spkcp111

After playing BBO for more than 5 years, being a programmer myself...it feels like the Robot has gotten WORSE. People just aren't playing anymore--it's absolutely ridiculous... HORRIBLE bidding...absolutely ridiculous... Wish they'd hire some DECENT programmers--know that's critical--but 5-10 years in IT is like a coons-age...And yet! Things just keep getting worse. I'd think BBO would notice they are losing customers--it used to be many more people played the tourneys--now seems tourneys have a trickle of players... GET IT BBO? Whoever your programmers are--they aren't cutting it!

Why not let people use their REAL NAMES as tied to their ACBL# (WBF, etc). Make it optional. Are you going to play with someone who is accountable? Or someone who wants to play in the shadows? Just like anything else--if people think no one is watching, they'll behave poorly to the detriment of the game. Secondly? Tie it to a club (ACBL). You're more likely to develop a permanent playing relationship. Who knows--maybe they're already in your club (or at least within reach via Sectional/Regional). I DO think there are very egregious violations. Like cussing someone out, blatant harrassment and outright cheating. These things would get someone kicked out of a real club toot-sweet. Why is it OK to do this online?

From you post, I see you're probably better than I--was in bridge lessons for 6-7 years, so I probably play more gadgets than most. We'd have to talk to sync them up. I was attracted to your post because I think I can learn from you...and I too, am fascinated with defense. That conversation that happens when two players really get each other. It can be quite deadly. I'm also OK with an aggressive partner. I tend to have what I say--but I'm not a wimp, either. I live outside of St. Louis. I'm w/i a few points of SLM. Qualified NAP's twice. Mensa/Intertel. I live very far from the nearest club now, so only BBO for me. There are a few bids that are really magic--but playing a good solid, consistent, logical game of bridge is 80-90% of the game. Negatives? For some reason, card counting eludes me...still don't do that well. And when I make a bad mistakes, it upsets me and one bad board can turn into 3. I work on that :) I program computers during the day (aka, complex problems) so I'm pretty beat when I get home. It'd have to be weekends--unless you're OK with a partner who is a little tired. I'd also like someone I could meet at the Nationals once a year (or two). I don't believe in yelling at my partner. If something goes wrong, I'm all for discussing it. No one ever played better when their partner was dressing them down. People need to be allowed to have a bad day/blow a hand once in a while. It happens. We could start once a week and see how it goes, discussing mishaps.

I'm outside of St. Louis. I'm w/i a few points of SLM. Qualified NAP's twice. Mensa/Intertel. I live quite a ways from the nearest club. I'd drive in for a good partner (1000+ MP's) OR BBO partner is fine too. Was in Bridge lessons for 6-7 years so play many gadgets. We'd have to talk to sync them up. That said--playing a good solid, logical game of bridge is better than all the gadgets! I program computers during the day (aka, complex problems) so I'm pretty beat when I get home. It'd have to be weekends--unless you're OK with a partner who is a little tired. I'd also like someone I could meet at the Nationals once a year (or two). I don't believe in yelling at my partner. If something goes wrong, I'm all for discussing it. No one ever played better when their partner was dressing them down. People need to be allowed to have a bad day/blow a hand once in a while. It happens. We could start once a week and see how it goes, discussing mishaps. If it's not a good fit--let's feel free to tell each other! You don't marry the first person you date :)

Clearly the BOT--even more so in IMPS. South limited his point values to a balanced 20-21. He has 10 hcps--an IFFY slam at best. You should really have 33 or more. I play the robots a lot and I'm continually amazed at how the bidding falls apart in slam bidding. Most often--they leap past it right to 6--no ace asking, no RKC, nothing...

The robot has gotten SIGNIFICANTLY worse since the latest release. I am shocked at how poor the bidding is! The robot continually passes, refuses to bid NT with a stopper in the opps suit. It is shocking! I feel like I'm playing with a NOVICE--not a computer. It is HORRIBLE. I'm tired of spending my $ to play with such an idiot! And finesses are supposed to fail 50% of the time, but you can COUNT on the finesses failing in bridgebase. It's the one thing you can count on. It's just ridiculous. In my opinion? They are training people to play "bad bridge". Rewarding bad bridge cannot be good for the game.

DBL to balance. 2D or 2H would be an acceptable contract and have a good chance to make opposite even a very poor hand. My old teacher always said, "Never let them play at the two level in a fit". And it's been sage advice. Give them a shove to the 3 level or take your chances in the red suits. And I agree--I would've bid first--no reason to confuse partner.

In my opinion the robots need SERIOUS work. For instance, with 9 clubs between us in NT and double stoppers in everything he fails to set up his club suit. No human would ever play NT so poorly. I get quite tired of bad boards (35% or less) when the robot plays the cards. AND they have it set so that the Robot plays so fast--I think they hide many more errors--perhaps thats the reason to make the play of the hand so FAST when the robot is playing? Why not slow it down? Secondly--the robot appears to ignore penalty doubles. I have learned (the hard way) that penalty doubles are a quick route to a zero board. Finally, the robot seems to go on bidding "binges" that make absolutely no sense! I remember getting outbid in 6 diamonds by the robot (took me to 6 spades) and the dummy came down and he had JACK HIGH. No human player would ever do that! What the robots have going for them is always an opener and in general, interesting hands--but in the future, if they want my money, they need to improve the algorithm. I'm coming back in a year--hopefully things will be improved.