

NA Swiss Teams

99er Pairs

Saturday Open Swiss

Women’s Swiss

NAOP – Flight B

NANLMP

SPINGOLD/Mini-Spingold

Women’s KO

Open Swiss

REISINGER

NA Swiss Teams

Sunday Open Swiss

Women’s Swiss

NAOP – Flight B

NANLMP

SPINGOLD/Mini-Spingold

Open Swiss

REISINGER

NA Swiss Teams

Note: In order to participate in an NABC+ event, you must be an ACBL member whose service fees or dues are current.

ACBL management is responsible for scheduling all events except charity and national-rated events which are set by the ACBL Board of Directors. For regional rated events, input from the host organization is requested to insure that local preferences are considered.

The regional schedule must include an Open Pair event opposite any Swiss Team event, except for the final Sunday.

Sessions including gender-restricted pair events must contain events in which any combination of genders may play. This means that a Mixed or Open Pair event must be scheduled concurrently when both a Men’s and Women’s Pair event are scheduled, and an Open Pair event must be scheduled concurrently when either a Women’s or Men’s Pair event is scheduled.

The ACBL Newcomer Coordinator in conjunction with the host organization is responsible for developing a complete Intermediate/Newcomer schedule of events.

ACBL Headquarters has the primary responsibility for this program including flyers, ads, special club or teacher incentives, mailings, newcomer program speakers, etc.

The North American Bridge Championships Operations Manual for Tournament Chairpersons provides guidelines for host organization input to help insure a successful program.

The ACBL Super Chart is authorized for use in all sessions of National championship events with no upper masterpoint limit (NABC+) when at least 12-board segments are played.

The ACBL MidChart is authorized for use in:

• All NABC+ events

• All unrestricted Flight A regional-rated knockout events conducted at an NABC

• Any bracket of a bracketed knockout event at an NABC which contains no team with a bracket designator (average masterpoints for the entire team or the top two players) of less than 1000 masterpoints.

In all other events conducted at an NABC, unless otherwise specified, only conventions on the ACBL General Convention Chart are authorized. See Appendix A.

Smoking is not permitted during bridge play or within playing areas at an NABC.

Distinctly separate smoking areas will be provided at NABCs as allowed by state and local ordinances. These areas will not be the hallways immediately outside the playing area, near rest rooms or snack bars or in any area where non-smokers may be exposed.

All pair events at an NABC will have two hospitality breaks per session of at least five minutes.

The purpose of the Zero Tolerance (ZT) policy is to create a much more pleasant atmosphere in our NABCs. This is an attempt to eradicate unacceptable behavior in order to make the game of bridge more enjoyable for all. The following are some examples of commendable behavior, which, while not required, will significantly contribute to the improved atmosphere: being a good `host’ or `guest’ at the table; greeting others in a friendly manner; praising the bidding and/or play of the opponents; and having two clearly completed convention cards readily available to the opponents (required by regulation).

The following are some examples of behavior which will not be tolerated: badgering, rudeness, insinuations, intimidation, profanity, threats, or violence; negative comments concerning opponents’ or partner’s play or bidding; gloating over good results; constant and gratuitous lessons and analyses at the table; and loud and disruptive arguing with a director’s ruling.

If a player at the table behaves in an unacceptable manner, the director should be called immediately. Annoying behavior, embarrassing remarks, or any other conduct which might interfere with the enjoyment of the game is specifically prohibited by Law 74A. Law 91A gives the director the authority to assess disciplinary penalties.

Except for health-related equipment or by permission of the Director-in-Charge of the tournament or event, cell phones, audible pagers or any similar communication equipment may not be operated or operable in the playing area during a session of play at NABC’s. Sponsoring organizations of the other ACBL- sanctioned events are strongly encouraged to adopt this policy.

All regional tournaments are allocated to districts. The district may run the regional tournaments or may allocate them to one or more units within the district. The following regulations apply to regional tournaments:

• Each district is annually allocated four Open or Senior regional tournaments, one Limited regional and one Junior regional.

• A district with 9,000 to 12,000 members is allowed to hold a fifth regional (open or senior).

• A district with 12,001 to 15,000 members is allowed a sixth regional (open or senior).

• A district with more than 15,000 members is allowed a seventh regional (open or senior).

• Each district may split two of its Open or Senior regionals by holding simultaneous tournaments at two separate sites within the district.  Conditions of Contest governing split regionals may be obtained from the ACBL Tournament Department.

• A district may join with another district to co-sponsor a regional tournament. If held at one site, the tournament will count against one district’s allocation. If split, the tournament will count against both district’s allocations.

• A district may, with permission of the other district involved, hold a regional tournament in a contiguous district.

