pilowsky

Of all the remarkable things I've heard over the past year or so, this quote is possibly the most surprising: Who said it?

Seasonal work in Australia is back-breaking and poorly paid. That's the reason they can't get workers. Here is a quote from Reddit 2 years ago. https://www.reddit.c...l_workers_live/ Looks like nothing has changed. Whenever I see the words "seasonal worker" I think "exploited".

We'd be in a right pickle - and then you could have sauerkraut.

Just logged in and discovered that I don't exist at all.

You are right. Many of them turn up on this Forum, proving that Eric Idle was right: there is no intelligent life down here

[hv=lin=st||pn|~~M1181r3i,~~M22940l9,~~M2656vzp,~~M6963jg8|md|3SA9763HA875DK8C93,S542HT32DQJ63CAT4,SQHQ64DAT95CKQJ82,SKJT8HKJ9D742C765|sv|o|rh||ah|Board%201|mb|1C|an|Minor%20suit%20opening%20--%203+%20!C;%2011-21%20HCP;%2012-22%20total%20points%20|mb|P|mb|1S|an|One%20over%20one%20--%204+%20!S;%206+%20total%20points%20|mb|P|mb|2C|an|Opener%20rebids%20his%20C%20--%203-%20!S;%2011-15%20HCP;%20twice%20rebiddable%20!C;%2012-16%20total%20points%20|mb|P|mb|2H|an|New%20suit%20--%203+%20!H;%204+%20!S;%2012+%20total%20points;%20forcing%20to%203N%20|mb|P|mb|2N|an|2-%20!S;%2011-14%20HCP;%20twice%20rebiddable%20!C;%2012+%20total%20points;%20likely%20stop%20in%20!D;%20forcing%20to%203N%20|mb|P|mb|3S|an|3+%20!H;%20rebiddable%20!S;%2012+%20total%20points;%20forcing%20|mb|P|mb|3N|an|4-%20!H;%202-%20!S;%2014%20HCP;%20twice%20rebiddable%20!C;%2015+%20total%20points;%20likely%20stop%20in%20!D%20|mb|P|mb|P|mb|P|pc|D2|pc|DK|pc|D6|pc|D5|pc|C9|pc|C4|pc|CK|pc|C5|pc|H4|pc|H9|pc|HA|pc|H2|pc|C3|pc|CT|pc|CQ|pc|C6|pc|CJ|pc|C7|pc|S3|pc|CA|pc|DQ|pc|DA|pc|D7|pc|D8|pc|C8|pc|S8|pc|S6|pc|S2|pc|C2|pc|SJ|pc|H5|pc|S4|pc|D9|pc|D4|pc|S9|pc|DJ|pc|H3|pc|HQ|pc|HK|pc|H7|pc|HJ|pc|H8|pc|HT|pc|H6|pc|SK|pc|SA|pc|S5|pc|SQ|pc|S7|pc|D3|pc|DT|pc|ST|]300|300| Yes, you are correct (I just added A B C labels) - in Hand B I forced the 2H bid and then put a robot in South. The result is different (3NT-1) if the robots bid and play the original hand. Interestingly, the 2♥ bid is alerted at 3+, not 4. [/hv] In Hand C., the deal was loaded to the teaching table (in Prime if that makes any difference) with robots at all four seats. I just tried it again same bidding same play same result. They force to game and North chooses a (possible) 4/3 fit in Hearts.

I have a similar problem - but it's intermittent. When I ran network diagnostics it seems that one of my devices was/is having some kind of problem connecting to the modem. Other devices work fine. I tried running "speedtest" on three different devices and got three different results (in the same room). I get exactly the same problem as you describe when the speedtest results are poor. During one run the speed dropped to half midway. One problem was that I used to have a wifi extender plugged in - sometimes this confused the computer. A workaround is to run the video chat on a separate device (if feasible) - eg phone or tablet.

