Ken16

I lost. My campaign to make the definition of Novice, Beginner, and Intermediate more definitive has fallen on deaf ears. The purpose of my attempt was to encourage the lesser skilled to come on in and enjoy the very best, by far, online bridge location. We must not forget that the majority of Bridge players do not participate in tournaments. They play socially or with small groups. They would not know a master point if they saw one. More and more of them are getting computers and learning about spots like BBO. Everything possible should be done to make entrance into BBO as pleasant as possible. Much is done with training on BBO and that is commendable, but when a newcomer first starts to check on the players at a table, and sees that most of them show an overwhelming number of conventions, he/she is scared off. That is why I felt that BBO should put more emphasis on encouraging the learning of the use of conventions in the lower so called SKILLS LEVELS. Obviously, even a novice player needs to know the principles of the game that are generally accepted by most players. The novice (and most of the rest of us as well) should take advantage of the wonderful "Learning to Play Bridge" programs, developed and made available free of charge by Fred Gitleman. On a personal level I have concluded that I am not eligible to participate in BBO because there is no skill level, as listed, for which I am qualified. 1. I have played for more than one year (does that mean on BBO or Bridge in general)? So I cannot be a BEGINNER. 2. I do not consider myself "comparable in skill to other members on BBO," so I do not qualify for INTERMEDIATE. Well, there is always WORLD CLASS. Since I have never played with any of them, who are they to judge me. After the first hand my partner will probably say, "What in the World was that?" After the second they will probably say in unison "I wonder what World he comes from?"

Well, there was a generally disagreement about my posting of SKILLS. That is fine; everyone is entitled to their opinion in this free (mostly) world. But now it is my turn. For those who are interested joining into this labyrinth I want you to review BBO`s SKILL LEVELS on Novice and Beginner. If a friend who has recently taken up Bridge comes to you and asks the following how would YOU answer him/her. 1."What knowledge about conventions do I need to know to get on to BBO and play as a Novice." No wishy-washy answers--be specific--and no telling him/her that all that is needed is to read Fred`s excellent book on "Learning Bridge". Since she/he thinks that you are the ultimate guru on Bridge your comments will be duly written down as the ultimate way to go. 2. Three months later he/shel then ask you. "After playing enough to be comfortable with the convention recommendations you have given to me, what (if any) additional knowledge about conventions should I know to raise my SKILL LEVEL to BEGINNER," Again be specific. Knowledge about an endeavor is not synonymous with skill. To be successful you must have the skill to use your knowledge in such a way as to be successful I wonder if SKILL LEVEL should be changed to PLAYER LEVEL. Again notice the lack of the word RATING in the above; so please do not use it in your answers to these two simple questions.

My skills message was my first posting and I am trying learn how to respond so if you see several posts of the same type from me blame it on my POSTING SKILLS. As I read the comments I was surpised to find that so many took my message to be about RATINGS. Read my post carefully and you will not find the word RATING mentioned. The preent listing of SKILLS aslo does not mention RATINGS. As listed just what is the criteria for each one from NOVICE to ADVANCED. I think we players of lesser talent would feel more comfortable if we had an idea of just what our partners would expect of us as we play. As we find an open chair I doubt that we check the skills that one lists as they join. Some of them have so many conventions theat I am afraid to get close to them. If we first play with partners of similiar skills we will be more adept at them and willing then to move up (or down). Note in my post that I said Fred and others could more accurately set up the skills. Incidently, Fred does not agree with I had posted.

I have no rating to protect. My sole purpose of changing the present skills listing is that for we lesser capable players it does not help us to find tables that match our skills. The ecpect and world vlass players tell you who they want ant their table.

SKILL LEVEL The skill levels used by BBO do not allow for the best establishing of players of approximate equal skill to play with and against others of the same skills. The time that one has played Bridge does not define their skills. One might have played for years and never bothered to learn one convention. Others might have played only a short time, but had studied to learn conventions and bidding methods. I believe you should adopt something new; I list my thinking on this below and I am sure your experts can improve upon them. Private. Keep as you have it. Change Novice to "Non-convention players or Goren players". This to those who learned Bridge in the Culbertson/Goren era and have never changed. Beginner. One who plays Modern Standard American or SAYC and plays the following conventions; Blackwood, Preempts and Weak 2s, Strong 2C (All well covered in LTPB). See Note 1 below. Intermediate. One who plays all in the Beginner and also the following conventions; Gerber, Stayman,, Takeout Double, Overcalls. (Again all covered in LTPB) Advanced. One who plays all of Intermediate and also the following conventions: Unusual No Trump, Michaels Cue Bid, Jacoby Transfers, Negative Double; Carding. (These Conventions covered in LTPB2) You can leave the Expert and World Class as is, since this is for a small minority of Bridge players. Once the skill levels are more rigidly defined the easier it will be for the host to set the table up for the types of players he/she wishes to have play at the table, and the easier it will be for others to find a table that fits their skills. To further this the host should be encouraged to list in the DESCRIPTION column the skill level being played at the table.A host setting up a table playing a special system can use this column to describe the system. You will now find more players willing to venture into playing BBO. *Note 1. I have put Preempts, Weak 2s, and Strong 2C in the beginning because they work together ; early knowledge of these Conventions makes the bidding more sense, and additional new Conventions easier to understand. Note 2. It should be made easier to find the explanation of Skills Levels. Right now one is just lucky to find it. When Fred adapts LTPB to SAYC to fit into his SAYC LTPB2 it would be time to make SAYC the Lingua Franca for on-line Bridge every where.