• A district may move a regional tournament from the calendar year in which it hosts an NABC to any of the prior or succeeding three years. (Must meet scheduling requirements.)  Several districts have been granted “Permanent Site Regionals”. Canada and the United States have been granted an “Annual Regional” to be held at the discretion of the Canadian Bridge Federation and the United States Bridge Federation respectively. These permanent site and annual regionals do not affect regular regional allotments.

The Regional Tournament Allocation Plan will be reviewed by the ACBL Board of Directors every five years.

OPEN: Any ACBL member or any non-member may participate in an open tournament unless expressly prohibited from doing so by a judicial body of the ACBL.

SENIOR: Only players who have attained the age of 55 or more at the time of the tournament may participate.

OPEN/SENIORS: Permits the scheduling of only senior events for days of an otherwise open regional.

JUNIOR: All participants must be 25 years of age or younger.

LIMITED: Limited regionals may be held specifically as a 199er, limited to players with fewer than 200 masterpoints; 299er, limited to players with fewer than 300 masterpoints; or Non-Life master, limited to players who are not Life Masters.

Every district must have a Tournament Coordinator. Sanction applications must be submitted by the District Coordinator to the ACBL Tournament Department using the online sanction application. An example sanction application form with instructions for completion is provided at the end of this Chapter.

• Prior to approving, check the tentative schedule posted on the ACBL web for possible conflicts, including adjoining district(s). If there is a possible conflict with a tournament in an adjoining district, contact their district Tournament Coordinator for approval. Any intra-district conflicts should be resolved internally.

• Check sanction applications for valid dates, unit number, unit coordinator, city and state.

• Approve date change for previously approved applications (check for conflicts).

• To be considered timely, applications must be submitted at least three years in advance. If submitted less than three years and more than one year, you must get the approval of any adjoining district that has a regional or sectional tournament scheduled. Note that this applies to a date change for your previously approved application. A substantial geographic change may require the old application to be canceled and a new application to be submitted.

• Check the tentative schedule for a possible conflict with any regionals in neighboring districts.

• Check the Tournament Coordinators Bulletin Board for tournament announcements.

• Regional sanction applications received are issued a sanction number and a Bulletin code that indicates the sanction status.

• A regional tournament scheduled and sanctioned three years in advance takes precedence over a sectional tournament.

• All regionals have the same status and the same rules and regulations apply.

• Regional tournaments will not be sanctioned concurrent with any portion of a North American Bridge Championship.

• A North American Pairs District Final, a Grand National Teams District Final or the Canadian National Teams Championship may be run concurrently with a regional tournament.

A district that holds a regional on the same approximate dates and at the same site or area each year must submit a list of those dates and sites to the ACBL Tournament Department. If only the date remains constant, that date must be submitted. A separate list will be produced and distributed with the tentative Tournament Schedule showing these dates and sites.

• In order to protect the traditional dates, a regional sanction application must be submitted at least three years in advance.

• A regional tournament appearing on the Traditional Date List which is not held for two years within a three-year period will be removed from the list.

ACBL management will make a determination that a conflict exists, either on its own initiative or after a request by a party holding a sanction or applying for one. This determination will be reached by consulting internal resources, demographics of tournament attendance (if available), usual tournament size, data from involved parties, etc. If there is a disagreement with management’s determination of conflict, either party may request arbitration for the purpose of determining conflict. The arbitrator’s decision will be final.

The parties involved may select an arbitrator from the members of the Arbitration Board. This Arbitration Board is composed of nine people (three from each of the ACBL zones, East, Central, and West). If they cannot agree, an arbitrator not from their zone will be selected by random draw from the members of the Arbitration Board by ACBL management.

The timeliness of tournament sanction applications will affect sanctioning as follows:

ALL APPLICATIONS TIMELY: Traditional tournament dates that have been properly placed on the Traditional Date List take precedence over other timely sanction applications. Management will not sanction the non-traditional date though it may be timely. Otherwise, in the case of timely sanction applications, if the parties involved cannot resolve the conflict, both applications will be sanctioned. All decisions may be appealed to the Arbitration Board.

TIMELY/UNTIMELY APPLICATIONS: In cases where there are a timely and an untimely application; 1) if the district or unit with the timely application claims there is a conflict, management agrees there is a conflict, and the conflict cannot be resolved, the untimely application will not be sanctioned; OR 2) if the district or unit with the timely application claims there is a conflict and Management disagrees, both applications will be sanctioned.

EQUALLY UNTIMELY APPLICATIONS: For equally untimely sanction applications, both applications will be sanctioned. For the purpose of defining “equally untimely,” applications received that would be listed on consecutive bi-weekly update letters will be so deemed.

