hallway

Thanks Marta for that info - having loaded the Cof C and having checked that it was loaded it would not have occured to me to check it again :-((

Even with Lobby Chat enabled no chat to lobby was being received at a table in the BIL. That is my messages to Lobby were not being received by players at the other tables in the BIL even though they had Lobby Chat On. But Chat to Lobby from a table in the BIL was being received by those in the Main Lobby (don't know whether it was being received by other tables in play in the MBC though ) I thought that quite neat ! One can get Lobby Chat when in the Main Lobby but will not be disturbed by Lobby Chat when playing :D

BRIDGE in the AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK from the diary of a 'nameless' bridger in the Blue Opal Mining Town of Lightning Ridge Since I am a fan of online bridge – I took my new laptop with me – remote connection to Internet. Of course it started to work with interruptions the very first day. So I gave up and decided to connect by normal telephone line. I added a zero to the usual provider phone number with no result. Contacted supplier - add a comma! Upon arrival I started to install the laptop to read the email – to realize that with comma in place and connected to the phone it does not work again. I called for a coffee – I got my coffee but the laptop still did not work. So I decided to give it another try and read carefully this time the message on the screen – "phone line unplugged"……SAID THE COMPUTER……the motel reception forgot to connect the phone to my room!… The laptop has own mouse. What a disagreeable gadget if one is not used to it. Mis-clicked a few times decided to install a conventional mouse. It worked for half an hour- a brand new transparent cute looking mouse – it does not work anymore…… I think I will give up on it or else I might throw the laptop into the hot pond Well the laptop called “Shi-sho” performed relatively well – got on and off – telephone – satellite - I could look at an event of bridge- quite unique it seems. Event is called “Cavendish” Tournament – it took place in Las Vegas, Nevada USA. The Tournament is not between Bridge Federations, Countries or Regions. It is privately owned. Principle pairs and participants are invited. And believe it or not - they are bought and sold on auctions – something like horses and dogs. Bookmakers work and it seems One million USA Dollars were at stake divided between different places and pairs. ( I hope I did get all that right – if I misrepresented something I apologize – that is how I understood it). There were also some side events. Bridge players can pay to participate in side events. If I understood correct an Australian pair won a side event. (I just learned that such events are called Calcutta events, and that there are several organized around the World, but Cavendish is the best known). Well that was none of my concern, but some of the World best players were there and the Defender of last year First place was the Genius with his Team-mate who invented the Internet site where I play bridge and on which we could watch the games directly with some of the world best bridge players as commentators. Mr. Fred Gitelman, a 39 year fantastic bridge player, excellent computer wiz – created a site Bridgebase.com – where top world players occasionally play and we simple mortals have the privilege to watch them and enjoy the “best bridge show on the earth”. He is also one of the best commentators – and you can detect I am his devoted fan. When I was not dumping my bones in the hot pond, I was watching the event. 14 hrs differences between Australia and USA created a jetlag state and I was sleeping and eating odd hours. No regrets. I am learning a new system of playing bridge (for me) with a sweet teacher, a young gracious lady. She was on the USA Junior Bridge team, and is such a good teacher and very patient lady. During the Cavendish event – she was the person who put the games directly to computer and we could watch the game and commentators from all over the world comment the happenings. It is like watching any sports event direct. She did so well and I was very proud of my Teacher. Very exciting for fans of course, sometimes there were almost 3000 bridge players from all over the globe connected. The commentators – all top bridge players and experts – some with a great sense of humor – told stories from past events, life of those participating and of course professionally commented the games. I was glued to the computer – “Shi-sho” a few times was on the verge to get a bang – connection lost – I tried to talk to him nicely –even offered a drink – but in vain – “Shi-sho” went nuts – blank screen. Reboot, get connection satellite, phone whatever and in meantime a game would finish. Since the next was as exciting as the one I missed I would calm my anger with a good piece of black chocolate or Hamurabi would produce a good cup of Turkish coffee. ................ ******************* So there you are - where ever you are there is BBO BRIDGE, yes even in the Australian Outback ! The rest of the diary made very enjoyable reading too :) and yes I do know who the author is but have been sworn to secrecy :)

