hallway

Thanks My not using the board display has caused some confusion I've made a note - M

Tding a 7 table tourney the following board was played in 7 different contracts I asked around and received 2 replies and now I have 9 different contracts <_< Sorry been a long time since I had time to post on here and I cant find the hand insert form I'm sure you can figure it out though ( looked perfect in the draft !) North ♠ - ---- ♥- AKJ652 ♦ - 10 8 7 ♣ - Q854 West East ♠ - Q1098753 ♠- KJ62 ♥- 10943 ♥ - Q87 ♦ - 6 2 ♦ - A3 ♣ - 3 ♣ - A1076 South ♠ - A74 ♥ - --- ♦- KQJ954 ♣- KJ92 What would be the optimum contract and why ? Two contracts made =, 1 made + 2. South was declarer at 4 tables , North at 2 tables and West at 1 table. N/S Not Vul :: E/W Vul East Opened 1C at all tables I have promised to get them the good oil - must be a consensus somewhere ?

The BIL is what it is - it is the best we can do and we think it works in spite of or maybe because of the criticism we receive. I have an AMAZING TEAM of people who help. Always room for more. In today's mail- I would like to tell you, that Karen is an amazing teacher. The depth of her knowledge, kindness and patience are unbelievable. And the ability to make things exciting and to encourage are unique. If you look at the "chat" of the sessions, you will see what I mean. An early BILie came up through the ranks, and on the recommendation of her mentor started mentoring starter players. Now she has branched out into taking her first group topic specific, level restricted ( beginners, improving beginners ) class. An 8 week course to introduce them to the art of finessing. Kudos to both Karen and her Mentor ! So we will keep on keeping on the way we do As I was taught - "you can please some of the people some of the time , but you cannot no matter how hard you try , please all of the people all of the time."

I am completely in favour of teachers using a secondary BBOID/user/nick name when working with students be that at an Open Teaching Session, a closed Course or one on one mentoring It prevents the lesson being interrupted by their friends sending them private messages or by the friends disrupting the lesson using the 'find a friend' and joining the table. Without a would be Mentor's Real Name I have no way of ascertaining their credentials - As I am the one introducing the student to them, right or wrong, I do feel I have a responsibility to the BIL member. Whereas the student outside the BIL is entirely responsible for their own choices. Hmmm that is a different view point. George, re the mentor not wanting people to know they give free lessons as that would affect their getting paying students. There have been disappointed Professional teachers who thought a couple of lessons in the BIL would have people queuing at the door - doesnt happen - takes time. Learner players have to learn to like the game sufficiently to want to become better than good. There have, however, been many professional teachers over the years who have used the BIL to help them to establish their pay for services. An hour or two a week of their time is very cheap advertising a. they get a web page in the BIL Library with their contact details b. they get a listing in the Private Tuition Available Directory c. they hand out their contact details at each session, inviting the kibs to give them their email address so they can send them some notes - thereby building up their own, ever expanding up to date database through which they promote their pay for services direct to people they know want to learn. The BIL by its nature is a staging post - they join to learn, they learn or decide its not for them, they go. d. I pay the rent, I pay the Mailing List Provider fees to introduce them to the membership as a whole, I pay for the Calendar upon which their open sessions are advertised, I pay for the bulletins to announce the Courses etc. etc. etc. e. The BIL provides an Assistant to assist with 'housekeeping' issues at every Open Teaching Session, Course f. in effect we supply an unpaid Secretarial service. Sure, the mentoring program is different but the Mentor who does a good job helping their assigned student gets the best advertising there is - word of mouth. The Mentees have lots of online friends! Of course that applies whether one is mentoring through the BIL's program or 'at large'. The BIL supplies an ever growing stream of paying players for the ACBL tournaments (we teach them how to behave in a tourney, we give them a taste for tournament play, but we cant give them the volume of Mpts they can pick up if they play in ACBL ones so off they go ).We also get those fairly new to bridge who think they want to learn, of which a reasonable % become addicted to the game and then they really want to learn. These are the ones who will want to pay Professional teachers to take them further - so we help the professional teacher who operates outside of the BIL too. and we do it all for free - no grants, no subsidies and the professional teachers do not pay the BIL ! Oh there was the time one sent me $100 - it bounced ! and I had to pay the $25 reversal fee. Yes, Eagles is right I am Barking Mad ! I like that term, sums me up nicely :)

Not their passport, but their bridge credentials You are quite correct eagles I am indeed barking mad - no sane person would have done what I have been doing for the past 11+ years. December 2004, the sane me knew it would be madness to continue. The sane me lost, I stepped across the divide, there was an 'are you sure' attached to the Remove Club button and the barking mad me clicked on the No. The remove club button no longer works so here I am a decade + later still trying to find help for those new to bridge who want to learn to play it well. I freely acknowledge that it is a different world now - but that doesn't mean that I have to change my (the BIL's) values. Each to his own, no one has to join the BIL whether that be, to Help or to be Helped.