NON-EQUAL UNTIMELY APPLICATIONS: In cases where there are non-equal untimely applications, these will be treated the same as timely/untimely with the earlier application being timely, the other untimely.

There is a per table fee due ACBL (for a listing of fees charged for each type of tournament. See Appendix G.

The ACBL General Convention Chart applies unless it is noted on the sanction application that additional conventions may be used. See Appendix A. Tournament sponsors may apply to use the SuperChart or a part thereof for any event with no upper masterpoint limit when at least 12-board segments are played, provided notice is included in the tournament advertising.

Tournament sponsors may use the MidChart or a part thereof for any unrestricted Flight A event or any bracket of a bracketed knockout event which contains no team with a bracket designator (average masterpoints for the entire team or the top two players) of less than 1000 masterpoints, provided notice is posted at the tournament.

Open and Senior regionals must consist of at least three and no more than six days’ worth of championship two-session events which award gold points for overall placings and section tops. A Limited or Junior regional must be a minimum of two days. Knockout team events may begin the evening before the beginning of the tournament. Compact knockout team events may have one match the day before the beginning of the tournament.

A maximum of three simultaneous championship gold point events may be scheduled, exclusive of knockout team and sidegame series events. Knockout and Compact knockout team events and Continuous Pair events do not affect the gold point session requirements or limitation. Concurrent similar open and women’s or open and men’s events (but not open and mixed) count as only one event as do stratified, flighted and strati-flighted events. Permission to exceed this limit may be granted by the ACBL Tournament Department for tournaments where exceptionally large attendance is expected.

Exclusive of knockout team and sidegame series events, four gold point sessions per day may be scheduled. Events which preclude entry into each other’s events are deemed to be the same two sessions, e.g., a 10:30AM/3:30PM and a 1PM/7PM event would count for two sessions. ACBL may, with cause, disallow more than two gold point sessions per day. Only events scheduled for two or more sessions at regionals may award gold points.

A regional tournament may not be more than six days in duration, except that a Knockout Team event and a one-session pair game, which may be a charity game to benefit the ACBL Charity Foundation, the ACBL Educational Foundation, or a local charity, may be held the evening prior to the first day of the tournament.

A game may also be held on the afternoon prior to the first day of the tournament to benefit the ACBL Charity Foundation, the ACBL Educational Foundation, the ACBL Junior Team Program or the Canadian equivalent of any of the three. The current Charity Foundation formula will be used to determine the minimum monetary contribution for these games.

All regional tournament schedules must be approved by the ACBL Tournament Department before the schedule is published. Deviations from the advertised schedule are permitted only when unforeseen circumstances make it necessary.

However, events awarding only red points such as morning games, midnight games, side games or masterpoint-restricted events may be added to the schedule without prior advertising.

Masterpoints at regionals are red except for overall and section tops in certain events. Refer to Chapter 2 for masterpoint information.

Selection of tournament event starting times are routinely approved unless they are unrealistic, out of the ordinary or violate the four gold point events per day rule (exclusive of knockouts and continuous pairs). The sponsor should take care to choose times which accommodate the majority of their players and consideration should be given to out-of-town as well as local players.

Sectional tournaments are allocated to units. While there are no restrictions on the number of sectional tournaments a unit may conduct, a district must approve the Sanction Application before it can be acted upon by ACBL.

• A unit may join with another unit(s) to run a sectional tournament.

• A unit may, with permission of the unit and district(s), hold a sectional tournament in a contiguous unit.

• With permission of the unit having jurisdiction, a sectional may be run concurrently with a Senior, Junior, or Limited regional.

• A North American Pairs District Final, a Grand National Teams District Final or the Canadian National Teams Championship may be run concurrently with a sectional tournament with permission of the sponsoring unit.

• Senior or Junior tournaments may be combined with Limited sectionals (the higher sanction fee will apply).

NOTE: A sectional sanction may be awarded to a non-ACBL sponsor to conduct a tournament in other than ACBL territory under special circumstances. Contact the ACBL Tournament Department for further details.

OPEN: Any ACBL member or any non-member may participate in an open tournament unless expressly prohibited from doing so by a judicial body of the ACBL.

SENIOR: Only players who have attained the age of 55 or more at the time of the tournament may participate.

JUNIOR: All participants must be 25 years of age or younger.

UNIVERSITY: Only registered college students and ACBL juniors may participate.

Each University may hold one such tournament per year.

LIMITED: Limited sectional tournaments may be held specifically as 0-100, 0-200, 0-300, Non-Life Master, or Non-Life Master with an upper limit of 500 masterpoints. The per table sanction fee for a limited sectional will be $1 less than the fees for an open sectional.