Copied from another thread I posted this to : Maybe this would help: We can't change what was but we can change what is to be If every aspiring TD (ATD) had to apply first to a Director General (DG) and have the DG authorise their application. The Director General would need to be someone totally conversant with the Tournament software as well as being a player of merit and a qualified Director. The aspiring TD applies to the DG who arranges a time to meet in the Tournament Room. The DG enables a by default Tournament (time 2 days out - out of harms way ! ) puts the ATD in as Director and tells he/r to modify it to set it up as they would have it for real. It would only take a minute for the DG to cast an eye over the result and know instantly whether this ATD has done their homework (read the Help files, joined the BBO_TD Club, has a Conditions of Contest uploaded ) . If not - bye come back in a month If they have then off to a Chat Room - now the DG can put them through some simple set pieces - the sort of things that will happen in practically every tournament. (the BBO_Td Club Admins no doubt have a list of minimum requirements) If they come up to scratch - the DG sends in their ID and we have a new TD If not - bye come back in a month It seems to me that a lot of the controversy comes down to one simple factor - players don't read the descriptions and TD's (with a few exceptions) don't load Conditions of Contest. If EVERY TD loaded a Conditions of Contest then the players would find themselves without a leg to stand on when it came to not liking the way a tournament is run. They can always vote with their mouse and not enter that TD's tourneys again ! or learn to READ the Conditions of Contest before they register. And it should be a given that a TD has to adhere strictly to the Conditions of Contest governing that Tournament btw TD's I checked this out before starting to type - most had no rules to read AND !! - 5 tournaments that told me in their tournament description to read the rules did NOT have any rules to read !!

Perhaps all we do in fact need is a DIRECTOR GENERAL (DG) :o Seriously !! If every aspiring TD (ATD) had to apply first to a DG and have the DG authorise their application then when it landed on Uday's 'desk' he could enable it without a qualm. The Director General would need to be someone totally conversant with the Tournament software as well as being a player of merit and a qualified Director. The aspiring TD applies to the DG who arranges a time to meet in the Tournament Room. The DG enables a by default Tournament (time 2 days out - out of harms way ! ) puts the ATD in as Director and tells he/r to modify it to set it up as they would have it for real. It would only take a minute for the DG to cast an eye over the result and know instantly whether this ATD has done their homework (read the Help files, joined the BBO_TD Club, has a Conditions of Contest uploaded ) . If not - bye come back in a month :angry: If they have then off to a Chat Room - now the DG can put them through some simple set pieces - the sort of things that will happen in practically every tournament. (the BBO_Td Club Admins no doubt have a list of minimum requirements) If they come up to scratch - the DG sends in their ID and we have a new TD :unsure: If not - bye come back in a month :lol: It seems to me that all this controversy comes down to one simple factor - players don't read the descriptions and TD's (with a few exceptions) don't load Conditions of Contest. If EVERY TD loaded a Conditions of Contest then the players would find themselves without a leg to stand on when it came to not liking the way a tournament is run. btw TD's I checked this out before starting to type - most had no rules to read AND !! - 5 tournaments that told me in their tournament description to read the rules did NOT have any rules to read !! :)

Will this mean that my members will not be able to meet up in the BIL and have a practice together before the start of a lesson 'tourney' UNLESS they make a point of being at a table 16 + minutes before the scheduled start time ? If that is so , I presume that they can get around that by not registering until I send out the 5 minute warning ? Thank goodness we only have tourneys with a few tables - could become a stampede ! - lol

When members send me nice messages I store them in my Appreciation File - (when the detractors become active it is good to remind myself that there are those who do appreciate what BBO does ! ) Here are three extracts from emails I have received. 1.I am happy to support BBO in anyway possible. I will, in the near future, purchase software for my grandson who is learning the game. 2. i will follow your advice and get some product from the BBO store : the discovery of BBO shook all my knowledge about bridge ... and i really want to get a better system- i preferred call myself a beginner if it as about 35 years i play .. but i am a beginner in comparison of all these players i see when i kibbitz, and definitely a beginner in the matter of duplicate .. 3. This reply is something I have felt I should say for quite awhile. I joined BBO shortly after it started and have enjoyed it with great feelings. I think it is the most honestly ran, and careing for us players that are not worldclass but trying to learn some things about a great game. All in all it is a first class operation and I am proud to be here and offered to help and volunteer .anyway thanks for a great place to play. I especially like the opportunity to play bridge with people all over the world, living in a remote area in Canada, and being able to get such good instruction from the teachers in the Lounge, and through the educational softwear Mr. Gitelman provides us. I liked your idea of buying, and sharing.

