Mis-seated Teams of 4
Putting to one side the question of why the players didn't consult a TD who was in the club at the time (or why they didn't read the instructions), they managed to play a 24 board Teams of 4 match with the same pairs sitting N/S and E/W for all 24 boards. To be clear one pair from each team sat N/S at each of the tables. So we have ended up with two parallel IMPS Pairs matches. A complication is that the Teams consist of one stronger pair and one weaker pair and the two stronger pairs played each other as did the two weaker pairs. (The teams were set up like this to introduce less experienced players to Teams with a reasonable chance of getting good results.)
I can't see this situation mentioned in the White Book so seek advice on how to proceed.
Comments
Hmm. Seems to me like they've switched teammates. If that doesn't work with the wider competition there really isn't much to be done. Replay or assign a match score.
Yes Hmmmm!
How about white book 3.3.6.2 ? Half the boards have been correctly played. However, I am not sure of the interpretation of "averages will be given on the boards not played." Does that also include the boards played incorrectly? I think it does.
It might be possible to do the above and compare with the result attained on the night and see if it makes a big difference. Yes, effectively only 12 boards will contribute to the end result but hey ho! they managed to forget the instructions and it is their "equal" fault.
As James says you will also have to consider the result as within the parameters of the competition.
Hope it works out.
I think I'm being thick here, but what's wrong?
Teams of 4 don't have to swap opponents half way through, and in fact in an event with stronger pairs teamed up with weaker pairs I can well imagine the conditions of contest stating that strong pairs must play strong pairs. To play strong against weak would just be a lottery.
This read to me as 3.3.6.1 - complete stanzas player with incorrect seating.
All boards where a team sat NS at both tables should be replayed.
Failing that - Knockout is a draw, A VP league match is 8-8 (on 20-0 scale), otherwise -72 IMPs to both teams!?
If this is qualifying event and 8-8VP assured one/both teams qualified, then 0-0VP is possible.
Like Jeremy Child, I can't see the problem? Unless there is something specific in the Conditions of Contest about playing both opponents, the 24 boards should be scored as normal. The fact that each team only played one opponent is unusual but fine.
If I misunderstood earlier and there was a teams match with all 24 boards resulting a proper comparison between the two teams then all boards stand and the score stands.
There is normally no penalty for failure to conform to the regulation of "compulsory change of opponents at half time". If the tournament organizer finds that one side could have known that failure to comply with the regulation could work to their benefit, and it did work to their benefit, and that team was responsible for the failure to switch opponents, then it would be correct to adjust the result.
Many thanks for those replies. That is what I thought but I wanted to get an expert opinion.