I will always require Mentors to give their Real Name. Must be a generational thing, being prepared to stand up and be counted. I am who I am - every BIL member has both my Name and my Home address. There's nothing to hide ! So I don't understand this IT anonymity. However, I don't ask Members or Mentors for their home addresses. But if it is good enough for them to know who I am, then I maintain it is good enough for me to at least know their name. I believe that I have a duty of care to my members (yes, I know an antiquated view). For mentor/mentee lessons to be arranged it is necessary for me to give the Mentor their Mentee's name and email address. I am simply not prepared to do that if the Mentor wishes to hide their identity. To me that begs the question - why? Sorry,1eyedjack but that's the way it is - so it is not a BIL policy that will ever be changed. If you are right that your views are 'popularly shared' and that is why the BIL 'is chronically short of mentors' then I guess it is only a matter of time before I shall have to close the program down. I am way past my 'used by date' anyway - it's time I sought a less stressful Volunteer Service to give my time to. Bridge in the backyard for those over 70 on sunny afternoons might be fun - the minds will be kept active and the bridge, well - creative!. We'll know who we are, even if we cant remember each others names :)

Many may not realize George, that the BIL has been operating since 2003 and in that 11 + years many of the BIL players mentored in the early days through beginner > intermediate have gone on to advanced > expert levels and now play with credit in f2f Regional, NABC and international tournaments. Others have taken up mentoring themselves to help a new generation of bridge players, (many tell me it is also good for their own bridge) A growing number have found mentoring such a satisfying endeavor that they have gone further and become ACBL Accredited Teachers. I heard of another only yesterday. Great kudos to those who mentored them back in the day when transfers were a mystery ! btw readers George's students have nothing but the highest praise for his teaching. He is a task master with a talent for getting the best from his students, instilling them with the desire to master the game.

But so far George no volunteers :( Click Here to read what the BIL's Mentoring program entails ( even 1 hr a week - with time off now and then - would be appreciated )

The Beginner Intermediate Lounge (BIL) would like to hear from those interested in joining the BIL's Mentoring Team. - offering one on one or small group mentoring to learner players Send your expression of interest to admin@bilbridge.com for our information pack.

Do you have a favorite topic - some facet of bridge that you often see overlooked, poorly played ? Take this opportunity to address that, putting the new generation of bridge players on the right path. The Beginner Intermediate Lounge (BIL) has time slots available in our Private Club - the LearnBrdge ( yes, no i ) Classroom for those interested in presenting 4/6/8 week topic specific level restricted Courses For more detailed information please send your expression of interest to admin@bilbridge.com

The Beginner Intermediate Lounge (BIL) has some openings for Teachers interested in holding weekly open teaching sessions for Beginner through Upper intermediate levels. The sessions are held in the BIL's Public Club - BILies Retreat - open to all BBO beginner, intermediate players . Lessons can be of 60/90 or 120 minute duration. For detailed information please send expressions of interest to admin@bilbridge.com

oh how I wish all were like you Mr Bradley - think of all the time and money I could save !

of course only to new BIL members - and to further clarify only beginner and intermediate players can join the BIL

This is not just a Private Club Issue - the same problem exists for the Public Clubs e.g. the BILies Retreat which is a predominately teaching club therefore a crowd only gathers when there is a lesson. practice session, gathering for a teams match etc. to attend Changing the name of the TABS will not make one jot of difference It takes time to educate people on the use of the software. They go to attend an advertised lesson which invariably has full tables from the get go - teachers either sit in all 4 seats or reserve them until they are ready to start In the V1 (WINDOWS client) there was no problem, enter the club and all tables with or without free seats were displayed For some years now new BBOers have been joining via V2 (Web Client) - for the past 2 (?) years they have been unable to download V1 therefore they all have to be educated on the use of V2. Yes, a few will educate themselves - the vast majority ? - no way - lol My work a round: new members get a welcome letter which mentions the need to click on the FULL table Tab within 2 weeks they get 3 bulletins with detailed help one of which deals solely with Finding their way to the BIL lessons etc. within 2 weeks of joining a BILFriend contacts them and offers to guide them 6 out of 7 days of the week the BIL holds Hosted Play time sessions with a Q & A for new members 20th month they get a Gazette which again gives the navigation 20th month members who joined during the previous month get a Bulletin reminding them of the things they need to remember - of which using the FULLTable tab features prominently For the sake of non BIL members when I list a BBO Highlight and invite any BBO Beginner and Intermediate player to a Lesson or Guest session in the BILies Retreat Public Club I always add ' click on FULL table tab" When the BILAssists announce a lesson they too add - "click on FULL table tab" Does all of this solve the problem ? - NO it does not ! It does help though which keeps our sanity within reasonable bounds ! For level restricted courses the acceptance letter spells out step by step how to get there - I standby at the first and second lessons to take attendance - and even with all of that, without fail I do still have to guide at least a couple who are 'lost' And still there are many to whom we find it necessary to explain in minute detail exactly where one looks for that seemingly elusive FULL Table TAB - mayhap it would help if it was a neon light! The ANSWER is most assuredly to have that attribute as suggested above whereby in BOTH the Private and Public Clubs if there are less than X number of tables active whether with open seats for not ALL the tables will be shown as soon as one clicks on Join P L E A S E Please, Please make that happen

