Leaderboard

Indeed, and the club hook is certainly not a serious error, let alone "extremely" serious. And arguing that any finesse is a "gambling action" does not wash. TD decision very clear here.

I am writing to complain about the upsurge in anti Semitic comments I have been receiving. As well as the usual "idiot" comment I was recently told to go to the "gaz chambers where my family are waiting for me ". I put my country as israel. I took a picture of this and sent it to BBO but the player is still playing and has had no consequences for his hate crime comment. I want to know what BBO is doing to deal with this problem which is happening at least once a day when I play.

Hateful comments are not a bridge topic, and something specific to BBO is also not a bridge topic. That’s why this thread was moved. Unfortunately, while the players in question should definitely be banned, they may simply sign up again with a new nickname. Cheaters can do the same. This is why many people (myself included) believe that BBO should require ID for accounts. They can still provide the anonymity they value by not disclosing the real names. This sort of thing can be achieved by, for example, charging a small amount by credit card and then refunding it back.

I agree with the need to post this sort of incident when nothing seems to have done. One thing: Why not post a screen image of the incident. When certain Israeli and Italian players were caught using secret signals, Bridgewinners.com posted the entire detail of how the cheating was accomplished along with Kit Woolsey's expert analysis and of course the names of the perpetrators. No expert advice is needed in this case, but identifying the offender is. Nothing serves a perpetrator of wrong doing more than anonymity.

I agree completely. There is no place here for such comments. In my profile, at the very top, is the statement "Zero Tolerance for Behavior". That is my number 1 priority, and I will remove players who violate it. When my partner makes a bonehead play, I will either state "Nice Compression Play" (Compressing 9 tricks into 7 for example), or the question "When did you learn to play? I know it was today, but what time today?" (Unless my partner has proven that he knows what he is doing, and then I usually say nothing.) If it gets serious, I will report it, but that person will already have been removed from my table.

The Wall Street Journal reports: So much for one more false claim about a presidential accomplishment.

The ticket number for my complaint is # 696484 I have sent more pictures of what was texted to me to abuse@bridgebase. That number is #697260. Thank you for all the support. this is not new I have been playing here for many years. However there is no question that that the rudeness and the hostility has grown immensely. There is no doubt that being "removed by the host" give people a lot of power and is very readily used after there is name calling. I also do not know why this post was moved. This is for sure about Bridge and our enjoyment on this site. Hate is hate and cannot be allowed. I believe strongly that the person who said those hateful sick comments should be barred for life from BBO.

I would have left out "unless he openly expresses an apology". I would rate the chance of a sincere apology when faced with a ban as slightly smaller than the chance that a bridge cheater will stop cheating.

I fully agree with you.First thing all of us remember is that all of us are HUMANS.It is inhumanly to admonish or make objectionable unsporting remarks on any one when we are playing a GAME and NOT POLITICS or any thing else.Personally,I would banish such a player FOR LIFE unless he openly expresses an apology.

I feel truly sorry for you. Whilst all of us must have endured a nasty comment or two on here, when it becomes a hate-filled racist rant it crosses a line where Bridgebase need to deal with it swiftly. Such language should not be tolerated whatsoever.

Don't use a Safety Play In a field of 16 pairs, and as its MPs they were erring for game, so I’m putting down 12 pairs in game, and we and three others in 3H If 10 tricks are the norm then the gamers get 63% and we just 10% If 8 tricks are the limit then the gamers get 37%, the other 3 risky ones get 87% and you alone get the worthy safety play 100%. Your real reward is avoiding game, not you safety play- that only get you an extra 13% over the other 3 And if 9 tricks are the norm then the 3 riskers get 87%, and you only 80% for missing out on a trick. And the gamers get 37%. Again your real reward is avoiding game, moreover it only costs 7% (over the risky 3) by your safety play So the final factor is: how likely will the cards offer exactly 9 and not 8? I’m guessing that as the field are mostly in game then only a really rotten split are going to hold us to 8 tricks: much more likely 9. So I’m guessing that of the missed games the Safety “cost” of 7% will occur several times more often than the Safety “gain” of 13%. To which you’d also lose the 10% if you uniquely took only the Safe 9 when everyone else got 10 Hence I’d avoid the Safety Play (don’t get me going about what a safety play really means….) :)

FWIW, I'm normally quite in favor of freedom of expression, however, even for me anti semitic hate speech is way over the line. To me, the punishment for this sort of thing should start at long term bans...

Unfortunately there has been no action from BBO which is precisely why I am writing it here.

Note that a 24-26 point balanced hand is of "reasonable frequency" allowing plenty of leeway in bypassing the regulations. The most popular way of doing this, usually attributed to Frances Hinden, is to include an Acol 2 in diamonds with a solid suit as the only strong option. This is more frequent than the big balanced hand, so legal, and enables partner to pass 2♦ tactically holding any diamond honour (since Opener cannot hold the strong hand type). Not really relevant any more due to the change in regulations but an interesting example of the way system regulations can shape bidding theory.