wclucas42

Yeah I am going to have to bite the bullet and get me some of those BBO dollars. Inertia has been the biggest impediment so far on that front. I was recently gifted 5 of them for the purpose of renting bots for creating practice hands for my wife and some friends who are trying to learn... Using it for tournaments didn't feel quite kosher.

It hasn't escaped me "the other guy" could be posting about the dunce who jumped to 3 ♣ with only 7 points... I don't think you can chat in the express tournaments, but... you can see their profile. I've never looked for it before. It isn't exactly obvious on a tablet, so thanks for mentioning it. I snagged a copy of the SAYC booklet, can't say I really know the system. A quick read through and it pretty much backs up your convention suggestions. I appreciate the specific recommendations. Thanks for the club recommendations, I am just starting to check them out know. but... but... but... :\ Seriously It's not the results, as much as just not trying to shoot myself in the foot. Thanks for all the comments and recommendations, knowing I can actually see the CHO's profile, and if not overly helpful fall back to SAYC should improve the experience. The always on nature of the free express tournaments definitely fits my schedule, but it appears as if some of the clubs have schedules that seem to fit well with when I am able to play.

Thanks for the response, I've only played indie tournaments to date, not much chance it seems to find people there. I guess I'll try to just sit at a few relaxed tables and see how that goes. I may also look into some of the on-line bridge clubs, but that sounds like a new thread. I admit I second guess my partner's bid meaning as well, I guess I was hoping I was just missing a card for the free automated fun tournaments, but if it is just variance I can continue to take my lumps. Thanks, Bill

Lacking an IRL game, or partner, for that matter. I have been trying my hand at some of the free individual tournaments on BBO.i am seriously at a loss how to bid these things... It seems like I am always getting it wrong. I am either too conservative, speaking a different language or both... I bid what I thought was a fairly standard 2/1 with some oddities I guess like short club, but when bidding in tournaments I try to adhere to the Gib card. For instance I prefer RKCB 1430, but GIB plays 0314 so that is what I bid in tournaments. Same goes for best minor... Today before I was dropped in the third round of a singles tournament (twice in the last three days) I was already scraping the bottom of the barrel. My first hand I opened the bidding 1 spade and the auction progressed 1 ♠ - 2 ♦ (p) - (p) - X (takeout) -all pass they made 2 and we had a near bottom... I have been playing mostly on bridge baron and this seemed a standard take out forcing bid since I was using the "easy" card. Gib seems to respond well too. My next instance I also started the auction sitting east 1 ♣ - 1 ♦ - 1 ♠ - 2 ♣ - X (3 card spade support) - All Pass. They made 2 clubs and we got a bottom... One from last Week went like this starting with Partner 1 ♦ - (P) - 3 ♦ (weak inverted minor) - (P) - 4NT - (P) - 5 ♣ (0 key cards) - (P) - 6 ♣ - X - All Pass and we went down 4. I run into similar issues with major suit raises, especially with an intervening 1nt with delayed support, but I'm not sure I do better with simple raises, forget about hardy style Major suit raises I've tried Bergen raises and they seem to be confusing as well. I'm not trying to complain, I'm the novice here, and those I'm miscommunicating with rank themselves much higher. I was just hoping to improve my game playing wetware and not hardware, but I feel like I am spinning wheels and should just stick to renting bots, or my app. So not to be a quitter, I ask how do people usually bid when playing individual tournaments with Random partners? The tournament states everyone agrees to play 2/1 but that leaves a lot of latitude... Thanks Bill.

I meant I am in over my head and asking easy questions for a change, thanks for the nod though.

This looks like its probably the best way to go about it. I've been tinkering with it a bit, and it seems like I can get the hand types I would like, but there is a follow up below. Wow Tcl, last time I had any need for that was in an AI course back in the late 90's. I might have to check that out, but hopefully not for this purpose. This may be useful, the bidding practice page on the same sight might also be a good source. http://www.rpbridge.net/rpbp.htm. As a practice hand to acquaint myself with the bidding tables I tried to concoct a hand where South should open 1 NT with a 4,4,3,2 shape and responder should respond with Stayman 2♣ holding 4 spades. My goal was to get an auction like this [hv=pc=n&s=sat83hadqj65ct754&n=skq75hkj82da82ckj&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=1np2cp2hp3n4sppp]266|200[/hv] With Robots at the table the resulting bidding went: 1NT-P-2♣-P 2♥-P-3NT-AP While Looking at the hand, I don't disagree with passing 3NT, but, for me, the point of this particular hand is pd denies 4 hearts settling on game in no trump and opener should be able to infer that they must have 4 spades and set the contract in the correct major. If I can't get the same auction I doubt the results would be comparable. Additionally bidding tables do not seem to let you play the hand (makes sense), so I tried the same for a teaching table but can't play there either (No BB$ currently). Getting an average result for a deal would be nice, but I don't think it is a show stopper if I can't. Is there another tool I can use to get an independent result for the hands the bidding table generated? I appreciate all of the responses, I got more answers here in a couple of hours than I do in some other venues in a month. That may be question related, but just browsing the forums it definitely seems like people try to be helpful here.

First post, so if not the right forum, please point me to the better one. I'll skip the exposition (available upon request), but I find myself in need of bridge deals that can be used to reinforce lessons learned in a book. I've been playing on my phone with iBridgeBaron for about 2 years, with a 2/1 system for the last year. At a recent tailgate my wife and another couple suggested a biweekly game to help pass the spring semester. Only problem? While all are familiar with bridge there is no shared system. We decided on an introductory text (http://www.amazon.com/Learn-Bridge-Mary-Jane-Orock/dp/149478663X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412624462&sr=8-1&keywords=learn+bridge+2+1) and the goal is for us to read a chapter or so a week, get together discuss it and then play some hands that demonstrate the material. It's my job to find those deals. We're looking for between 6 and 12 boards per evening and preferably an average result for use in IMP scoring. I've seen the material on teaching tables, but am hoping there is something more suitable for use around a dining room table. Thanks Bill