I don't understand what that means - but maybe that is a good thing ! I have spent the last 10 years providing BBO members who want to learn to play bridge with the opportunities to do so. I don't work for BBO and I don't get paid for what I do. I don't even play bridge any more! I posted this thread for one reason only - to see if there were any Expert players available at this time who are willing to share their knowledge with those who would like to learn to play good Bridge. I am disappointed that, so far, no one has offered to join the 2014 BIL's mentoring/teaching/tutoring teams Those who are helped are appreciative - a couple of examples :- "I've made some accomplishments in the year I have been playing face to face bridge. I owe my f2f success to the years I learned so much attending lessons in the BIL when it first began," "Thank you isn't enough. Last October (2012) I started a course of Bridge, once a week for 2 hrs. Of course it wasn't enough! Then I discovered BBO , a great improvement. But I still needed to learn the basics. THEN I found the BIL Mentoring Program. I must admit I had my doubts. WONDERFUL. You found me a mentor who always has time for an explanation, a word of encouragement but most of all is teaching me correct Bridge. A heartfelt thanks to you all, especially to my Mentor. "Thanks very much for assigning me a Mentor. I already feel happier and more confident as a bridge player. His lessons and explanations are very clear and understandable. He sends us transcripts and homework for every lesson and I am certainly appreciative for the time he spends helping us voluntarily. I couldn't ask for a better mentor and feel very fortunate to be part of this group." It works both ways the Teachers and Mentors tell me how much their bridge benefits from the time they spend putting together the lessons.

HI Phil The numbers fluctuate all the time and there are several categories of member If you are a teacher wondering how many you are likely to get at an Open Teaching Session I cannot even begin to guess at this time Until such things as Day / Time of Day / student level / format / system / using Text chat or BBO Voice etc have been settled upon there is no telling The BIL is global and member ages range from 6 to 96 and then there is the Teacher's style / their familiarity with using the BBO's teaching tables etc. So many variables all of which impact on attendance For any new to the BIL teacher it is a case of take the plunge and see how it all pans out. Some have come and gone rather quickly, others have been teaching BILies now for many years. I'm the only one with a Life Sentence :rolleyes: so Open Teaching Sessions can be cancelled with a week's notice ( preferably more) . I would though expect a teacher to complete a Topic Specific Course. There is no commitment to do another.

The BIL is manned solely by Volunteers who give so much of their time and expertise in all manner of ways. They are the Strength and the Soul of the BIL. The BIL receives NO Subsidies, NO Grants, NO Sponsorship. It has of necessity to be self funding. You ask - Where does the money go if not for instruction? a. The Banks - bank fees, currency conversion fees, international transfer fees and any other fee they can dream up ! b. BBO Tax c. The BIL Library - domain, hosting, maintenance, programming charges for the never ending upgrading due to the proliferation of gadgets etc. etc. d. The Maintenance and upgrading and development of the Mentor Console e. Monthly Mail Distribution Charges - a paid service to protect members email addresses f. Prizes for events, team leagues etc.etc. g. The usual Administration expenses every organisation has to meet h. Debt Servicing - the BIL borrowed to have the online BIL Library site established. and so the list goes on While the instruction given by the teachers, mentors, tutors for BIL activities is a gift, for those who are professional teachers it can be cost effective advertising. By its very nature, being as it is for learner players, the BIL membership is ever changing

