georgeac Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 I just stole..er, borrowed Kelsey's Advanced Play at Bridge from one of our clubs. I haven't read it in at least 20 years, and not only do I remember nearly all the hands, I remember a lot of Kelsey's comments when he gives the answers. is this why you suck at bridge or just a brag about having an awesome memory? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoAnneM Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 I don't think I "suck" at bridge. In my own bridge world that I inhabit I am considered an excellent player, in your world probably not. I enjoy bridge tremendously and am always tweaking my game. I don't worry about being as good as world class players because bridge is only part of my life. I also don't think any of you suck at bridge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fred Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 I also don't think any of you suck at bridge.A quote from Michael Rosenberg that shocked me at the time I heard it: "Nobody is any good at this game. It is just a question of how bad we all are." Now, many years later, I have come to believe that Michael was right (as usual). Why do we all suck? Because the game is too hard! Fred GitelmanBridge Base Inc.www.bridgebase.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 I just stole..er, borrowed Kelsey's Advanced Play at Bridge from one of our clubs. I haven't read it in at least 20 years, and not only do I remember nearly all the hands, I remember a lot of Kelsey's comments when he gives the answers. is this why you suck at bridge or just a brag about having an awesome memory? LOL; I still suck. Fred sucks. We all suck. I guess this book was just imprinted in my brain after reading it 20 times when I was younger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickRW Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 Why do we all suck? Because the game is too hard! Well, if it was easier at least a few people would be near perfect - then it would be boring. Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattieShoe Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 Why do we all suck? Because the game is too hard! Well, if it was easier at least a few people would be near perfect - then it would be boring. Nick I agree -- I love that Bridge is a blend of several skills. There's always something to improve upon, new ideas to try. And the incomplete information and luck aspects makes it always challenging, no matter who you're playing or how good or bad you are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gnasher Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 I don't think I "suck" at bridge. In my own bridge world that I inhabit I am considered an excellent player That doesn't sound much fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trinidad Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 I don't think I "suck" at bridge. In my own bridge world that I inhabit I am considered an excellent player That doesn't sound much fun. If I make my own world "little enough" I am also an excellent player. Just too bad that in that little own world I can never find a fourth. ;) Rik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeavyDluxe Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 Interesting that this thread has gotten new legs... I suck. And I suck enough I'm not sure all the reasons I suck so bad, but I suspect:Impatience -> I tend to be a "let's get on with it" kinda person. So taking the time to form a plan, think it through, etc seems difficult for me.Laziness -> Related to the point above, expending the effort to go slow, count carefully, think deeply could be better spent typing ?????s at pard on the next hand where he blows a cold contract. ;-)Lack of experience/mentors (particularly live) -> Living up here in the boonies means that there's no local game aside from the rubber at the local senior center. I think online bridge can promote the 'fast and loose' play that I'm prone to. Plus, I have never had really good players to talk with in the post-mortem and learn.But, I do love playing... I think I've gotten consistently better, to the point that ADV players won't get a total headache sitting with me. I just wish I could go back and discover the game in college. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickRW Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 I don't think I "suck" at bridge. In my own bridge world that I inhabit I am considered an excellent player That doesn't sound much fun. Not necessarily. There are still challenges - for example I do well enough in the circles I play in and frankly there is a duplicate on a Tuesday eveing at another club a few miles away that has the reputation of being the toughest game around here which I would like to go to - but I feel that my partners (actually my teenage & early 20s kids) would get beaten up a bit too badly to make it a good learning experience at this point in time - so I work mainly on improving both my own and their game - with varying degrees of success it has to be said! When I can get our average percentage into the 57 or so level, rather than the 54/55 it is at the moment I'll make the move - then we'll suck again. Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pirate22 Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 well well the originator is in Dire trouble,think how your partners feel,1 learn to crawl before you start running2 apply discipline3 never play bridge if one is tired4 kibbitz,and see how they play and bid (systems do not come into declarer play or defence)5 discus problems you have with your partners,and get some consistency going.6 never dwell on passed hands,if you boobed its water under the bridge regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlbalt Posted October 8, 2009 Report Share Posted October 8, 2009 I find the terminology offensive. To Suck should not mean To Perform Badly. No one laughed the last time this was posted.I suppose that in the modern climate, it is necessary to spell things out. It didn't make that statement for laughs, although I am glad that at least one other BBOer feels the same way I do. Using Suck as a pejorative is an implicit (or explicit) anti-gay insult. I object. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattieShoe Posted October 8, 2009 Report Share Posted October 8, 2009 I find the terminology offensive. To Suck should not mean To Perform Badly. No one laughed the last time this was posted.I suppose that in the modern climate, it is necessary to spell things out. It didn't make that statement for laughs, although I am glad that at least one other BBOer feels the same way I do. Using Suck as a pejorative is an implicit (or explicit) anti-gay insult. I object. Really? It would never occur to me to make that connection, and nobody I know, straight or otherwise, would draw that inference. Then again, I was an adult before I figured out "gypped" refers to gypsies. I think many Americans aren't aware of the origin of that one. I can't think of a handy one-syllable word that could take the place of "suck" to mean "perform badly". Is there one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdonn Posted October 8, 2009 Report Share Posted October 8, 2009 I find the terminology offensive. To Suck should not mean To Perform Badly. No one laughed the last time this was posted.I suppose that in the modern climate, it is necessary to spell things out. It didn't make that statement for laughs, although I am glad that at least one other BBOer feels the same way I do. Using Suck as a pejorative is an implicit (or explicit) anti-gay insult. I object. Really? It would never occur to me to make that connection, and nobody I know, straight or otherwise, would draw that inference. Then again, I was an adult before I figured out "gypped" refers to gypsies. I think many Americans aren't aware of the origin of that one. I can't think of a handy one-syllable word that could take the place of "suck" to mean "perform badly". Is there one? Yes, but even though it's the exact opposite word of 'suck' I don't think it would thwart the objection... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trinidad Posted October 8, 2009 Report Share Posted October 8, 2009 I find the terminology offensive. To Suck should not mean To Perform Badly. No one laughed the last time this was posted.I suppose that in the modern climate, it is necessary to spell things out. It didn't make that statement for laughs, although I am glad that at least one other BBOer feels the same way I do. Using Suck as a pejorative is an implicit (or explicit) anti-gay insult. I object.What have you been blowing? B) Rik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickRW Posted October 8, 2009 Report Share Posted October 8, 2009 I find the terminology offensive. To Suck should not mean To Perform Badly. No one laughed the last time this was posted.I suppose that in the modern climate, it is necessary to spell things out. It didn't make that statement for laughs, although I am glad that at least one other BBOer feels the same way I do. Using Suck as a pejorative is an implicit (or explicit) anti-gay insult. I object. Really? It would never occur to me to make that connection, and nobody I know, straight or otherwise, would draw that inference. Then again, I was an adult before I figured out "gypped" refers to gypsies. I think many Americans aren't aware of the origin of that one. I can't think of a handy one-syllable word that could take the place of "suck" to mean "perform badly". Is there one? Well, there are slight differences with American and British (and other forms of) English. But, despite that, I am a Brit and I also do not make any particular connection between suck and gayness. Unless someone can explain how there is and should be such a connection I am inclined to think this is a case of over sensitivity. Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordontd Posted October 8, 2009 Report Share Posted October 8, 2009 http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_mean...9;It_sucks' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trinidad Posted October 8, 2009 Report Share Posted October 8, 2009 hmm...I guess you could say "it hoovers" electrolux, dirt devil, dyson and a few others might object. how about "that seriously vacuums."As a vacuum technologist (you didn't know those existed, did you :rolleyes: ), I must object to the term "serious vacuum". Sucking only leads to a very mild vacuum, probably with a pressure of around 800 mbar (or about 80% of atmospheric pressure). Vacuum only gets "serious" below 10^-3 (0.001) mbar (a million times lower pressure than atmosphere). We speak of UHV (ultra high vacuum at 10^-9 mbar) when the pressure is yet another million times lower. (For reference: The pressure on the moon is about 10^-11 mbar.) ;) Rik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rain Posted October 10, 2009 Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 Sorry, deleted some humourous but off-track posts. I think this is a very useful old thread, and appreciate the recent revival, but since it's so long, we should probably try to stay on topic more, or it'll be hard to wade through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLOGIC Posted September 21, 2011 Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 A quote from Michael Rosenberg that shocked me at the time I heard it: "Nobody is any good at this game. It is just a question of how bad we all are." Now, many years later, I have come to believe that Michael was right (as usual). Why do we all suck? Because the game is too hard! Fred GitelmanBridge Base Inc.www.bridgebase.com Winner. Everyone sucks. /thread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdeegan Posted September 21, 2011 Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 :P A couple of issues that no one has mentioned so far: 1. A very good local Texas player named Imogene Hawes once told me "you have to try hard, but be careful and not try too hard." In sports you burn up the extra adreneline, but bridge is sedentary, and you can easily over amp. 2. Second, don't accept bidding lessons from your peers. If you have questions, try and get your advice from people named Jacoby, Lall and the like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antrax Posted September 22, 2011 Report Share Posted September 22, 2011 Sorry for the inflammatory question, but do you (JLOGIC, though anyone is welcome to answer) really think expert bridge is considerably more difficult than expert anything else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLOGIC Posted September 22, 2011 Report Share Posted September 22, 2011 Sorry for the inflammatory question, but do you (JLOGIC, though anyone is welcome to answer) really think expert bridge is considerably more difficult than expert anything else? I don't really know how to answer this. In the world of games, then I'd say that expert bridge is considerably more difficult than expert almost anything else, especially if limited to card and board games. I have never played go but from what I have heard expert go is significantly harder than expert bridge, so I'm not saying that bridge is the hardest of all of that group or anything. If you were trying to ask something else and I didn't get it please let me know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antrax Posted September 22, 2011 Report Share Posted September 22, 2011 No, that's what I meant, thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyberyeti Posted September 22, 2011 Report Share Posted September 22, 2011 Sorry for the inflammatory question, but do you (JLOGIC, though anyone is welcome to answer) really think expert bridge is considerably more difficult than expert anything else?Having played both to a decent level (although not to Justin's standard) I must say I found high level chess much more difficult (and time consuming in preparation) than bridge which is why I now only play bridge. Why ? Well the bridge analysis tree only goes 13 moves deep, chess ones can easily go 25 moves or more, sometimes with 5 or 6 choices at the start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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