PROGRESSIVE: A progressive tournament consists of one week of qualifying sessions in participating clubs, with a single-session final held at a central site after completion of club play. The sponsoring unit should hold the one-session final within two weeks after completing the last club qualifying game. Two separate qualifying events may be held, with the single-session final of each event held on the same day.

SECTIONAL TOURNAMENT AT CLUBS (STaC): Any number of Sectional Tournaments at Clubs may be conducted by each unit (subject to district approval). A unit must officially apply for the STaC sanction and a STaC must have at least one unit specifically authorizing the conduct of the event. Each of these tournaments may include as many as seven consecutive days of sessions held at participating clubs, including only one weekend. A unit conducts this type tournament at all clubs wishing to participate within the unit.

When a club wishes to participate in a STaC for a session other than their regularly scheduled game, the unit may decide these cases. This authority to disallow a club from participating in a STaC only extends to games which would conflict, that session, with another game and only to games scheduled at other than their regularly scheduled time. Any club desiring to participate at their regularly scheduled time must be permitted to do so. While qualified or certified club directors may direct the games at individual sites, the director in charge of the tournament must be an approved ACBL employee.

The director at the individual site must be non-playing unless the entry is 17 or fewer tables and the director did not duplicate the hands. A playing director does not receive masterpoints, only the partner and/or teammates do.

A minimum section size of 10 pairs is needed to be included in the Championship session. Sections with fewer than 10 pairs may be reported, combined and included as a Sectionally rated Championship. This restriction may be modified or waived, prior to the start of the tournament, at sponsor option.

Every unit must have a Tournament Coordinator. Sanction applications must be submitted by the Unit Coordinator, using the online sanction application.  Examples of sanction applications with instructions for completion are included at the end of this Chapter.

• The Unit Tournament coordinator is the only person authorized to submit a sectional tournament application and the on-line form must be used.

• Check the tentative schedule posted on the web site for possible conflicts within you district and any adjoining district.

• Fill out the on-line sanction application with all the information required (TBD may used if site not known). The form is automatically forwarded to the appropriate District Tournament Coordinator for approval.

• Notify your District Tournament Coordinator, by e-mail, of a date change request for a tournament already sanctioned.

• Submit applications for special requests, such as, but not limited to, Senior Olympic Games scheduled in your unit.

• Check the Tournament Coordinator Bulletin Board on a regular basis.

Sectional sanction applications received are issued a sanction number and a Bulletin code that indicates the sanction status.

A sectional tournament scheduled and sanctioned one year in advance takes precedence over other sectional and regional tournaments not sanctioned one year in advance. Any unit attempting to obtain a sanction for a sectional tournament less than one year out must abide by the rules and regulations governing conflicts. See C. following.

All sectional tournaments of five days or less have the same status and the same rules and regulations apply.

Only units may apply for a sanction to hold Sectional Tournaments. However, there is no objection to a unit nominating another organization to conduct the Sectional, provided that it does so in writing and provided there is no objection (for cause) by ACBL Management to the sponsor nominated. If the district within which the unit is situated is the nominated sponsor, the foregoing right of objection by management does not apply.

A unit not running at least two 99er Sectional tournaments per year is encouraged to grant approval to any club within its jurisdiction that applies for a sanction to run such a tournament and forward the sanction notification/application to the District tournament coordinator for approval.

A unit that holds sectionals on the same approximate dates and at the same site or area each year must submit a list of those dates and sites to the ACBL Tournament Department. If only the date remains constant, that date must be submitted. A separate list will be produced and distributed with the tentative Tournament Schedule showing these dates and sites.

In order to protect the traditional dates, a sectional sanction application must be submitted at least one year in advance.

A sectional tournament appearing on the Traditional Date List which is not held for two years within a three-year period will be removed from the list.

When a sectional tournament is in conflict with another sectional or regional tournament within the same district, that district is the final authority as to whether any or all tournaments thought to be in conflict will be sanctioned.

In situations where more than one district is involved, ACBL management will make a determination that a conflict exists, either on its own initiative or after a request by a party holding a sanction or applying for one. This determination will be reached by consulting internal resources, demographics of tournament attendance (if available), usual tournament size, data from involved parties, etc. If there is a disagreement with management’s determination of conflict, either party may request arbitration for the purpose of determining conflict. The arbitrator’s decision will be final.

For information regarding the arbitration of tournament conflicts and the effect of the timeliness of tournament sanction applications as it applies to the sanctioning of tournaments, See Section Two, III., C.

For all sectionals, except progressive and STaCs, there is a surcharge in addition to a per table sanction fee due ACBL. For the amounts of these fees and charges. See Appendix G.

The ACBL General Convention Chart applies unless it is noted on the sanction application that additional conventions may be used. See Appendix A. Tournament sponsors may apply to use the SuperChart or a part thereof for any event with no upper masterpoint limit when at least 12-board segments are played, provided notice is included in the tournament advertising.