WANTED: Mentors; Open Session Teachers; Course Instructors The Beginner Intermediate Lounge (BIL) has members keen to learn the game you love. We need help from those of you keen to share your expertise. MENTORING: Working one on one, with a pair or quartet an hour a week, tuition tailored to suit the student. Times by arrangement with the student. Assignments 6 months. Sessions can be held in the BIL’s LearnBrdge Classroom ( Pvte Club) Click Here for detailed information To register : Click Here OPEN SESSION TEACHING: Weekly session (1 – 2hrs) fixed day/time for as many months/years as one wishes. Prepared or random hands. Students attend when available. Listed on the BIL Calendar. Held in the BILies Retreat (Public Club) For more information re available time slots, formats etc. write to admin@bilbridge.com To register : Click Here COURSES: 4 – 8 weeks sequential lessons on a Topic of choice – prepared hands and course notes. Courses are pre-registered and level restricted. The BIL has 6 skill level categories Starter, Beginner, Improving Beginner, Intermediate, Improving Intermediate, Upper Intermediate. The classes are held in the BIL’s LearnBrdge Classroom (Pvte Club). For more information: write to admin@bilbridge.com To register : Click Here Open Session Teachers and Course Instructors are assigned a BIL Assistant to look after the ‘housekeeping’ during the lessons. THE REWARD: The chance to share your knowledge and the satisfaction of giving back to the game you are so passionate about.

The Beginner Intermediate Lounge (BIL) is pleased to invite all Beginner and Intermediate players to join the BILies as we launch our 10th Anniversary Celebrations with a very special TEACHING session “ Think with Fred” in the BILies Retreat ( BBO Public Club). Yes, our Very Special Guest is World Champion, BBO Founder/CEO Fred Gitelman ! Saturday August 31 at 16:00 ET ( New York time) – www.timeanddate.com > Meeting Planner to convert. And for those of you who enjoy playing in TOURNAMENTS you are welcome to join us on Tuesday September 3 16:00 ET - T2421 to play in our Birthday Special 10bd Indy BBO Masterpoint Tournament – “Play with the STARS”. Several W/C players have indicated an intention to take part. Not only is there the possibility of being partnered by a World Class Star player. You could win one of 4 Book Prizes from renowned bridge author MBSEZ- Marty Bergen, as well as collecting BBO Masterpoints and double BIL Reward Points. Entry Fee $2 ( Buy BB$$ at https://www.bridgeba...urchase/pay.php ) Apart from our Star Guests, BIL Members and our BIL Teachers, Mentors, Grads only non BIL beginner and intermediate players will be able to register. Mark your calendars now – don’t miss out on these once in a decade events.

The Beginner Intermediate Lounge (BIL) is pleased to invite all Beginner and Intermediate players to join the BILies as we launch our 10th Anniversary Celebrations with a very special TEACHING session “ Think with Fred” in the BILies Retreat ( BBO Public Club). Yes, our Very Special Guest is World Champion, BBO Founder/CEO Fred Gitelman ! Saturday August 31 at 16:00 ET ( New York time) – www.timeanddate.com > Meeting Planner to convert. And for those of you who enjoy playing in TOURNAMENTS you are welcome to join us on Tuesday September 3 16:00 ET - T2421 to play in our Birthday Special 10bd Indy BBO Masterpoint Tournament – “Play with the STARS”. Several W/C players have indicated an intention to take part. Not only is there the possibility of being partnered by a World Class Star player. You could win one of 4 Book Prizes from renowned bridge author MBSEZ- Marty Bergen, as well as collecting BBO Masterpoints and double BIL Reward Points. Entry Fee $2 ( Buy BB$$ at https://www.bridgebase.com/purchase/pay.php ) Apart from our Star Guests, BIL Members and our BIL Teachers, Mentors, Grads only non BIL beginner and intermediate players will be able to register. Mark your calendars now – don’t miss out on these once in a decade events.

Do you have some free time to give back to bridge ? The Beginner Intermediate Lounge (BIL) Mentoring Program has a Waiting List of eager students I am looking for help for Standard American Improving Beginner - in US central Intermediate - in US Eastern Improving Intermediate - in US Central 5CM Beginner - in Canada Eastern Beginner in - US Eastern Improving Beginner - in Israel ( We do suggest they consider SAYC but as we have no spare SAYC mentors at the moment that is not an option) SAYC Improving Beginners - in US Central - ( 2) Improving Beginner - in US Eastern Improving Beginner - in Saudi Arabia Improving Beginner - in Turkey Intermediate - in US Mountain Intermediate - in US Eastern They are keen to learn - I do hope you are keen to share your knowledge. You do not necessarily need to reside in the same time zones of those listed above. An assignment is generally for a period of 6 months, for an hour or so a week but Mentors can specify shorter time spans and can extend the assignment as it draws to a close ( many do when they get a student who is progressing really well) Which at the moment is one of the reasons I need more mentors. Some have even met up with their mentees at Regional and National f2f tournaments with success. If interested please email me at admin@bilbridge.com and I will send you all the details on how the Program operates If not, do you know any of your Peers who may be make good mentors ?