[hv=lin=st||pn|pilowsky,~~M11152rc,~~M5057omt,~~M68650eh|md|3SA9763HA875DK8C93,S542HT32DQJ63CAT4,SQHQ64DAT95CKQJ82,SKJT8HKJ9D742C765|sv|o|rh||ah|Board%201|mb|1C|an|Minor%20suit%20opening%20--%203+%20!C;%2011-21%20HCP;%2012-22%20total%20points%20|mb|P|mb|1H|an|One%20over%20one%20--%204+%20!H;%206+%20total%20points|mb|P|mb|2H|an|Simple%20raise%20--%203+%20!C;%204%20!H;%2011+%20HCP;%2012-15%20total%20points%20|mb|P|mb|2S|an|Game%20try%20suit%20--%204+%20!H;%203+%20!S;%2010+%20HCP;%2011+%20total%20points;%20forcing%20to%203H|mb|P|mb|4H|an|3+%20!C;%204%20!H;%2014+%20HCP;%2015-%20total%20points%20|mb|P|mb|P|mb|P|pc|DQ|pc|D5|pc|D2|pc|DK|pc|H5|pc|H3|pc|HQ|pc|HK|pc|SK|pc|SA|pc|S2|pc|SQ|pc|C9|pc|CA|pc|C2|pc|C5|pc|D3|pc|DA|pc|D7|pc|D8|pc|H4|pc|H9|pc|H7|pc|HT|pc|DJ|pc|D9|pc|D4|pc|H8|pc|HA|pc|H2|pc|H6|pc|HJ|pc|C3|pc|C4|pc|CK|pc|C6|pc|CQ|pc|C7|pc|S3|pc|CT|pc|CJ|pc|S8|pc|S6|pc|S4|pc|C8|pc|ST|pc|S7|pc|D6|pc|DT|pc|SJ|pc|S9|pc|S5|]300|300| A. I was dealt this hand on the teaching table a moment ago. Thinking that my bidding had caused a problem I gave it to GIB to bid as South. [/hv] [hv=lin=st||pn|~~M8125ahg,~~M11152rc,~~M5057omt,~~M68650eh|md|3SA9763HA875DK8C93,S542HT32DQJ63CAT4,SQHQ64DAT95CKQJ82,SKJT8HKJ9D742C765|sv|o|rh||ah|Board%201|mb|1C|an|Minor%20suit%20opening%20--%203+%20!C;%2011-21%20HCP;%2012-22%20total%20points%20|mb|P|mb|1H|an|One%20over%20one%20--%204+%20!H;%206+%20total%20points|mb|P|mb|2H|an|Simple%20raise%20--%203+%20!C;%204%20!H;%2011+%20HCP;%2012-15%20total%20points%20|mb|P|mb|2S|an|Game%20try%20suit%20--%204+%20!H;%203+%20!S;%2010+%20HCP;%2011+%20total%20points;%20forcing%20to%203H%20|mb|P|mb|4H|an|3+%20!C;%204%20!H;%2014+%20HCP;%2015-%20total%20points%20|mb|P|mb|P|mb|P|pc|DQ|pc|D5|pc|D2|pc|DK|pc|C9|pc|CA|pc|C2|pc|C5|pc|S4|pc|SQ|pc|SK|pc|SA|pc|H7|pc|H2|pc|H4|pc|H9|pc|SJ|pc|S3|pc|S5|pc|H6|pc|CK|pc|C6|pc|C3|pc|C4|pc|CQ|pc|C7|pc|S6|pc|CT|pc|DA|pc|D4|pc|D8|pc|D6|pc|DT|pc|D7|pc|H8|pc|D3|pc|S7|pc|S2|pc|HQ|pc|S8|pc|D9|pc|HK|pc|HA|pc|DJ|pc|H5|pc|HT|pc|CJ|pc|HJ|pc|ST|pc|S9|pc|H3|pc|C8|]300|300| B. GIB