CeciD

None of us should be unhappy with your (or anyone else's) self-rating! I personally reserve unhappiness for much larger things. And I suppose BBO tries to match people. If it were possible, I'd like to see a "take me to first seat available" that was just for the relaxed bridge club. Maybe then it might take me to a seat where people wouldn't mind my mistakes. However, I am very glad that there is an online place to play!

I play once a week with a wonderful foursome, but lately there are days (esp cold ones like today!) when I would like to go in and find a table of strangers where I would fit. On those days I go onto the open tables on relaxed bridge club and click on names to see if there are any people who self-identify as beginner and also play the convention I play. When I find such a person, I send them a chat asking if I might join their table in an open seat. THIS HAS NEVER WORKED. I have been playing for 2 years, but still am low on the beginner spectrum (evidenced by the questions on here being above me.) Therefore I hate to go the "first seat available" route. I don't want to join the BIL because I am on a low budget. I'll bet there are more people like me on BBO!

I somehow convinced my 20-something son to play bridge with me as a gift. He read the first Audrey Grant book and then uses the "Audrey Grant Bridge at a Glance" pamphlet. He has only played a few games, so he is a real beginner. I think he would be more apt to continue to play if he found other young people with whom to play. Is there any way for young players to find each other? It seems most of us are much older. I would love to encourage younger folks play so the game doesn't die out over time.

I googled "bridge solver" and a lot of different things came up. Which one are you referring to? Thought I'd check it out. Thanks for the tips.

A friend of mine asked me to post a question. When they could play in person, they had two tables playing duplicate bridge twice a month. Now they play online and can only compare IMPs. Is there a way for eight people to play duplicate on BBO? I hope I phrased that right; does this question make sense?

I have finally (it took quite awhile) found a foursome who all enjoy playing together. Don't give up, it really does take time. We open a Skype call simultaneously so we can chat and it is more social. I doubt strangers would want to do that, as the way we do it involves clicking an emailed link the first time. You would want to make sure you really trusted the sender to make sure it wasn't a bad link. It seems likely that almost everyone on BBO is trying to find compatible players. Keep trying. I was discouraged for quite awhile, but now am glad I didn't give up.

Exactly! And for those of us on a very low budget, there doesn't seem to be a way to improve in bridge during the pandemic. Every once in awhile a teaching table doesn't hide chat from Kibitzers, and I will try to learn that way. I have borrowed books and read a lot, but often still get very discouraged playing on BBO.

Thanks for the advice and encouragement. I do feel terrible when I bring the level of the game down or when people keep leaving my table. I am always so thankful when someone stays. I am continuing to read books and watch youtube videos on bridge, but it's a bit overwhelming. I'm going to try to focus on one thing at a time...like this week I reread a book on defense and am hoping to practice what I've read. If only I could remember things better...but I guess use it or lose it! And I read somewhere to remind myself that bridge is fun BECAUSE it is hard.

If I click on "Take me to the first seat available" in the casual section, will it take me to the relaxed bridge club or might I be going where people are more competitive? I would like to know how to find a table of people who are just playing for fun and not taking it too seriously. I have tried clicking on relaxed bridge club and then looking at people's profiles to see if they are beginners. Then I chat the table host asking if I might sit, but rarely (not sure if ever) get a reply. Suggestions?

Pescetom, Thank you so much for taking the time to write this detailed reply and with such a quick turn around. I will certainly look at the resources you mentioned. I have in fact met a few rude people, which prompted the question. I can understand why good players wouldn't want to play with novices. Fortunately the vast majority of people I'm played with have been very friendly and understanding. Thanks again.

I am a beginner and don't have a regular partner. I also don't know a lot of the "conventions". When I play in person with my parents, after partner's one no trump open, responder says "transfer two hearts" to mean he has good spades. Online you can't see what your partner is saying. How do I know if that two hearts meant 0-7 pts, 5+ hearts or good spades? I don't think partner can explain bid to me, right, just to opponents? If in doubt, what would you assume? When playing solitaire the computer tells me what each bid means. Wish we could have that in the relaxed room if the whole table agreed to it :). Is there a website online to learn conventions, hopefully free?

I am new to BBO and a novice/beginner player. What I mean by that is I've been playing for many months, but am not very good. I started playing with people whom I can no longer see because of the virus. They don't have internet, so I am coming to BBO without a partner. I was reading the Audrey Grant books, but the library closed and I no longer have access. Is the best place for me to play the relaxed bridge club (sounds not as competitive)? Also, how do I do I find other beginners to play with so I don't anger good partners who want to win and may not want me for a partner? If I hit "next seat available" someone might be really disappointed! I usually just click on names at tables looking for a beginner and then send a chat to them to ask if I can join. This doesn't get results very often. If I get tired of that, sometimes I just click on an empty seat at a table with beginners. All this just to find a seat, and it takes a long time. Any suggestions?