Don't know who you are talking about but it certainly aint the BIL when it comes to conventions - I warn my members ALL of the time - do NOT become a conventionphile. Bidding is a 'conversation' between partners and unless they both speak the same language they can end up, 'up the creek without a paddle'. A BIL Teacher/Mentor's assessment is based on the student's overall knowledge and ability to apply that knowledge in all aspects of the game consistently to make them worthy of being recommended for Graduation. Yes, we have some guidelines and sure in the BIL Library we list a good many Conventions and some of the more common Doubles so that when members come across them mentioned on other's profiles they can satisfy their curiosity and read about them - but nowhere does it say that these are must know. There are only 6 that have been starred as essential.

billw55 It may have changed but haven't time to go and look, but the last time I did the BBO designation of a Novice was something that was less than a Beginner - cant remember the wording. Perhaps you could tell me what it is now please Phil : ok glad to hear there is a gentler approach now a days .

A blast from the past In reply to eagles123 post of June 2009 ( in a thread that started in 2004) zelandakh replied (April 2, 2013) that BBO defines a beginner as someone who has 'played bridge for more than 6 months but less that a year' - yes the guideline for choosing a skill level on one's BBO profile does indeed says that. If only reality were that simple It is a conundrum one I have battled with these past 9 years It begs the question how much playing does one have had to do in those 6 months I had a member join the BIL just last week - been a BBO member for YEARS - been playing with Robots, been kibbing tables BUT she is very much a beginner level bridge player and when one of my BILHosts talked her into sitting at the table - it was the very first time ever that she had sat to play with humans. I am pleased to say she enjoyed it so much she is now attending every lesson she can get to and is the first in the queue to take the 'hot seat' during a lesson. Do we now have 6 months to turn her into an Intermediate or did her time as a beginner run out years ago playing with robots ? I have members who joined the BIL as far back as 2005 who are still just 'beginner' level players. They play socially with their peers couple times a month and have no interest in becoming competitive players or playing any better than they do now. On the other hand I have had someone who had never played bridge sign up for a series of BIL Beginning Bridge Courses and take to it like a duckling to water, went on to join an improving/upper intermediate mentoring group and was recommended to be given BIL Graduate membership ( considered able to hold his own with low level advanced players) within the year. Time to leave the nest ! I only look after beginner and intermediate players. The BIL classifies players on 6 levels Starter, Beginner, Improving Beginner, Intermediate, Improving Intermediate and Upper Intermediate. These levels though, in this online environment, are still self rated but at least they do need to think about what they know and what they don't. They get invited to join courses and/or assigned to a mentor based on the level they have chosen for themselves and they very soon find out if they have under rated themselves or have been thinking they are better than they really are. Our mentors choose what level of player they wish to tutor and those that have under or over rated themselves get reassigned. But it is still subjective. We try to focus on what it is they know and can apply confidently at the table. I have had Upper Intermediate Hosts helping with the 'housekeeping' at a Beginner class on Basic Declarer Play who have admitted to having learnt something. Yet, one would reasonably presume that being able to hold their own at Upper intermediate level there should be nothing they don't know about Basic Declarer Play It is an unsolvable conundrum. Part, of the fascination that is Bridge. But I do so wish, as I did when I posted to that other thread back in 2004, that when a BEGINNER asks a Basic Bridge Question that they be given the courtesy of a BEGINNER level reply and not belittled by having all manner of fancy stuff thrown at them by those who just want to show off what they think is their superior knowledge. - or is it perhaps that they are afraid of the up and coming competition :o) It doesn't matter how long you play bridge or how very good you become at it - there will ALWAYS be something more to learn ! and like it or not the new to bridge BEGINNER player is the FUTURE of Bridge - they should be encouraged, nurtured and treated with respect.

I need to get to understand this correctly in order to ensure that every single one of my members who want to play in the Audrey Grant tourney next week before attending the review in the BIL can do so. How many tourneys they have played in is immaterial ( I am hoping that many will do so for the first time ) How many tourneys they have been disconnected from for whatever reason is immaterial How long ago they played the last tourney is immaterial ( in fact they are ones I am trying to encourage to give tourneys another go) So will my putting 0% ensure that every single one who goes to register will get registered ? Is there some other codes I need to add to the description to ensure that they can register , that they can talk to the tables they are at etc. etc. I will of course be using the "Include Members of my Private Club" restriction