[1eyedjack]

I don't know whether it is just a seasonal blip, but issues over claiming are in the ascendant at the moment.

I wonder whether the gallery feel it would be a software improvement if the interface forbade a claim unless accompanied by a text string? A concession of all tricks might be an exception.

If you do not like that, how about if this option were potentially available at the discretion of the table host?

Some players would inevitably just put in a random character, but it MAY prompt a few to give an explanation who otherwise would not.

I wonder whether some modification of Deep Finesse would be able to automate the rulings on claims? Some intelligence would be required, but not too much if the line is obvious, ie if Omar Sharif bridge program would make it then I guess allow the claim :-)

[McBruce]

For some reason the most common text I get when people call the Director is this

p

Any idea what this stands for? I suppose it is p for player missing.

I like the idea of forcing a string for claims. It might be good to have the dialog box include some buttons to include the commonest ones: 'dummy is good,' 'my hand is good,' 'cross-ruff,' 'pulling trumps' and so on. The translation project could even ensure we see these auto-phrases in our language.