Tournament sponsors may use the MidChart or a part thereof for any unrestricted Flight A event or any bracket of a bracketed knockout event which contains no team with a bracket designator (average masterpoints for the entire team or the top two players) of less than 1000 masterpoints, provided notice is posted at the tournament. They may apply to use the Midchart for all events.

Sectional tournaments must be at least two days and no more than five days in duration, except for Progressive Style or Sectionals at Clubs. Another exception is that any unit which has held three or more sectionals in each of the preceding three years may choose to run two, and only two, 6 day sectionals per year. These sectionals are subject to the scheduling requirements of regionals for purposes of settling conflicts.

Open or Senior sectionals must schedule at least four championship sessions. The schedule must include at least two different championship events, except when a four-session Swiss team event is scheduled. A maximum of three simultaneous championship events per session may be scheduled.

A sectional tournament may schedule up to four sessions of championship rated events (no decrease in masterpoint awards) per day. ACBL may, with cause, disallow more than two championship sessions per day. The schedule must be submitted to the ACBL Tournament Department for approval, advertised well in advance of the tournament and may not be changed unless it becomes necessary to do so because of totally unforeseen circumstances. However, morning, midnight, side or masterpoint-restricted games may be added without previous advertising.

All masterpoint awards at sectionals are silver. For further information on masterpoints, See Chapter 2.

For sectional tournaments, selection of tournament event starting times is almost 100% within the purview of the sponsor. Unless the starting time for an event is unrealistic (second session scheduled to start before the first session could be reasonably completed) or out of the ordinary (3 p.m. and midnight), starting times are routinely approved. The sponsor should take care to choose times which accommodate the majority of players.

Formulating a tournament schedule is one of the most important functions of the tournament committee. A successful tournament needs a well thought-out schedule.

Events must be included for players of greatly different abilities, levels of experience, and objectives while keeping in mind the delicate balance between the number of events and anticipated attendance.

Events may be held as either playthrough or qualifying. In a playthrough event all participants are expected to play for the duration of the event. The total scores of the participants determine the overall rankings.

Qualifying events reduce the field after specified sessions. In general, the carryover scores of the qualifiers are reduced after each elimination.

A chart containing complete information on permissible events (including restrictions and scoring methods) is provided at the end of this Chapter.

The event types and restrictions authorized for ACBL-sanctioned tournaments are listed in the “Permissible Event Types and Restrictions” chart found at the end of this Chapter.

Following is a description of various events which may be held. Events not specifically listed may be approved on an experimental basis by the ACBL Tournament Department.

There are no restrictions on age, gender or masterpoint holding on players either individually or collectively as members of a pair or team in open events.

For the purpose of computing masterpoints, open events may receive credit for tables entered in a concurrent same type event that is restricted. See Chapter 2, Section Three.

Individual, pair or team events may be subdivided into two or three “flights” having designated upper masterpoint limits. Approved masterpoint limits are listed at the end of this Chapter.

Participants may enter any flight for which they are eligible, playing only against players in their own flight. Masterpoints are awarded based on the number of tables in the flight entered added to the number of tables in all lower flights. These events may be playthrough or qualifying. However, it is recommended that only the top flight be run as a qualifying event. Flight C events may also be stratified.

Individual, pair or team events may be subdivided into two or three strats with specific lower and upper masterpoint limits. Participants enter the lowest strat for which they are eligible as they compete for awards in their own strat and all higher strats. Awards are based on the number of tables in the strat entered added to the number of tables in all lower strats. Stratified events may be run as playthroughs only.

At sponsor option, Swiss Team events may be stratified by using the average masterpoints of the entire team.

A stratiflighted event is a combination of flighted and stratified. The first group would have no masterpoint restrictions, unless the sponsoring organization chooses to stratify the top flight into two strats (A-1 and A-2). When the top flight has two strats the A-1 strat will have no masterpoint restriction while the A-2 strat would have no lower masterpoint limit and an upper masterpoint limit of 1500, 2000, 3000 or 5000 (at least 500 points higher than strat B) at sponsor option.

The second group would be subdivided into two or three strats with specific lower and upper masterpoint limits. Participants may enter either the unrestricted group or the lowest strat for which they are eligible in the second group. Only the unrestricted group may be run as a qualifying event. At a sectional tournament the A and B flights can be combined into a group to play together with the C flight playing separately.

Matchpoints or IMPs are given to participants as handicap points based on a predetermined scale for the type of event. Information for methods of computing handicaps may be obtained from the ACBL Tournament Department, the area Field Representative, or the director assigned to be in charge of the tournament.

