Maurice

I like to sub into tourneys a lot. The procedure was simple in the Flash version. The HTML5 version lacks a sound alerting you to someone requesting you to substitute. This makes it very difficult to multi-task since you must watch the BBO window constantly. (I have all sounds turned on, but there is no sound alert for the sub window when it pops up.) It would also be helpful to allow choices for subs. For instance. I never sub into team tourneys, so it would be nice to click Substitutes, then have a choice to select Pairs, Individuals, or Teams.

I sent a message to BBO via the online interface, and was directed to this forum. I am a Canadian, and have retired to the Caribbean island of Curacao. When I went to change my country from Canada to Curacao, I discovered Curacao was not listed. I'd like to see it added the drop down list. Please consider this in your next update. Thanks Maurice

By eliminating doubled and redoubled contracts you remove the most significant risk factor!! For instance, doubling a 2d bid and leaving it in for penalty is a far greater risk than NOT doubling a 2d contract and letting it play. For me, that makes the study next to useless. Also, I do not think the bidding is the biggest risk - it is in the play of the game. Will you risk going down in solid contract to take that extra trick in match points? Will you double those "interfering ops" in a part score or take your solid part score? (The "youngsters" in the recent USBF championships showed how risky this behaviour is, and of course how rewarding.) I'm not even sure that risk taking is a meaningful thing - what counts more often than not, is getting to the right contract, and not booting the easy ones.

Another thing I wouldn't mind seeing is the maximum number of players allowed in the tourney displayed on the main listing. Since you've gone to the two line listing, there's lots of room to put it on there, so we don't have to click to see.

The first thing I'd like to see is a different color for each type of tourney - for instance, I click on Robot Tourneys, and there is a mass of the same blue for every style of tourney. Make the ACBL tourneys gold color, the robot races green, the bingo black, etc... as it sits, it's tough to distinguish the variant of tourney you want to play. I do like how the search filters the tourney very quickly, but then I have to type! How about adding a drop down list with each style there so I can filter without typing? As someone else mentioned, I'm not crazy about the two line style of advertising the tourney - seems cluttered. BUT, I do like having the Register button right there, rather than having to click twice to register.

How does 6NT sound?

You hold: ♠ K53 ♥ J2 ♦ 854 ♣ AJ1076 The bidding: Partner opens with 1♥, your RHO overcalls 2♠, you pass, LHO passes, Partner bids 4♥, RHO passes --- Your bid please. (This is an ACBL MP style tourney.)

You can simply turn the chat off. I find the JEC matches to be quite enjoyable, and quite often, turning off the chat is the only way to enjoy it. People say it's easy to simply ban people, and it is easy to do. However, many tournaments require you not to have ban lists. Turning off the chat is easier. I've been a BBO member since the day after it came online... One of the things I liked about it was the ability to keep kibbitzers out. At the old Zone I was being stalked and it was hard to avoid her. At BBO, you could start a table and have the kibs be quiet. It is wonderful! I think 2over1 is rather silly in his over the top self righteous anger about Larry's behaviour. I don't agree with some of Larry's moderation, because it is not consistent enough! So many times the conversation borders on moronic. Inane discussions of what music people prefer, the daily buffet, the weather in their area - I mean REALLY? does anyone really give a crap about that rubbish? The majority of the people who use the JEC matches to socialize strike me as rather lonely people. (And let's face it, there are really only about a dozen or so people who seek to dominate the conversation on a daily basis.) Personally, I think y'all should start a chat on MSN or ICQ or whatever messenger you prefer, and invite all your friends to socialize so you can comment about your music, your kids, your weather, your eating habits, your bodily functions or your sex lives to your heart's content! Quite often the bidding on JEC is complicated, particularly when playing the Indonesian or Italian teams and all that dreck gets in the way of people who know, explaining what the bids mean. Don't you people see that you are being selfish, and self-centered, in your need to discuss your personal lives in a public forum? Are you really so lonely and needy that you need to tell us you burped, what you had for dinner or that Lawrence Welk is your favorite band leader?