bid it the same way. [/hv] In both cases, the rebid of 2♥ promises 4♥ which GIB does not have. After bidding (my majors up the line) 2♠, GIB calls this a "game try suit" with only 3♠. Is this because I am supposed to bid the 5 card suit first? [hv=lin=st||pn|~~M8125ahg,~~M11152rc,~~M5057omt,~~M68650eh|md|3SA976HA875DK8C943,S5432HT32DQJ63CAT,SQHQ64DAT95CKQJ82,SKJT8HKJ9D742C765|sv|o|rh||ah|Board%201|mb|1C|an|Minor%20suit%20opening%20--%203+%20!C;%2011-21%20HCP;%2012-22%20total%20points%20|mb|P|mb|1H|an|One%20over%20one%20--%204+%20!H;%206+%20total%20points%20|mb|P|mb|2H|an|Simple%20raise%20--%203+%20!C;%204%20!H;%2011+%20HCP;%2012-15%20total%20points%20|mb|P|mb|3C|an|Game%20try%20suit%20--%203+%20!C;%204+%20!H;%2010+%20HCP;%2011+%20total%20points;%20forcing%20to%203H%20|mb|P|mb|4H|an|3+%20!C;%204%20!H;%2014+%20HCP;%2015-%20total%20points%20|mb|P|mb|P|mb|P|pc|CA|pc|C8|pc|C5|pc|C4|pc|CT|pc|CK|pc|C6|pc|C9|pc|D5|pc|D2|pc|DK|pc|D6|pc|D8|pc|DJ|pc|DA|pc|D7|pc|SQ|pc|SK|pc|SA|pc|S5|pc|S6|pc|S3|pc|H4|pc|S8|pc|DT|pc|D4|pc|H5|pc|D3|pc|S9|pc|S4|pc|H6|pc|ST|pc|D9|pc|HJ|pc|HA|pc|DQ|pc|S7|pc|S2|pc|HQ|pc|SJ|pc|CQ|pc|C7|pc|C3|pc|H2|pc|H3|pc|CJ|pc|H9|pc|H7|pc|HK|pc|H8|pc|HT|pc|C2|]300|300| C. Here's what happens if I reduce South's holding by one spade and give it 3♣'s Now South ignores the 4 card spade suit (presumably because it's convinced it already has an 8-card major fit) and bids 3♣ "Game try suit -- 3+♣; 4+ ♥; 10+ HCP; 11+ total points; forcing to 3♥. [/hv] The GIB system notes are an excellent resource for many aspects of GIB behaviour. This is not one of them. Welsh Clog dancing makes more sense than this - https://bit.ly/WelshClogDance