Knockout Team and Swiss Team events are divided into groups based on either the average or total masterpoints of the top two masterpoint holders or on the average masterpoints of the entire team. The tournament director-in-charge may be consulted for further information.

All masterpoint-restricted events having an upper masterpoint limit require that all entrants be below that masterpoint limit. If an event has a lower masterpoint limit, one member of each partnership must meet or exceed the minimum limit. In an event designated as a Life Master event, all entrants must have attained their ACBL Life Master status. Exceptions may be made for entrants from other recognized organizations.

A side game series may be held as a pair game only. It is a series of at least three one-session games which may not be restricted by age, gender or masterpoint holding. The event may be stratified for side game session awards only, and may not be flighted. Participants may enter as many scheduled sessions as they wish, playing with the same or different partners each session. Overall ranking is done on an individual basis by computing the sum of each participant’s two best games.

Awards are computed on the average number of tables entered in the two largest sessions. Gold points are awarded at regionals to overall winners at 80% of an open pair event. Gold points are awarded for section top placing only to participants who enter at least two sessions of the same event. Each session of the side game series will award single session side game overall awards (red points only). Each individual session may be stratified.

A Choice Pairs event may be held as a pairs event only. It is an event scheduled for three sessions during one calendar day (morning, afternoon and evening) and a pair must choose to play in only two of the three sessions.

A bracketed knockout event in which each match is half the normal length (i.e., at least twelve and probably not more than fourteen boards) is an approved tournament event. This event is permitted at sectionals, for silver points, and at regionals for red and gold points (a minimum of nine teams is necessary to award gold points).

Comfortable playing conditions at a tournament are essential for all participants. Handicapped players must be allowed to use any special equipment they require, such as braille cards, bidding boxes, or special chair. However, the tournament is not required to supply such equipment.

The floor space required is 64 to 81 square feet per table. Estimates when calculating the amount of space required should be very optimistic. Additional space will be needed for scoring tables, water stations, supplies, etc. Office and/or supply storage rooms near the playing area are highly recommended. For example, if the expected attendance is 100 tables in any one session, the minimum amount of space required would be 6600 square feet. This leaves some amount of space in the playing area for the items mentioned above.

The facility must have acceptable lighting for all tables. At least 10 footcandles of illumination 30 inches above the floor is necessary for all tables.

The sponsoring organization must see that the playing areas are well ventilated with proper heating or cooling available. Designated smoking areas should be located away from the playing areas.

The sponsoring organization must see that adequate drinking water is provided and that the playing area is cleaned between sessions. Caddies can help keep the room clean during play. Trash bags attached to tables and/or trash receptacles conveniently located will prove very beneficial. The facility must have adequate rest rooms.

The sponsoring organization must arrange for sufficient tables and chairs. Tables are usually provided by the sponsoring organization, but hotels and convention centers usually have a sufficient number of chairs. However, arrangements to rent chairs may be necessary. If the space used is uncarpeted, rubber-tipped chairs should be used.

All essential supplies such as playing cards, boards, conventions cards, etc., may be purchased or rented from the ACBL Tournament Department at the prevailing per table charge or may be provided by the unit or district. ACBL will not send supplies unless specifically requested, so orders should be submitted well in advance.

Hand records are routinely provided by the ACBL for a fee. See Appendix G. They are either shipped with supplies or brought to the tournament by the director in charge or an ACBL supply director. There will be a charge on the tournament invoice for only those hand records used. Refer to Chapter 10 for more information.

Copies of the hands, available for distribution to the players at the end of the session, are almost universally expected by tournament players. One master printout is provided with each set of hand records. Usually copies are made at the tournament site, but other arrangements may be made as necessary.

ACBL will provide the computers and printers used at tournaments through the tournament directors. There are no additional fees for the provision of this equipment.

ACBL encourages units and districts to provide bidding boxes. Bidding boxes are the responsibility of the sponsoring organization. They are not included with ACBL supplies. Units or districts wishing to have bidding boxes available for use at their tournaments may purchase or rent them from the ACBL. Refer to Chapter 10 of this Handbook for more information.

Bidding boxes are used in all events at NABCs with the exception of the Intermediate/Newcomer Program where they are optional Handicapped players requiring bidding boxes will have preference when availability is limited. Non-handicapped players may use bidding boxes, if available, in events where such use is not mandated as long as no player at the table objects.

Any clocks available at regionals or sectionals for the convenience of the participants are the property of individual units or districts. They are available for purchase from the ACBL.

Sanction applications must be submitted electronically by the appropriate coordinator and must include the following information:

DATE REQUESTED: Month, dates and year must be completed.

DISTRICT AND UNIT NUMBER: Enter the district and unit numbers in which the tournament will be held.

TOURNAMENT NAME: Enter the name of the tournament. If it has no name, enter the city where it will be held.

TOURNAMENT SITE: Enter the tournament site, phone number, street address, city, state and zip code. If the site is not known, enter (to be announced). The site must be submitted at least 6 months prior to the tournament date.

TYPE OF TOURNAMENT: Check the appropriate boxes for sectional or regional and type of sectional or regional including masterpoint restrictions, if any.

TOURNAMENT CHAIRPERSON: Enter the name and player number of the person in charge of the tournament.

OFFICIAL HANDLING CORRESPONDENCE: Enter the name and player number of the person who will receive all correspondence from ACBL concerning the tournament (must have e-mail access).

DIRECTOR-IN-CHARGE REQUESTED: This information is optional.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: Check the appropriate box.

TOURNAMENT SUPPLY REQUEST: If you want ACBL to furnish supplies, check the SEND AT PREVAILING TABLE FEE box. If you are furnishing your own supplies check DO NOT SEND.

CONVENTIONS ALLOWED: If you wish to allow conventions other than those permitted by the ACBL General Convention Chart, check this box and include conventions that will be permitted.

TOURNAMENT CONTACT: Enter the name and player number of the person to be listed in The ACBL Bridge Bulletin for players to contact regarding tournament information.

APPROVAL: The completed Sanction Application must be submitted to the appropriate District Tournament Coordinator for approval and then ACBL for sanctioning.

The following event types and restrictions are authorized for ACBL sanctioned tournaments. Management is authorized to sanction other events on an experimental basis.

INDIVIDUAL

PAIR

TEAM (SWISS, B-A-M, KNOCKOUT or any combination of these) PAIR/TEAM (one session event with masterpoints to be the greater of the pair event or team event)

OPEN

MEN’S

WOMEN’S

MIXED

UNMIXED

OPEN

JUNIOR (25 years and younger)

SENIOR (55, 65 or 75 years and older)

FLIGHTED: (By masterpoints only.) Two or three flights. Flight A may have A and Ax. The lowest flight may have up to three strats. Note: Flighted KO events at Regionals may be bracketed (but may not be randomly grouped) to finish in 4 sessions.

STRATIFIED: (By masterpoints only.) Two or three strats. Up to five strats are permitted in a one-session event which has an upper limit of 300 or fewer masterpoints - specifically an IN event. Note: At sponsor option, the stratification level of a team in a Stratified Swiss Event may be determined by the average masterpoint holding of all team members.

STRATIFLIGHTED: (by masterpoints only): Flight A separate and unlimited (may have A and Ax). Flight B may have two or three strats. At a sectional tournament the A and B flights can be combined into a group to play together with the C flight playing separately.

NOTE: Only Flight A, Ax and Strat B with 750 masterpoints or greater are eligible for Gold points.

HANDICAPPED: Based on masterpoint holding of entrants.

BRACKETED: (KO and Swiss Teams) Based on masterpoint holding of entrants.

MASTERS: One member of each partnership must meet minimum limit.

NON-MASTERS: All entrants must be under maximum limit.

LIFE MASTERS: All entrants must meet Life Master requirement.

RESTRICTED: (Upper masterpoint limit) All entrants must be under maximum limit.)

SIDE GAME SERIES: (Open Pair game only) May not be restricted by age, gender, or masterpoint holding. (May be stratified for single side game session awards only.)

CHOICE: (Pair game only) An event which is scheduled for three sessions during one calendar day (morning, afternoon and evening), and a pair must choose to play in only two of the three sessions. Concurrent event rule does not apply to any pair in this event during their unplayed third session.

NOTE: SIMULTANEOUS SPLIT REGIONALS SHALL HAVE THE SAME CHAMPIONSHIP PAIR

EVENTS PLAYED SIMULTANEOUSLY AT BOTH SITES. THESE GAMES CANNOT BE QUALIFYING EVENTS.

PAIR: Matchpoint, IMP

TEAM: Win-loss, victory point, total points, board-a-match

PAIR/TEAM: Matchpoints + one from “Team” above (must be a one-session event only)

FLIGHTED

PAIRS FLIGHT A 0-INFINITY, or A and AX

(must be 500 above B to 5000)

B 0-750,1000,1250,1500,1750,2000,2500

C 0-100,200,300,NLM<NLM 500 Max> 500,750,1000

STRATIFIED

PAIRS STRAT A TOP “B” -UNLIMITED

B TOP “C” -750,1000,1250,1500,1750,2000,2500

C 0-100,200,300,NLM<NLM 500 Max>

500,750,1000(OPTIONAL)(IF NO “C”=0)

