barmar Posted August 25, 2008 Report Share Posted August 25, 2008 Have you given any thought to MBTs longer than a half hour? It doesn't happen as much in the "best hand" format, but when the opponents make a slam against you it can be almost impossible to catch up in just a half hour. Has anyone ever won an MBT without making 2 slams? I don't think I have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jlall Posted August 25, 2008 Report Share Posted August 25, 2008 Have you given any thought to MBTs longer than a half hour? It doesn't happen as much in the "best hand" format, but when the opponents make a slam against you it can be almost impossible to catch up in just a half hour. Has anyone ever won an MBT without making 2 slams? I don't think I have. I think you are playing way too slow if this is true. How many hands do you think you play in an average MBT? edit: sorry i have never played a best hand tourney so youre probably right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jlall Posted August 25, 2008 Report Share Posted August 25, 2008 Ok, I played several of these and I really think even more key than bidding slams is playing a ton of hands with the best hand thing. I mean if you look at it like you will average +250 points per board, playing a ton of hands is key. I think I have an edge because I am able to consistently play 17 hands per tournament assuming no stalling at the end. Also, if you play a lot of hands early you will know what you need to do later on (if you are winning just keep going +, if you are losing start bidding slams kinda wildly, stall if youre winning by a lot etc). Anyways, I think playing fast is definitely key and you can win without bidding 2 slams per tournament that way, and you increase the amount of slams you will be able to bid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barmar Posted August 25, 2008 Report Share Posted August 25, 2008 I never seem to be able to play more than 11 boards in an MBT. I admit that I'm not the fastest player, but it also seems like the bots spend their fair share of the time thinking, often going into the tank for 10-20 seconds when there's nothing to think about (e.g. which spot card to play). I don't see how to play 17 boards in a session, that's only 1.5 minutes/board. Even when GIB N is declarer, so it's all bots playing, it's rarely that fast. One of the things that wastes time, especially when trying to bid slams, is having to mouse over all the different bids to see what GIB thinks they mean. I'm never sure whether it will take a bid as a cue bid or a game/slam try. Probably I should just bid what I think is right, and not spend time trying to find out what GIB will think. But 1.5 minutes/board still seems incredibly fast. My 2.5 minutes is already twice as fast as speedball, and speedball allows claiming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fred Posted August 25, 2008 Report Share Posted August 25, 2008 Have you given any thought to MBTs longer than a half hour? Yes we have thought about this. It would not surprise me if we run some longer MBTs one day, but I doubt it will happen soon. We have some other interesting ideas for new tournament formats, but given that we have made 2 recent and rather big changes (introduction of best hand format and introduction of $5 MBTs) we are somewhat concerned about doing too much too quickly. Knowing which new products to release when and what to call them without alienating or confusing our existing customers is more complicated than you might think. At least it is more complicated than I would have thought :D Something else we are considering is some kind of a "jackpot". For example, we could put a little money from each entry into a pool and give the pool money out every time someone scores 10,000 points, makes 7NT redoubled, wins the last trick in a grand slam with the 7 of diamonds, or similar. Fred GitelmanBridge Base Inc.www.bridgebase.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jlall Posted August 25, 2008 Report Share Posted August 25, 2008 But 1.5 minutes/board still seems incredibly fast. My 2.5 minutes is already twice as fast as speedball, and speedball allows claiming. That is what I'm sayin dude, if you could play faster then you would increase your average score by like 1500 points or something. Of course, maybe you could not play at a high level playing that fast. Some things you can do to play fast though is jump to game quickly, or hog the dummy. For instance with good stoppers and a balanced hand i just jump to 3N when gib opens (regardless of majors). Also opening 1NT with a wide range of hands is good since you will declare better/faster and the opponent GIBs will get confused and misdefend when you have 13 points or a stiff, AND because partner will not go slamming since you have the best hand and its 13/14 so it's pretty safe. Also Fred if you add a jackpot for scoring the beer then you are my hero lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uday Posted August 25, 2008 Report Share Posted August 25, 2008 I'm showing my age or something -- what does it mean to score the beer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jlall Posted August 25, 2008 Report Share Posted August 25, 2008 I'm showing my age or something -- what does it mean to score the beer? The 7 of diamonds = the beer card. If you score it on the last trick your partner owes you a beer (as long as you went + on the board). Fred mentioned a possible jackpot for scoring it in a grand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fred Posted August 25, 2008 Report Share Posted August 25, 2008 I'm showing my age or something -- what does it mean to score the beer? The 7 of diamonds = the beer card. If you score it on the last trick your partner owes you a beer (as long as you went + on the board). Fred mentioned a possible jackpot for scoring it in a grand. Fred wasn't being completely serious about this particular type of jackpot contest, but since I have a chance to be your hero if... :( Fred GitelmanBridge Base Inc.www.bridgebase.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulg Posted August 26, 2008 Report Share Posted August 26, 2008 I'm showing my age or something -- what does it mean to score the beer? The 7 of diamonds = the beer card. If you score it on the last trick your partner owes you a beer (as long as you went + on the board). Fred mentioned a possible jackpot for scoring it in a grand. The corollary is that you must not make fewer tricks in any attempt to make the beer card, otherwise you owe your partner the beer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ant590 Posted August 26, 2008 Report Share Posted August 26, 2008 And it must be in a non-diamond contract too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mycroft Posted August 26, 2008 Report Share Posted August 26, 2008 Unless you're on defence (and set the contract) or it's doubled, or... My favourite is still a Crazy Bridge event where the rule on the board was "second highest card played to the trick wins", where I made a defensive beer (the 7 under the 9 IIRC). Since the game was held in a bar, it was immediately paid, even! Of course, after 3 hours of CrazyBridge in a bar, I got to handscore the 5-table Howell. I was really glad I had someone else (equally unsober, but still) to doublecheck my matchpointing and addition! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barmar Posted August 26, 2008 Report Share Posted August 26, 2008 The corollary is that you must not make fewer tricks in any attempt to make the beer card, otherwise you owe your partner the beer. What's GIB going to do with a beer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patapon Posted November 21, 2008 Report Share Posted November 21, 2008 I still think 20 % is a ton and it seems like at some point with higher buy ins the percent BBO is taking should lessen. Actually it is not really important how much % BBO takes on these tournaments since BBO$ cannot be withdrawn! How can I use my BBO$ if I cannot withdraw them please? Can I buy some BBO nightshirts or stuffed toys with this money? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdonn Posted November 21, 2008 Report Share Posted November 21, 2008 Something else we are considering is some kind of a "jackpot". For example, we could put a little money from each entry into a pool and give the pool money out every time someone scores 10,000 points, makes 7NT redoubled, wins the last trick in a grand slam with the 7 of diamonds, or similar. Fred GitelmanBridge Base Inc.www.bridgebase.com It was funny for me going back and reading this. I have played quite a lot of the best hand tourneys now, and the 10,000 barrier is my holy grail, I simply haven't hit it yet! One tourney I was at 9100 after 16 minutes, but I actually went down over the last 9 minutes. Anyway the idea of jackpots sounds fun. Another idea is a bad beat jackpot, like in poker rooms when you have a huge hand but lose. Every day/week/whatever it could go to the highest score that does not win its tournament. Or maybe split between that person and the person who beat him. :P Also, perhaps some kind of leaderboard for these things? Or maybe it exists already and I just don't know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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