Spiralscan, What you obviously do not realise - BBO is a PRIVATE site - Fred , Sheri and Uday are IT . They are our HOSTS and everything that is done for us , provided for us IS DONE BY THEM !!! I know how many hours of every day I spend dealing with my tiny, tiny corner of BBO - the BIL - where they get the hours from !?!?! let alone the energy to do what they do for the whole of BBO is one of the great mysteries of this decade !! Now, regarding tournaments - scattered throughout various threads you will come across my offer to any and all who are unhappy with any aspect of tournaments to have a complimentary tournament on me Please , please be my guest. You tell me exactly what you want from a tournament and I will be only too pleased to set it up for you - exactly how you want (provided the software can do whatever) - I will put you in as the guest Director and away you go. Send me a message either here or on BBO - give me a date and time . There is, of course, no 'free lunch', I will want you to tell everyone afterwards what you would like to do with the people who disconnect :o (Ben will stand by with his red pen so just say it the way you feel :) ) You may strike it lucky - I did last Friday as a matter of fact - not a single disconnect, not a single adjustment to be made , not a single disruptive comment. It really happened :) - maybe I just dreamt that :D

From Acorns do Oak trees grow Marc :-)

From another thread: Ben said " I had a dream- a Forum for Beginners - you know those people young and old who have never played bridge before and have just discovered it and WANT to LEARN how to play it. Along came the Forums - The Beginner Intermediate Discussion Forum - hooray said I . oh drat said I , I do not understand a word all these Expert posters are talking about . I cajoled you into posting your Beginners Guides To series . They were good. I even learned to count hands instead of sheep :) Then the BIL - now I can look after my Beginners - so I thought !!! After all there are Private Forums - yellows have one, stars had one for a time and then there are others with restricted postings - ideal ! But no my entreaties were in vain the old Forum could cope with no more. And then one glorious day I logged in and wow we had a NEW Forum site and in one thread there was the INVITATION to the Private Club owners to apply for their very own Forum. Well I can tell you the keyboard positively 'smoked' - did not know I could type so fast! Beginners this will be for you !! - but noooooooo One week later I am in the store buying a new keyboard - tears and electronics do not mix :) The BIL could not have a Forum . B) SO you see Ben the Beginners are in your hands. - I have a work-around for you - You should tag every thread that is opened in this Forum BEG or INT - I promise you I will not even read the INT ones so then there will be no comments from me about Leaping WhatsIts or WhatEvers. BE WARNED : Woe betide those who would speak of such things should you tag a thread - BEG :)

ALL of the above !! But most of all for Fred & Uday's willingness to listen to the membership and to KEEP ON putting in inestimable amounts of time to meet the memberships expectations. What other HOSTS have any of us ever come across in our lifetimes that GIVE so much to their GUESTS.

Gosh I hadn't thought about that - I could be banned for life ! I let the TD's for our Teaching Tourneys sub me in while they find a Real Sub. In and out in one hand. Different rules for Subs please We NEED Subs - we must be KIND to Subs.

Leaping Michaels (not you I hope Jake !?) Last trains (should beginner's be out that late ?) LTTC's ZAR points My word Beginners are expanding their horizons fast these days - !!

Why don't you message the Tournament Host and/or the Director/s (if you know who they are) from the Lobby ? Being the Host sure doesn't stop people getting messages through to me !! Then if I am not Directing and the message is relevant for the Director I pass it on to the one it concerns. If a member asks me to pass on a message to a player (and Hosts/TDs can talk to any and all ) and if I deem it relevant I do that for them.

