Jacki

I stumbled on this while trying to find an answer to one of our players who was trying to find a place to post an obit. Curious coincidence. But my addition to the thread follows: As a busy mother of four I never found it expedient to get a flu shot. Although all four of my kids had all the doctor prescribed inoculations required - schools at the time needed evidence that all required shots were given. So, kids now grown and I thought one day during the fall of the year after I moved to Dallas, I should be a responsible person and get a flu shot. I did that - the first time ever. A few days after that I came down with a curious headache. Not a migraine, just an irritant that wouldn't go away. After two weeks of this blasted headache that wouldn't go away, I picked up the phone to call my PCP to get it checked. Trouble is, it was a land line that needed to be put back in the cradle and I kept dropping it, using my right hand. Finally got it back in the cradle using the other hand and then noticed my right hand was numb. Then my arm. OMG I'm having a stroke!!! So called 911 and told the operator, HELP, I'm having a stroke. So to cut to the chase, the ambulance took me to the ER where they determined it wasn't a stroke but didn't have a clue what was wrong as by this time my whole right side was parallelized. WTF? Finally after a week of immobility the diagnosis was Gullian Barre syndrome as a result of a FLU SHOT!! There's more (including a clot because of immobility), but it all worked out and I am as healthy as ever but yikes that was a scary experience. Bottom lime is, if I had to do it all over again, I doubt I would immunize my kids again and certainly pass on any pneumonia, flu or other adult preventative measures that so enrich the pharmaceutical companies. Aspirin, Tylenol (in moderation) fine, but otherwise, no thanks. Jacki :)

This link might give you the technical data you are looking for: http://web2.acbl.org/codification/MPBOOK.pdf This goes into great detail about the ACBL rules for awarding masterpoints in various events. And of course, this is what we follow in issuing masterpoint awards in our games. It is possible to come out with one overall winner in games where everyone plays everyone else. This would be a Howell movement and is typically used in clubs with a small number of tables. In our large games, running this would mean that a tournament would last until the wee small hours of the morning. And, of course, then it wouldn't be a Speedball.

Hi Forum Users: Let me jump in here to let you know that cheating in our ACBL games is taken very seriously. We have checks and balances to help us find and deal with players who use unethical methods in our ACBL games on BBO. One of the ways we monitor the pairs violating the ACBL (and BBO) ethics standards includes, but is not limited to, reports from our players on BBO. BBO Abuse does take these reports seriously and forwards them to our Support Department when Abuse determines that an in-depth investigation is needed. I hope you will understand that this takes time, as in any organization, escalating from one department to another is typically not instant. Well the escalation is instant but the resolution takes time. If any of our players has reason to believe that a pair is using UI or other ethical violations, and the resolution seems to be taking an unusually long time, I invite you to email me personally and I'll make a point of having the situation investigated, or see that the investigation is indeed underway. You must bear in mind, though, that any results of the investigation cannot and will not be shared with the people reporting the incident or anyone else except those in an official capacity. Those in an official capacity include BBO Senior Staff and the ACBL. However, Diana was 100% correct in stating that the directors of the tournament cannot make a determination of an ethics violation - in this case, a suspicion of 'cheating. They simply cannot, but must go through procedures as this is a very serious charge and could cause permanent damage to the parties if it turns out to be incorrect. So to sum up: Reports of a violation of ACBL or BBO Ethical standards are investigated. If the investigation proves to be true actions are taken. These actions could be a warning (with an 'on watch' status), a temporary ban from BBO, a permanent ban from BBO, and/or a report to the ACBL of the action we have taken if the the subject is a member of the ACBL. I hope this is sufficient to confirm that we do take these reports seriously, and that you will also understand that our Privacy Policy prevents us from sharing any results we find. Jacki jacki@bridgebase.com

Barry is correct as regards our 12 board games. However, we do offer 18 board games where the points are awarded at the same level as a club game. Unfortunately these are not well attended, but they are offered. The entry fee for an 18 board game is $1.50 BB$ and awards masterpoints consisted with a regular club game. I pushed for this, it was implemented, but sadly it did not appeal to our players. It's still available though. Spread the word, gather your friends and have a 'regular' tournament. There's a bit more thinking time in these 18 board games than there is in a Speedball game. So for the players who like to 1) have time to think and 2) would like a larger masterpoint award, and 3) don't mind spending more than an hour on a game, give these a try.

