Thanks - educational too. Will probably go with that but any reason why the 1x1gif is needed there at all?
Code:
<if condition="$bbuserinfo['userid'] == 0">
<td class="alt2"> </td>
<else />
<if condition="$show['avatar']"><td class="alt2"><a href="member.php?$session[sessionurl]u=$post[userid]"><img src="$post[avatarurl]" $post[avwidth] $post[avheight] alt="<phrase 1="$post[username]">$vbphrase[xs_avatar]</phrase>" border="0" /></a></td></if>
</if>