I encourage my members to go online 30 minutes before they are due to play in a tournament and practice together. Open a table and be playing for those 30 minutes before the start. All members are encouraged to have the View setting so that when they enter the BIL Lobby they can read the Table Description heading. Those that are practicing for a Tourney start their tables and show in the Table Description - Waiting for Tourney / Tourney practice or whatever . Anyone joining them then knows they are going to get zapped. Those that join are generally those that are playing in the same tourney so they all disappear. But then in the BIL they are spoiled because every member receives a five- ten minute warning so even if the Host forgot the Table description and was even so remiss as to forget to mention their imminent departure we will have reminded them ! And yes, before you ask some do it and some don't !! I will persevere ! That's a darn sight preferable than having them being delayed while logging in - because they don't want to be hanging around waiting and leave it a tad late or wander off from their computers and one has nothing happening at their table !! - so the poor TD is left tearing one's hair out finding subs. I LIKE to see them all playing happily at the tables.

or you could do what I have told my members to do for the Playing of the Hand/Discussion Format lessons in the BIL - Send a friend a message - Type in the chat - Board 1 When Board 2 is dealt send them another message - Board 2 (pays to clue the friend in first !!) That is then recorded on your Chat Log = ergo no problems deciding which Chat belongs to which boards . I must say though that the Teachers are pretty good at 'saying' next board / moving on / Board # and so on which does the trick anyway. So until the software does it for you (will there come the day when there is nothing left for us to do - hmmm?? ) - try that.

and then there are the Kibs that use the 'other' section of their profiles to 'chat' to a player in a tourney . As they say 'where there is a will they will always find a way " !!

:D A DO NOT DISTURB button Oh my word !!! how I would LOVE a Do Not Disturb button :D I would cherish a Do Not Disturb Button. Lexica you are brilliant - that is the BEST idea I have come across :D PLEASE, please , please Fred/Uday can you make a Do Not Disturb Button. To think that I could have played two (2 !!!!) hands at Cascade's Acol session IF - IF ONLY - there had been a DO NOT DISTURB button. Invisible - one is still tracked down , you're not invisible at a table anyway, and if you are at a table you are lit up like a Xmas tree !! - in brilliant white ! Ignoring All Chat - not much point going to a lesson then! BRB - merely saves the sender from the expectation of an immediate reply - does not exempt one from having to reply to the scrolling, scrolling list of those awaiting one's return. Oh !! but to have a DO NOT DISTURB (DND) button :D - I shall dream of that day - please say that day will come !!

AISHA - rejected - no !! To be rejected is to be turned away. A daily occurrance to be sure - BUT - you were accepted , only to be found to have skills far beyond those of the average BILlie - you were given the greatest accolade we can bestow - you GRADUATED. It is the BIL's singular goal to have all our members GRADUATE - your name will be forever amongst the earliest of these. ;) We dream of the day when one of our Graduating members makes it into the Top Flight . :) Aim high that could be you !!! You could start a trend - the BIL could become famous as a breeding ground for Top Flighters :D

CONGRATULATIONS BEN ! (inquiry) We think your YELLOW COAT suits you VERY WELL !! :) You are to be THANKED and COMMENDED for all the time and effort you have put in on behalf of the Beginner Intermediate BBO membership as Moderator of this Forum since its inception. Mind you there are times when I am not quite sure I forgive you for catapulting me into the role of Founder / Manager of the Beginner Intermediate Lounge (BIL)- Private BBO Club . :) I am, however, pleased to announce that you have taken on the role of Official Yellow for the BIL - I run a pretty tight ship so I do not think you will find the role onerous. It is comforting to know that the members will have you to turn to should they run into any problems out in the big wide world of the Main Bridge Club. On behalf of all BIL members THANK YOU for your continued support - don't let your duties as Moderator & Yellow reduce your playing time.

"WAYNE is a GENIUS" We of the Beginner Intermediate Lounge ALREADY KNEW that !! :) He was the very first Teacher to teach in the BIL !

