The American Contract Bridge League is the sanctioning body for duplicate bridge in North America. If you are a member of the ACBL and play in a sanctioned game at a club or a tournament, you have an opportunity to win masterpoints.
Masterpoints are awarded to the top 40% of the participants in an event. The number of points awarded depends on the rating of the event and the number of tables in play. Tournaments have higher ratings than club games and large games award more points than small games.
Masterpoints are also pigmented. Points won at club games are usually black (B), but may be silver (S), red (R) or gold (G) depending on the event. Points won at tournaments may be black, silver, red, gold or platinum (P), depending on the level of the tournament and the event.
By earning masterpoints you can achieve various rankings. The more points you earn the higher your ranking. As of 2017 the rankings and the required masterpoints are
Ranking Required Masterpoints
Rookie >0, <5
Junior Master 5
Club Master 20 (5 B)
Sectional Master 50 (10 B, 5 S)
Regional Master 100 (15 B, 15 S, 5 R/G/P)
NABC Master 200 (20 B, 25 S, 15 R/G/P, 5 G/P)
Advanced NABC Master 300 (50 B, 50 S, 25 R/G/P, 25 G/P)
Life Master 500 (75 B, 75 S, 50 R/G/P, 25 G/P)
Bronze Life Master LM with 750
Silver Life Master 1000 (200 S/R/G/P)
Ruby Life Master 1500 (300 S/R/G/P)
Gold Life Master 2500 (500 S/R/G/P)
Sapphire Life Master 3500 (350 S/R/G/P, 350 G/P)
Diamond Life Master 5000 (500 S/R/G/P, 500 G/P)
Emerald Life Master 7500 (1500 S/R/G/P, 750 G/P)
Platinum Life Master 10,000 (2000 S/R/G/P, 900 G/P, 100P)
Grand Life Master 10,000 (1000 S/R/G/P, 900 G/P, 100P)*
*The Grand Life Master level has some additional requirements.
For many duplicate players the “holy grail” of bridge is to become a life master (LM). If you were an ACBL member at the end of 2009, you are grandfathered under the 2009 requirements. The annual membership fee is only $26 for first-year members and $35 thereafter. Family memberships are also available.
Even if you do not think you are interested in pursuing an LM ranking, a membership in the ACBL is a bargain for the 80-page, 8 ½ x 11 glossy monthly magazine you will receive. It is full of articles to improve your bridge, letters to the editor, tournament schedules and results, obituaries, minimal advertising (all bridge related) and a few other miscellaneous articles. You will also receive a bimonthly newspaper type newsletter from District 16 which includes most of Texas and all of Mexico.
If you wish to become a member it is recommended that you join online. There website link is given on the LINKS page. If you do join, please enter 226415 for the “Recruiting Club Number” and O200109 for the “Recruiting Player Number” on your application form.