Yes, in a way. Points won in ACBL games on BBO are equal to one point won anywhere in any game. However, they are 'non-pigmented' points. In order to advance in rank the ACBL requires a certain number of pigmented points; Black Silver Red Gold/Platinum Different levels in rank require different numbers of certain colors to reach the next rank. If a player has all the colored points required to reach a level, but needs more total points for that level, then a point won in an ACBL game on BBO is the same as a point won in an ACBL game played anywhere.

The answer is, Yes and No. The points you win at any club are usually black points. In special games they could be a Silver, Red or at very special games even Gold points. The points you win online are colorless points. That's the difference. Supposing you have the right number of pigmented points, Gold/Platinum, Red, Silver, Black then all you need to reach the next level is any number of the points required to reach your advance in rank. These will include the points you win online. So to sum it up: The point you win in a sanctioned ACBL game on BBO is equal to a point you win anywhere. Advancing to the next level requires a number of colored (pigmented) points, in addition to the required number of 'regular' points. There is no longer a limit to the number of points won online that can be used to advance in an ACBL rank. A point is a point is a point, wherever you win that point. Jacki :)

If you are playing in an ACBL game on BBO this chart shows you the legal bids: http://www.acbl.org/acbl-content/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Convention-Chart.pdf And this chart will help you know which bids should be alerted: http://www.acbl.org/acbl-content/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/AlertChart.pdf

What you see when you type a message is where the message is going. If you are at a table you will see this: >Table: Hi everyone What others will see is this: >(Yourname): Hi everyone If you are in the lobby and chatting there you will see: >Lobby: Need a partner for team game Others will see (Yourname): Need a partner for team game As for taking back a bid, you should click the 'undo' button. This may or may not be successful. Players at the table are able to grant or refuse an undo. Some tournaments allow undo's, others do not. Some social practice game players will allow an undo and others will not. If you set up your own table you can make it clear that you will or will not allow players to undo a bid or play. Jacki :)

Hello tuti: If you want to direct some free tournaments on BBO, please write to support@bridgebase.com with your request. Jacki :)

Not really. BUT you can make a new user name by following these directions: 1) Click www.bridgebase.com 2) Click the text reading "Click to play or watch bridge" This brings you to the log in screen, but don't log in, instead, 3) Click "Become a member - free" 4) Fill out the form on the next page with your chosen new name and password 5) Check your email for a message from BBO with a link to confirm your registration. 6) Log on with your new user name and password Jacki :)

Hello tabansz: If you will send me the days and times (approximate is fine) of the tournaments, we will be happy to refund your entry fees for the games. Please email jacki@bridgebase.com. Jacki :)

If your partner concedes then you can't disagree. At least not at the time of the concession. You can disagree with partner later as you're going through the hands. Jacki :)

It will help us if you can give us more information including -How are you accessing BBO? By computer or Mobile device. -If Mobile device, which one? -If computer which product (PC or MAC) -What browser are you using -When does this happen? During or after the tournament? -Any other information you can give us that you think will be helpful. The more information we have regarding this problem the better we will be able to help you. Jacki :)

No, 10 is the max, but you can use numbers and symbols to make it more secure.

Hello Tom: Thank you for your suggestion. I am forwarding it to our programmers to see if it would be feasible to add. Jacki :)

Thanks for the suggestion - I can see the validity in what you propose. I will be passing this on to the programmers to see if they can tweak this to incorporate the start times rather than the number of tables in the tournament to make it easier for substitute players to decide if they want to volunteer to be a substitute or find another tournament where they can help. Jacki :)

I've sent you a BBO email message with my BBO email address. Please let us know if you get this message and can read the text. If not, please email me at the address jacki@bridgebase.com and we'll try to find out why this is happening. I do want to suggest, though, that you use the latest version of BBO which has a 'real' mailbox and BBO emails are saved there until and unless you specifically delete them. In other words, they don't go away once read. The newest version has many new features our members have wanted including a 'real' mailbox. To get there, click www.bridgebase.com, click the text reading "Click to play or watch bridge" and at the next screen sign in and play!

