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Keep taking the Tablets!

Keep taking the Tablets!

By In 43rd World Bridge Teams Championships On 15th August 2017


Unless you have been playing bridge on a desert island for the last few years you will know that major bridge championships that require the services of a BBO organiser turn to Traian Chira, who lives in Australia, having settled there in the early 1990’s following the overthrow of Communism in Romania. A writer and manager of software, he has been responsible for a number of important developments that are primarily designed to improve online spectator’s viewing experience.
His latest innovation is the introduction of tablet computers on each side of the screen that include a button for calling the Director (so on the other side of the screen they don’t know a call has been made) and one that has to be used when taking a ‘comfort’ break (ensuring that a team mate at the other table cannot leave at the same time).
They are in use here in Lyon and tablets are also being used to display information outside the BBO playing rooms.
Whilst it is possible that future developments might see the bidding boxes replaced by tablets there are no plans to do away with the playing cards!


About the Author

Mark Horton
Mark Horton

Mark Horton British journalist and expert player, was Editor of Bridge Magazine 1995-2017 and now edits the online publication Bridgerama+. At one time, his business cards were inscribed: Have Cards will Travel, but following the death of his most famous sponsor, the Rabbi Leonard Helman, he has tended to concentrate on his writing exploits (in 2018 he had five books published!). Anyone wanting to discover how to lose at bridge on a regular basis (and pay for the privilege) should feel free to contact him. He currently lives in Shrewsbury with his wife Liz.