This type of approach sounds fine for non-disabled players. But it is unlikely to comprise the bulk of the BBO playing population. It is especially unlikely to include the bulk of the paying BBO population. There are many people out there who, for one reason or another, have difficulty manipulating small animated objects on a GUI, as this thread implies at the start. Many older people have (for example) a tremor that would make a 'drag and drop' solution difficult. Online Bridge provides a unique environment where people from all walks of life can enjoy a demanding game without the need for excellent hand-eye coordination. They do not have to worry about holding their cards close to their chest, Leading out of turn or all kinds of other things. The objective of the designers should be to make it simpler, not more complicated, to use. The next thing you'll want is a Wii-style solution where the player has to throw their tablet or phone against the wall to play a card.

[hv=lin=st||pn|shyams,~Mwest,~Mnorth,~Meast|md|3SQJT2HKT85D852C73,SH76DAKQ9743CA542,SK8754HA93DTCKQ86,SA963HQJ42DJ6CJT9|sv|n|rh||ah|Board%205|mb|1S|an|Major%20suit%20opening%20--%205+%20!S;%2011-21%20HCP;%2012-22%20total%20points|mb|P|mb|2S|an|Simple%20raise%20--%203+%20!S;%207-10%20total%20points|mb|D|an|Takeout%20double%20--%203+%20!C;%203+%20!D;%204+%20!H;%202-%20!S;%2013+%20total%20points|mb|P|mb|3H|an|4+%20!H;%2010-%20total%20points|mb|P|mb|P|mb|P|pc|SQ|pc|H7|pc|S5|pc|S3|pc|D9|pc|DT|pc|DJ|pc|D2|pc|SA|pc|S2|pc|C2|pc|S4|pc|S6|pc|ST|pc|H6|pc|S8|pc|DA|pc|H9|pc|D6|pc|D5|pc|SK|pc|S9|pc|SJ|pc|D7|pc|S7|pc|HJ|pc|D8|pc|D3|pc|C9|pc|C3|pc|C4|pc|CQ|pc|C6|pc|CJ|pc|C7|pc|C5|pc|CT|pc|H5|pc|CA|pc|CK|pc|H8|pc|DQ|pc|HA|pc|H2|pc|H3|pc|HQ|pc|HK|pc|DK|pc|HT|pc|D4|pc|C8|pc|H4|]300|300| Just to make it easier to see. [/hv]

Interesting problem. Can I think about it? For how long? If the TD takes too long to think does that mean s/he favours one pair over another? Is there a maximum/minimum amount of TD thinking time?

Ok, did you ever see "the Ruling Class"? Peter O'Toole becomes Lord of the Manor after the previous Lord kills himself accidentally during an episode of auto-eroticism while wearing a ballet skirt. The problem (if you can call it that) is that he thinks he's Christ. What to do? Call a psychiatrist. They put him in a room with another guy (Scottish as I recall) who also thinks he's Christ. This will create an irresolvable paradox which will cause him to realise that he isn't Christ and become normal. You can imagine what happens. The idea is based on a true story. In reality, both Christs just figured the other one was a nutcase. That's what happens when you get a bunch of people that don't want to learn who have fixed delusions. Also, when you challenge them they tend to go postal. You can watch the film here: https://bit.ly/TheRulingClass1972

Good grief. He's only a quarterback. If he was a halfback or a fullback then I could understand. He should tighten his end and get over it.

I play on another site where it is literally 'touch-move'. One click and the card is played. At least on BBO if you click on a card and then move your cursor away from it you get a second chance.

I've known many politicians in my time. The best answer I've heard to your question came from one of them: If there's a horse called "Self-Interest" in a race, always put your money on it. At least you know it's trying.

I don't think cognitive dissonance means what you think it means. It sounds like you want people to think about the shitty old days as tough but fair.

If we appoint you Editor, will you write them up and submit them for publication?

You are probably right. The approach of the Republican party is to establish an "other" which is bad and which is trying to take away "your" hard-earned (in most cases) not in others gains. When times are hard, instead of trying to make the cake bigger, or share equitably so that all can survive, some people attempt to grab more than they need. Even the displays more altruism than people. or, as Shakespeare put it: "No beast so fierce but knows some touch of pity. But I know none, and therefore am no beast." Richard III Sadly I just heard that William Shakespeare - the first recipient of the vaccine in the UK has died. Of an unrelated illness.

I don't think that you should characterise other players as "idiotic". They might get offended.

Isn't this the same point that I have been trying to make (for months)? Take a hand bid and played in any Daylong (advanced robots). Enter the Prime area and set up a teaching table (also supposed to be advanced robots) and the bidding/play is often different. Not randomly different (suggesting a feature in the program) but consistently different (suggesting two different versions of the software). This discrepancy makes a mockery of the scoring in the Prime Club which is meant to be an Area where you are playing with Advanced GIB. You might be playing with Prime GIB but half the field are playing with sub-Prime GIB. When I take a hand played by advanced robots in Prime and then try to work out what I did wrong using the robots on the teaching table in Prime they commonly do things completely (and consistently) differently.