STRAT A Both over

300,LM,500,750,1000,1250,1500,1750,2000,2500

B One over & one under

C Both under

STRATIFLIGHTED

PAIRS FLIGHT A UNLIMITED (STAND ALONE) (Ax must be at least

500 higher than upper limit of B, Max 5000)

STRAT B TOP OF “C” -750,1000,1250,1500,2000

C TOP OF “D” -300,NLM(max 500),500,750,1000

D 0-100,200,300,NLM<NLM max 500 >

(optional)(IF NO “D”, 0-NLM (NLM Max 500)

FLIGHTED

KNOCKOUT TEAMS FLIGHT A 0-INFINITY

B 0-750,1000,1250,1500,1750,2000,2500

C 0-100,200,300,NLM<NLM max 500 >

500,750,1000

BRACKETED

KNOCKOUT &

SWISS TEAMS Must be bracketed by:

Average MP’s all team members

FLIGHTED SWISS

TEAMS FLIGHT A 0-INFINITY, or A and AX

(Ax must be at least 500 higher than upper

limit for B to 5000)

B 0-750,1000,1250,1500,1750,2000,2500

C 0-200,300,NLM<NLM 500 max >

500,750,1000 (optional)(If no “C” MAY BE

STRATIFIED &/or 1 SESS)

STRATIFIED

SWISS TEAMS STRAT A TOP “B” -UNLIMITED

B TOP “C” -750,1000,1250,1500,2000

C 0-200,300,NLM< NLM 500 max >

0-500, 0-750, 0-1000 (OPTIONAL)(IF NO “C”=0)

STRATIFLIGHTED

SWISS TEAMS FLIGHT A 0-INFINITY, or A and AX

(must be 500 above B to 5000) (STAND ALONE)

STRAT B TOP OF “C” -750,1000,1250,1500,1750,2000,2500

C TOP OF “D” -300,500,750,1000

D 0-200,300,NLM<NLM 500 max >

(OPTIONAL)

(IF NO “D”, Add 0-200 to C)

FLIGHTED

PAIRS FLIGHT A 0-INFINITY, or A and AX

(Ax must be 500 above B to 5000)

B 0-300,500,750,1000,1250,1500,1750,2000,2500

C 0-50,100,200,300,NLM<NLM 500 Max>

0-500, 0-750, 0-1000 (MAY BE STRATIFIED)

STRATIFIED

PAIRS STRAT A TOP “B” -UNLIMITED

B TOP “C” -

300,500,750,1000,1250,1500,1750,2000,2500

C 0-50,100,200,300,NLM<NLM 500 max>

0-500, 0-750, 0-1000 (OPTIONAL)(IF NO “C”=0)

STRAT A Both over

300,LM,500,750,1000,1250,15001750,2000,2500

B One over & one under

C Both under

STRATIFLIGHTED

PAIRS FLIGHT A Ax, or A and AX

(must be 500 above B to 5000) (STAND ALONE)

STRAT B TOP OF “C” -

500,750,1000,1250,1500,1750,2000,2500

C TOP OF “D” -200,300,NLM,(NLM 500

max)500,750,1000

D 0-50,100,200 (OPTIONAL)

(IF NO “D”, C=0)

FLIGHTED

KNOCKOUT TEAMS FLIGHT A 0-INFINITY

B 0-300,500,750,1000,1250,1500,1750,2000,2500

C 0-100,200,300,NLM<NLM 500 max>

0-500, 0-750, 0-1000

Note: may be bracketed to end in 3 sessions.

BRACKETED KNOCKOUT

&

SWISS TEAMS Must be bracketed by:

Average MP’s all team members

FLIGHTED

SWISS TEAMS FLIGHT A Ax, or A and AX

(must be 500 above B to 5000)

B 0-300,500,750,1000,1250,1500,1750,2000,2500

C 0-100,200,300,NLM<NLM 500 max>

0-500, 0-750, 0-1000 (OPTIONAL)(IF NO “C”=0)

STRATIFIED

SWISS TEAMS STRAT A TOP “B” -UNLIMITED

B TOP “C” -

300,500,750,1000,1250,1500,1750,2000,2500

C 0-100,200,300,NLM< NLM 500 max >

0-500, 0-750, 0-1000 (OPTIONAL)(IF NO “C”=0)

STRATIFLIGHTED

SWISS TEAMS FLIGHT A Ax, or A and AX

(must be 500 above B to 5000) (STAND ALONE)

STRAT B TOP OF “C” -

500,750,1000,1250,1500,1750,2000,2500

C TOP OF “D” -200,300,NLM(NLM 500

max),500,750,1000

D 0-50,100,200,300,NLM(NLM 500 max),500

(OPTIONAL)

(IF NO “D”, C=0)