Home Counties League Rules
- All Home Counties League matches will be played in strict accordance with: (a) the ‘Laws of Duplicate Bridge 1997’, (b) the EBU ‘White Book’ of Regulations and Directives, (c) the ‘LMBA Regulations for Matches Played Privately’ and (d) these rules. In the event of any conflict between (b), (c) and (d) above, (d) will prevail over all and (c) will prevail over (b). Copies of (c) and (d) can also be obtained from the Tournament Organiser.
- The competition will run from October to May each year.
- Matches will be of 24 boards but can be increased to 32 boards provided that both Captains agree this before the start of play. They will generally be held on the play on date advised by the Tournament Organiser (See paragraphs 8 and 9 of the ‘LMBA Regulations for Matches Played Privately’ for further details regarding play on dates). The venue must be within 25 miles of Charing Cross, unless otherwise agreed by the two Captains, and the match must not start later than 7.00 pm. If a central venue is required then the Young Chelsea Bridge Club is available for hire at favourable rates. Contact Warwick Pitch on 020 7373 1665 for details.
- Matches will be played between competing Counties on a home and away basis alternate years. The cost of staging the match is to be borne by the home team. Elaborate refreshments are not expected. However, where no facilities are available, the opposing Captain should be notified well in advance so that his team can arrange to eat beforehand.
- Scoring will be as a team of eight with the net score for each board being converted to IMPs and then to Victory Points on the following scale:IMPs VPs
0-6 6-6
7-14 7-5
15-23 8-4
24-33 9-3
34-44 10-2
45-56 11-1
57+ 12-0 - There will be no restriction on the number of players in a County’s squad. It is emphasised that this competition has been formed to provide a platform for Counties to introduce 2nd team standard players to County representative events, including youngsters on their way up.
- If a team includes a player who has already played for another County in this competition in the same season then it will be fined 1 VP for each match in which the offending player has participated (these forfeited points will not be added to the other teams’ totals).
- Matches will be played as a team of eight - all pairs to meet each other. The boards will be played in quarters of the total number to the played, ie. usually 6 boards out of 24. The boards will be circulated round the four tables as they are played so that scoring can be done after each quarter. In a team consists of more than eight players than substitutions can be made after each quarter of the boards has been played but no player may play against an opposition player for more than one quarter of the boards in a match.
- Where reasons for failure to play a match have been sent in writing, the Tournament Organiser will award Victory Points on the following basis. The non-offending team will be awarded the higher of its average VPs won over the season (rounded up) and the average VPs lost over the season by the offending team (rounded up). The offending team will be awarded the balance of VPs.
Tournament Organizer - Dominic Flint, Flat 3, 3 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4NG. Tel 07763 845457 email [email protected]