[hv=lin=st||pn|shyams,~Mwest,~Mnorth,~Meast|md|1S853HK52DAK63CT92,SJT4HQJT8DCJ87654,SAKQ762HA963DQJ9C,S9H74DT87542CAKQ3|sv|b|rh||ah|Board%207|mb|P|mb|P|mb|1S|an|Major%20suit%20opening%20--%205+%20!S;%2011-21%20HCP;%2012-22%20total%20points|mb|P|mb|4S|an|Preemptive%20raise%20--%205+%20!S;%208-%20HCP;%204+%20total%20points|mb|P|mb|P|mb|P|pc|CK|pc|C2|pc|C4|pc|S2|pc|SA|pc|S9|pc|S3|pc|S4|pc|SK|pc|D8|pc|S5|pc|SJ|pc|SQ|pc|C3|pc|S8|pc|ST|pc|DQ|pc|D7|pc|D3|pc|C8|pc|DJ|pc|D4|pc|D6|pc|H8|pc|D9|pc|D5|pc|DK|pc|C5|pc|C9|pc|C6|pc|S6|pc|CA|pc|S7|pc|CQ|pc|H2|pc|C7|pc|H3|pc|H7|pc|HK|pc|HQ|pc|DA|pc|HJ|pc|H6|pc|DT|pc|H5|pc|HT|pc|HA|pc|H4|pc|H9|pc|D2|pc|CT|pc|CJ|]300|300| I often bid this way in Best hand tournaments where I know that I have the most HCP points. In FTF bridge, if I don't think that we're going further - say after competition - I apply the 'rule of 13' viz., if HCP+trumps is >= 13 bid 4 in partners opening of 1 major. The problem with the Zenith and non-competitive auctions is that partner could have a big hand. This one is a good example. Slightly better, and it should be in slam. GIB thinks you are bidding on the LoTT with long spades and little else. After the ♣K is led 12 tricks are cold. In the endgame that you show it makes no difference what is discarded. East knows the club holding and the cards are all the same as far as it's concerned. Or are you making a different point? [/hv]

Wow, you have completely misunderstood my point. Most of the players in the Club are better than me. Something I am completely aware of - and so are they. Myxomatosis is a system that was invented by a mate, Bob, at my pre-COVID club. It's a HUM that was outlawed. My 'attitude' as you rather quaintly put it is not that the bid is outrageous - only that it is uncommon - which is true. And that I am trying to be less 'dull' as you imply so I can better cope with it. I'm not the one that needs to get over himself.

All good points. Card-play - I'm battling through BridgeMaster, which is helping a lot. Bidding - I agree with the 'adjectivals' on this one - as someone gently pointed out months ago ", your bidding needs a ton of work" - they were right. And yes, 2NT is egregiously atrocious and appalling etc. I thought of doubling, which would have led West to bid 3♣ (another table), and we would still be in the dunny. 3NT may be best in this situation. It was number 3 on my list. I did think it was a psych when I saw my hand. It was alerted as "weak could be 5/4". I had never played with my partner before and was following her card. I had never heard of 'Ekrens' till now but will be sure to look it up. Half the people on this site pre-alert "we play Multi's" some of the more adventurous ones used to say they played Myxi two's - (yes, spelled and typically used incorrectly) until it was banned. Still, it is a Club tournament, so when people say things, they (including me) typically get it wrong, or their bid has a different meaning to their partners understanding. A few get it consistently right. In retrospect, I should have just ignored the bid and focussed on my own hand, but given that I was playing with someone that I had never played with before and it's unlikely we would have found the right spot after the 2♥. I still think 2♥ is a disgraceful bid. It doesn't accurately describe the hand and its main benefit because it will prevent opps from finding their best spot. Maybe that's fair, but if it is, why not just allow 2♣ multi - "could be strong, could be weak, might have 13 cards, some night be hearts or spades". Let's put it this way suppose East had posted the hand - would you say (without seeing the other hands) that it was a reasonable bid, within the rules, and you would be enthusiastic to partner someone that played this system? Alternatively, would you say it is something that I should incorporate into my repertoire?

no, no one bid the ♥ slam either! It was a hot mess! 6 people in 4S with only one making 4S+2 One person going off 2 in 6S and a scattering of others.

When I left the "Prime Club" a few days ago, I was asked to explain why. I tried in email to explain the points made above: It turns out that BBO disavows GIB - which was news to me! Here's the response I received: