[blml] Fwd: Decimal HCP ranges.

[Nigel]

[nige1]
Decimal notation (invented by Tim) is the most succinct and accurate
I prefer the Walrus version ... eg 14.8-18.3 means 20% of 14s and 30% 
or 18s qualify.
[Jean-Pierre Rocafort]
This one can't be ok: it's inconsistent. 14.8 lies between 14 
(outside) and 15 (inside); you say it means that
all 15 qualify, and some part of 14 (outside) qualify on the other 
side, 18.3 lies between 18 (inside) and 19 (outside) and it
means that some part of 18 (inside) qualify and no 19 qualify.
the treatment of both sides is non-symetric

[nige1]

The basis of the Walrus version of decimal HCP notation is that 
eligible hands with a given HCP span a one HCP range. Thus
the worst 18 HCP hands are at the bottom end: 18.0, 18.1, 18.2...
And the best are at the top end ...18.8, 18.9, 19.0.

For example suppose the declared range is 14.8-18.3 HCP.
The lower range limit of 14.8 means that only 20% of otherwise 
eligible 14 HCP hands qualify i.e. hands in the range 14.8-15.0
While an upper range limit of 18.3 means that 30% of otherwise 
eligible 18 HCP hands qualify i.e. hands in the range 18.0-18.3

We did point out that the notation isn't intuitive :) but once 
explained, I think experienced players could adapt to it and we walrus 
would take to it like a mermaid to water.