Ken50

One of the adavntages of the internet ( or maybe disadvantages ) is the fact that Dummy can see all the hands, and sometimes things get printed that tend not to be nice and some folks are just too nice to print or think anything bad but I suspect that for a lot of folks involved in online competitive bridge you may fall into this cattagory, I put this together a few days ago, I hope you enjoy. Anatomy of the Perfect Dummy Bid 4H Declarer is south The hands N-S- AKQJ-H -AQxx-D- xxx-C - J 10 E –S- none –H- Kx- D-QJ10xxx -C -xxxxx S- S xx -H -J10xxx-D-AKx- C -AQ x W –S-10xxxxxx-H- xx -D -x -C -Kxx Lead small diamond won by the Ace Declarer “This looks good I can use spades to dump losers” Dummy “It’s an easy one P!” Declarer “Ok l will just lead a small spade to set things up” Dummy “What the HELL!” Declarer “Well that didn’t work, East trumped my Ace” Dummy “You had to pull TRUMP!!!!!” Declarer “East just led the QD but that’s ok I’ve got the King!” Dummy “YOU’RE BLOWING IT!!!!!!!!” Declarer “ Oh oh could be a problem here, west just trumped my K!!” Dummy “ YOUR IN BIG DOO DOO P!!!!!!” Declarer “ Dang west led a spade again, this is not going well!” Dummy “ TOLD YA!!!!!!!!” Declarer “Don’t lead a diamond, don’t lead a diamond!!” Dummy “ HERE COMES THE JD!!!!!!!!!!” Declarer “ CHIT!!!” Dummy “CHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Declarer “ I really blew this one, shoulda pulled trump first <sigh> “ Dummy “WE HAD THIS IN THE BAG!!!!!!!!!!!” Declarer’s Spouse “Not going well dear?” Declarer “I just played the worst ever and it was makeable, I hope my pard is not mad at me” Dummy’s Spouse “WHO are you yelling at in there ????” Dummy “ MY PARD, AND IM PISSED!!!!!!! Declarer typed “Well that didn’t work, Congrats o enjoyed” Dummy typed “ gtp, well done o enjoyed” Declarer typed “So sorry p” Dummy typed “Not to worry p, it’s only a game :blink: , Same time tomorrow? Declarer typed “You bet p :)” Declarer to Spouse “That why I like my p, never gets mad when I play badly" KGL

I know that there is another string here that deals with ratings but I have a suggestion here that touches on the current self ratings that we have. This suggestion has more to do with what seems to happen at times in the main bridge club and might ease some of the problems when selecting a table to sit at . Note: I am a player that has self rated himself as a beginner mainly because I am new to duplicate, and as yet have not figured out what the norm is to class myself any higher ;D So here goes: When I enter the main club i first sort it out by empty seats . Next I check the profiles of the players requiring pards and if i find one who has rated themselves as advanced or plays a system that i am not familiar with, I move on to the next profile because my bridge playing experience is not compatable and i will not subject a new pard to what may be an uncomfortable position under the rules of this site. Sometimes this process requires me to go through numerous profiles and before you know it a possible compatable pard is lost because another person sat their first, which usually means time to kibitz for me ;) I think for the advanced players here the reverse sometimes happens, they have that confidence to sit generally anywhere and in the rush to aquire a seat , they just sit. This sometimes results in the 2-3 hands played with the required " Ty Folks but i have to go " and the advanced player is off to another table, not a biggie if you are currently sitting with people you know, but if you are new to the opps as well........... So at the risk of getting into a rating debate and knowing that BBO currently allows all users to fill out a profile that : 1. Allows people to self rate themselves. 2. Allows people to show their preferred systems. Then is it possible that these fields when filled out could be included in some way along with the players name when they are sitting at a table? For me at least this would save some time in people finding a compatable pard and lessen some of those unintended uncomfortable situations which at times detracts from the social aspect of this great bridge site.

As a person who does on occasion direct a bridge tournie on another site i must say this in defence of the organizers of this tournie. I sat in on sunday and watched this tournie unfold , the sheer numbers of participants on a new and very different site had me gasping as thoughts went through my head, how are they going to handle this. As one who has seen internet tournies with at most 20 tables ( not directed by me mind you as the most i have directed is still less then 10 ) I have always been amazed by the commitment and dedication of those good folks who take the time to provide a social event for others for no other reason then the love of the game. In this I applaud Baron and the assistant directors. This first time tournie acheived 30 + tables , on a new site, there had to be problems. no way out of this and as i watched you could see that Baron knew this, but he hung in there, and the AD's hung in there, Why ? Because as i suspect from my experience of directing internet tournies .....its the reward of seeing good folks enjoying themselves, having fun, and becoming part of what this BBO community is all about. The difficulties faced by setting up tournies on this site will be hammered out and improved, i have the confidence in those who are currently running this tournie that things will improve..........but all players have a part in this process.....and its called patience...it will happen folks :) To Baron and all the AD's......Hang in there. Anyone who gives of their own time for nothing more then community,has mine and a lot of others full support. I have always beleived, in my experience of attending internet tournies in the last five years, that bad press in print about these tournies should never occur as long as there is a group of people attending these functions. Take up your concerns with the director and leave them there,,,,,thats one of the reasons they are there. If as Fred says about the law of the jungle, and this tourny fails , let it be because people simply dont show up.

John..............your post had me scurrying off to the BBO Rules Site to reread them and i think i may be missing a point here, but for the life of me i cant see where the main bridge club hasn't already been designated as the main social venue provided by BBO. BBO has provided lots of other options ie...table designations, private clubs, and public clubs where people of similiar bridge experience, preferences etc. can use if they wish too. Why is there this thought to create at BBO the very same things that a lot of us have left other bridge sites to avoid. To me BBO is gaining in popularity because of the differences from the other sites, and the lack of designated room classifications is one of the main reasons, as well as rateings. The main theme that seems to be prevelent among the majority of people i have met here , is that we enjoy playing this great game, we enjoy learning about this great game, but most of all we enjoy meeting the great people that play this game here at BBO. There are existing options already in place here, they can be used by anyone, but please dont change the appeal that BBO's reputation is based on, dont become just another bridge site. I do love Chips and beer though ;D

for 2 over 1........ If you have internet explorer....next time you are at either of these sites just use the Add Bookmark Feature in Bookmarks......Hope this helps :D..you should now be able to go to these sites directly without even going through the BBO bridge playing site. Not sure what the feature on netscape is called but there is a similar one that does the same thing.

Is there any way to have the clouds appear some where else then overtop the persons profile when looking at the info of a particular seat........i find it frustrating to try to view their bridge level etc. when the lobby discussions and invites are dropping on top of the profile? ;) This only adds to the frantic nature of trying to find an appropriate seat to jump into .