Sorry cgull - bad timing - it was actually Free's post in another thread that upped the stress levels - then to come across another new thread !! I am NOT withdrawing the Deal offer though that is out there for anyone who cares to take me up on it - Free ??? It is the perception / attitude of the general membership that causes the grief we have difficulty coping with. IF ONLY people would grasp the basics: BBO is Fred/Uday's GIFT to the worldwide bridge fraternity. When each person Logs In that person enters as their GUEST. It is no different to knocking on someone's front door and being invited in. When you step across their thresh hold you enter their space and behave as they expect. One should not criticise what they have/do , one should not make demands. The Tournaments and the Club Activities are The TD's , and Private/Public Club Managers GIFT to the various sections of the BBO membership. When a member enters a tournament or attends an activity in a Club they have joined they do so as the TDs/Manager's GUEST. One should not criticise what they provide nor make demands upon them. Be grateful that they are willing to try ! They all know that there is no end to what could be done/needs to be done. They are all intelligent beings - why some can even play bridge :o By all means help to pioritise BUT positively ! Believe it or not Fred /Uday only have 24 hours in their day too !! so there are limits to what the software can permit the TD's/Manager's to achieve. The chances are that the thing the member is complaining about is already on the TD/Manager's Wish List (mine runs to some 30 odd pages B) and to F/G's horror every time I get it out to cross one off I add 3 more !! ) I just wish that members would say: It would be better if ......................................................................... because........................................................................................... and if the software can handle it try doing .......................................... Who knows that could just be a work around one had not thought of. !!

Marc send them all an invite to take me up on the deal I have offered them (see other thread) If any of them have the guts to do it I will be sure to let you know the time - feel free to play and of course there will be no restrictions on the # of times you can use the Director button !!

cgull You have No idea what it is like to be a TD !! NONE !! So you and any others reading this who have mouthed off about TD's - I have a Deal for you. It's one helluv a good deal - you'll be hiding behind my skirts ! You send me a day and time and I will set a Tournament for you. I will send you a list of questions and I promise faithfully to load your answers to the letter. You and you alone will decide precisely how the Tournament is to operate. # bds, #round, timing, type of movement, # of participants, + + + - just exactly the way you want. I will even promise to be there sitting quietly in the Tournament Lobby - just in case you need me - but of course you won't ! - this is after all a 'piece of cake' isn't it ? That's my side of the Deal - your side ?? Be there - do it - then report back to this thread.

Time to step back and remember that the ONLY reason any of us are here doing whatever it is we do - is simply - we are ADDICTED to BRIDGE !! One of my members sent this to me -- next time my cursor hovers over the Remove Club Now button I have promised myself to reread this - Why I Quit Bridge 'Twas the night before Christmas Two guests in our house Had started to play bridge With me and my spouse. "Please tell me," she shouted, "Why didn't you double? 'Twas plain from the start That we had them in trouble." "Tis my fault my dear," Said I, taking no stand. "To discuss it with you- Let us play the next hand." "Remember next time." Said she, icing a frown, "To double a contract That's sure to go down." So I picked up my cards In a downtrodden state, Then I opened One Spade And awaited my fate. Dealer: East Vulnerabe: North/South North S. 9876 H. 65432 D. 8765 West S. AKQJ10 H. QJ109 D. KQJ109 C. KQJ10 East (Me) S AKQJT H AK87 D ---- C A987 South S. 5432 H. ---- D. A432 C. 65432 The guy sitting South Was like many I've known, He played and he bid In a land of his own. "Two diamonds," he countered With scarcely a care. The ace in his hand Gave him courage to spare. My wife, she smiled faintly, And tossing her head, Leaned over the table, "I double," she said And North, for some reason I cannot determine, Bid Two Hearts as though He was preaching a sermon. I grinned as I doubled, Enjoying the fun. And turned 'round to South To see where he would run. But South, undistressed, Not at a loss for a word, Came forth with "Two Spades"- Did I hear what I heard? The other two passed And in sheer disbelief I said, "Double my friend, That'll bring you to grief." South passed with a nod, His composure serene; My wife with a flourish Led out her Heart Queen. I sat there and chuckled Inside o'er their fix - But South very calmly Ran off eight straight tricks! He ruffed the first heart In his hand right away, And then trumped a club On the very next play. He crossruffed the hand At a breathtaking pace, 'Till I was left holding Five Spades to the Ace. In anguish my wife cried, "Your mind's growing old! Don't you see six notrump In this hand is ice cold?" By doubling this time I'd committed a sin - It just goes to prove That you never can win. I QUIT !! Author Unknown