Hello Gazumper, I'll pass this on to the programmers to see if this is something they can do. Doing it this way should show the tournament as full constantly as long as there are enough players signed up and on the waiting list. Not being a programmer, I don't know how hard this would be to implement, but it never hurts to ask. Thanks for your suggestion. Jacki :)

Hello Adriano: Almost all BBO tournament games include 12 boards. If it is a timed game, you can be fairly precise in the number of boards left to play if you will note when the tournament began. If it is not timed, a short note to the TD of the game asking how many boards/rounds are left will give you the information you need. But thanks for your suggestion. We will pass it on to the programmers to see if this will be a viable option for them to include in the information the prospective sub is given. Jacki :)

Hi Khrystyna: I doubt this is a problem with 8.1. Can you send me an email telling me what browser you are using and we can figure out how to stop this. I have not installed 8.1 yet but I did have this problem when starting 8.0 but before I give directions for fixing it, I need to know what browser you are using. Once we figure out your problem, we can post it here if others are having the same problems. Please email me at jacki@bridgebase.com.

There are some things you can do to slow down the play. For instance, under 'options' you can click 'confirm card' which will require you to click twice on a card in order to play it. This works if you are declarer or an opponent. If you are dummy of course you can't play anything. You can also page through the hand trick by trick which will allow you to see the last four cards to be played. You can click fast to get to the last trick and then slow the clicking down so you can watch the last few tricks without them flying by. The 'Confirm Card' option is under "Advanced Options" you'll find at the top of your screen. To replay the hand, click the hand on the traveler you want to see then using the > arrows, click through the play card by card. I understand neither of these are what you want to happen and I'll pass this on to the programmers to see if they can find a way to have the last trick stay on the table - until a command (next hand for instance) is given. In the meantime I hope the two work-arounds will help. Jacki :)

The registration for joanfish has now been confirmed and she can log on with that user name and her chosen password. Jacki :)

You can expect an email today with instructions on how to use the Bridge Master series online. Jacki :)

Doris and Alopino, please try this. Click www.bridgebase.com, which will take you to the BBO home page. Once there look at your address line that will begin with www.bridgebase.com. Look to the far right of the address line where you should see an icon. This should be the 'compatibility' icon. Click on it - you may get an 'are you sure' message and if so click yes. If you can't find the icon which will be at the very right end of the address line, then try this: Click on the Tools link which will be at the top right of your screen 1. Add a checkmark to Compatibility view or 2. Click on Compatibility View Settings, Type in bridgebase.com in the small top field and click on Add. Leave the page, and log onto BBO in your normal way. Please let us know if this gets your BBO screen back to normal. If not we'll dig further. Jacki :)

The GNT events which we have been doing for several years now also had some problems to begin with, typically involving players not knowing what to do. However, in that case we had several months to work out kinks. Still, the first start-up game always was nerve-wracking for the directors trying to get the players online and get the game started. Once started, putting aside the 'normal' disconnecting issues, the GNT events were held with very few problems. The NAP that was just held here gave us a much shorter time period in order to get everything together. As these large prestigious events happen, we learn things that we can do to make it easier on the players, the directors and the sponsors/organizers of the events. This last event, the D20 NAP has shown us (Us=Uday) the programming changes we can make in order to have the start be on time - more or less, but certainly not 30+ minutes - and that has been the problem that has given everyone, players, directors and BBO the most angst. In addition to the programming changes Uday will make, there are things the rest of the staff can do (rest=me) to make sure that the participants know how to get here, what to do once they get here and how to actually play in a game. The main point of this post is to let everyone know that we appreciate feedback, we see some problems that we can fix and if we've missed some then let us know. We are happy to have had the GNTs here on BBO and hope to see more NAP qualification events happening in the future. I believe by 2014, D20 will see a big improvement in the problems they had this weekend. From my end, I thought considering everything it went well. It was certainly interesting to kibitz. Jacki :)