dsLawsd

My sympathies as I prefer to open a table with 3 robots, spec VuGraphs deals and compare results to being punished in any sub game :rolleyes: But other players have just put something in their profile asking No team games, no random invites. Best I can think of at the moment.

It seems like it would be easy to code a bubble that says "Do you really want to x or y" Certainly accrues to save the student time and money :rolleyes:

No way to know for sure. Previously I had the problem of too slow internet speed (so I had ATT fix it). Often I have seen BBO be unstable due to GIB or whatever. using a VPN may make a difference (although mine by Bit Defender usually works fine.) My on-line partner encounters it from time to time for no apparent single reason although he thinks it is some app running in the background. It may take some trial and error to improve so take lots of notes about what happens.

Go into your account under convention cards and pick you + partner's card. Then verify. The alert function in red should be used to self=alert- let someone know if it is not working.

Certainly not a popular move. I get the feeling that this is an attempt, however misguided, to get people to play face-to-face again. The cost for robot rental strikes me as unwarranted given the level of play they return. I use them with prior Vu-graphs to test my play and bidding instead of solitaire. Perhaps some weeks I will skip the robo-terror now :angry:

Depends on the circumstances and the level of partner. But generally the wdp should be reserved for excellent defensive carding or bringing in a contract with multiple possible lines. I am one to praise the opponents more and saving the rest for partnership discussion. During practice matches with teammies one can be more liberal.

Depends on partnership agreements a bit. If I double and partner looks at his heart shortness he/she has the option of passing (esp at mp) or bidding their longest suit. If he/she bids 3 ♠ you now bid 3NT. choice of games. Partner should pass with good defensive values. Preempts work. Vulnerable might be a much tougher problem. Partner might well have Kx(x) x QJxxx Axxx(x) or similar.

Suspicious unless you have the rare hand with a trump stack where partner has shown some values.

Concentrate on playing your hands well and not making speculative leads unless the bidding has revealed a likely flaw. Expect hands to be very distributional when the robots seem to make a miraculous lead. Cater to the weird mistakes robots make when you wind up in a poor contract. Practice. practice, practice especially on defense where you can often make a bundle of matchpoints by properly timing the leads between you and robot- they do not pay much attention to count and attitude unless you clearly hit the weakness early. You may want to underbid any time the two hands have lots of high cards but no very good fit, especially in part score hands. Remember if given a choice plus scores are most important, but consider taking a dangerous finesse when it just feels right as other players will do the same. Of course, know the way tournaments are scored: you get half a point for each player you tie and 1 point for each you beat and that gets turned into a percentage of the possible points you could have made. Expect to have rounds where it seems everything goes wrong and you get a pour score: go back and pull the hand records and see if you can find a logically better line. "As we say in my law Office, some days you are the statue and some days you are the pigeon."

That is one of my dreams- never-ending bridge. I recommend opening a table with 3 robots (and buy one for 1$ per week) then pick random vu-graph deals to compare. Playing an actual event can be interesting and when tired just leave the table.

In the ACBL at least, play is suspended/director can be called/but otherwise the opponents can ask that play be continued. The Director usually will not change any Self rulings so if in doubt call. Twice in the last few weeks, I mistakenly claimed -1 when I made the contract. So it pays to be careful and when trumps out or other play needed to put that info in the claim. Interesting things can and do happen. In a speedball, the opponent refused to accept a valid claim until time ran out. Partner called the director and later we received an adjusted score. I hear complaints about slow play very often.

It depends on the state of our game. Also the opponent. Generally I like 4♠ at matchpoints. I would guess we would end at 5♥ at Imps unless we were behind. That elusive heart J isn't it?

I see that the Festival includes Stars and Platinum Points events which sounds like a fun event. But given that ONLY about 9300 ACBL Members have any at all, why set the limit at 5 or more? Particularly for those of us who have high Overall Results in NABC+ Events that happen to have been 1 or 2 years before these Points were even created, I would say that even if not discriminatory, that it is very unfair. DGS/ ACBL Advisory Council Rep. D22 Just saying'''

I love defense- it wins events, but here you are attempting to lead a less good player oftentimes. With that in mind it would be fun to add a few defensive problems to the standard Just Declare exercises.

NO. Sure they just had a sense of humor instead? Astounding score especially without "help"! BBO might want to check that section out for abnormalities I suppose.

The ACBL, like all NBOs, can make rules for games they sponsor. In Face to Face games, they do enforce the rule about biding 1NT with a singleton (must be an A,K, or Q). I do not know about variations of more than about 1 HCP. In non ACBL play things may differ. But you always run the risk of creating a partnership agreement that would require informing the opponents. And those opponents may write a Player Memo or complain to BBO. But otherwise, alert your agreements not your actual hand. One does best to attract good/pleasant opponents and keep a fine reputation.

Take out partner's take out doubles. If you do not have an agreement, then make one. partner most likely has either 4-4-1-4 or 3-4-1-5 no wasted values. Take out to the suit that looks best for the play which includes forcing by the defense in diamonds. My best guess without good texture in any suit is to bid 4♥! If partner had two suits he could bid the major or bid 4NT. Even your second best trump suit might be OK as the maximum choice is likely not available now. Great question for improving high level judgment kind sir.

In the old days you had to play against everyone. It helped you learn, sometimes with some embarrassment. Now you get private feedback. When I score poorly I often know why- but I look at what happened on my really poor scores- was it me, was it luck, was it those crazy robot responses to my bid or play? Develop some friends at your (or mentors if available) to go over the hands with and see how the play could improve. Sometimes you develop great partnerships for the future. And it is judgement that often is critical as well as pure technique. Your interest shows that you will in time become much, much better!

Would they ask for a sub instead first. Sounds like Howell would be the superior movement with that number of pairs...?

One more thing. It is beneficial to have read/reviewed his previous books on how the system evolved. 2020 Expert has significant changes including not using Precision 2♣and that changes the meanings of some sequences. My bridge administrative duties have slowed my progress on my reading 2020- but perhaps we can dialogue in the future. 2020 and other Polish definitely are not for the faint of heart. Also worth kibitzing Kalita and Nowo when they are playing to see live what they do. dsLawsd San Diego CA

Maybe 2

Today their are special events for Newcomers and for Royals & masters, neither of which cover the 9 rated players. Hmmm

Not much help with out some points of reference. Certainly not for seeding either it would seem. But someday that information might have value.

It doesn't seem to me very difficult to fix this- how about an anti-seed to assure playing at least 2 rounds against peers? Other methods would work too.