single best thing.

[gwnn]

What is the single best thing that you have learned on these forums?

[Jlall]

I remember I learned that 1S p 1N p 4S doesn't show a strong 1 suiter, it shows some kind of gambling type hand that is like 7-4 and was too strong to open 4S to begin with

[helene_t]

I just learned that

(1♥)-x-(1♠)-3♦

(3♥)-p-(p)-x

is penalty.

 

I also learned to make less psychotic preempts.

[manudude03]

I learnt there were more systems than just acol,sayc,2/1,polish club, strong club and SEF.

[kfay]

I learned to just BID GAME! (Conditions applying)

 

But will think more...

[jdonn]

The best thing I learned is that online [fill in the name] and in real life [fill in the same name] often have quite different personalities, so I try not to judge one based on knowing the other.

 

Bridgewise, the best thing I learned was being reminded that it's not just the chance you may have game/slam that make it worth looking for, but that you can find it intelligently.

 

The most interesting thing I learned was that the old tip that being long in the suit RHO opens means partner is more likely to fit you in another suit may actually be backwards, especially for clubs.

[Jlall]

The best thing I learned is that online [fill in the name] and in real life [fill in the same name] often have quite different personalities, so I try not to judge one based on knowing the other.

Heh, no offense but this is funny because of all the people I know on the forums this is most applicable to you. You are one of the nicest guys I know irl so your online persona is funny to me. Wish the same was true of me!

 

BTW hope you take none of our online fights personally, I still consider you a good friend even though it gets really heated on here sometimes!

[olliebol]

After typing in "most replies "and "all time" on the watercooler i learned in about 4 hours time how to behave at award ceremonies :)

 

Bridgewise i learnt to not come up with the brilliant bid at the table too often, unless discussed partner is very likely in the dark.

[MikeRJ]

I now make take out doubles on a wider range of hands than I used to - on balance with good results. Also more aggressive about bidding game.

 

Mike

[andy_h]

bluhmerz!

[y66]

Constant reinforcement of the need to think about the range of hands partner can have for his bidding so far and how likely or not our combined holdings support an action I am considering.

[jdonn]

BTW hope you take none of our online fights personally, I still consider you a good friend even though it gets really heated on here sometimes!

I don't take my fights with anyone on here personally, least of all you! I just had a few drinks with Cascade when he was in town and he was an extremely nice guy, it was fun other than me doing a terrible job handling my alcohol. So if we can be friends outside the forums, then anyone fighting about anything can. Hakuna Matata.

[eyhung]

Maybe these aren't the best, but these are situations that keep coming up frequently and which I didn't really "grok" until I read it in the forums:

• Justin on why winners don't downgrade
  
• awm's natural followups after 1m - 1M - 2M
  
• Fred's principle of preemptive raises
  
• Fred's articles on how to become an expert / understand bidding theory
  

[Fluffy]

I've beenm here so long that I have learnt many things.

 

Best things are that second position preempts have nothing to do with first position ones.

 

Also I pay a much heavier roll to honnor allocation now. Years ago it was all just HCP+ shape.

[Fluffy]

The best thing I learned is that online [fill in the name] and in real life [fill in the same name] often have quite different personalities, so I try not to judge one based on knowing the other.

Heh, no offense but this is funny because of all the people I know on the forums this is most applicable to you. You are one of the nicest guys I know irl so your online persona is funny to me. Wish the same was true of me!

 

BTW hope you take none of our online fights personally, I still consider you a good friend even though it gets really heated on here sometimes!

This is so funny, cos I remember when he came to the forums, I though he was some 60 year old bad tempered american who seemed to think he was always right.

 

I kind of hated him, but then someone commented his real name. And I went to WBF people to find further.

 

In spanish we say that one picture is worth more than thounds of words, and it atually just took me a asecond looking at his face to realice he had been just joking all the time, having fun of us while I though he was being serious.

 

Thins where better after it.

[gnasher]

From online bridge forums generally (rather than this one in particular), the most interesting thing I've learned is how much variation there is in what people regard as standard or normal.

 

Some examples of this: what a responsive double implies, when fourth-suit forcing applies, what a preempt looks like, what hands are important facing a 1NT opener, the right way to explore for slams, and even what are good and bad suits to lead from.

[aguahombre]

Fluffy. YOUR picture is worth a thousand words. Mine is worth one. "ugh". I am the 60 (66) yr. old grumpy American. Just setting the record straight.

 

What I have enjoyed most in these fora is gaining an understanding of why people don't use our agreements or use standard sequences in different ways. Then, with that insight, pard and I can make an informed decision to leave our system alone. :P , but with an appreciation of others' choices.

 

Actually, we have added a few things --such as snapdr at the one-level only, because of forum discussions.

[Fluffy]

lol my picture dates from vienna`98 when I was 18 if I recall correctly

[mikeh]

I can't think of any one specific thing I have learned that stands out compared to all the other points made.

 

I am impressed by the intelligence of the majority of the posters, and by the willingness to share insights into the game. And I love the fact that even after 30+ years of play and study, the game offers ongoing opportunity to learn more and more....so my thanks to everyone who contributes here.

 

I have changed a number of my ideas because of posts I have read....especially posts which disagreed with things I wrote. I (truly) love learning that my views are wrong! Because when that happens, it is almost always the result of a reasoned explanation of where they are wrong.....sometimes I disagree with the reasoning and am unconvinced, but quite often I find the reasoning to be illuminating... and (I hope) I have become a slightly better player as a result.

 

Even when I am unconvinced, the process helps me to better understand the issue.

[maggieb]

Maybe this is a little offtopic, but one of the first things I ever did on these forums was search for all of Fred's bridge-related posts and read all of them. I think he will always be the biggest asset to the forums, and I am really thankful that there are thousands of thoughts from a top American player that are just free to read for everyone. I learned a lot from them, and it wasn't just about his bridge, but also about his views on bridge politics, policies, training, and etiquette. It's something that I recommend every aspiring bridge player does.

[Fluffy]

oh, I forgot, I also leart that women can actually play bridge!

[Codo]

The single best thing was to get in touch with so many people all over the world with their different ideas and their different mindsets.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

 

yes, the most important thing for me is: It helps me to keep in touch with

ideas, which differ from my ideas, may even be standardt, and it forces me

to reevaluate, and sometimes to formulate my ideas in clear / precise words,

... B) , if you think I write cryptic / uncomprehensivel things here, you have

no idea, how cryptic / uncomprehensivel I communicate in real life.

 

It used to be rec.games.bridge, now it is BBF.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[eyhung]

Maybe this is a little offtopic, but one of the first things I ever did on these forums was search for all of Fred's bridge-related posts and read all of them. I think he will always be the biggest asset to the forums, and I am really thankful that there are thousands of thoughts from a top American player that are just free to read for everyone. I learned a lot from them, and it wasn't just about his bridge, but also about his views on bridge politics, policies, training, and etiquette. It's something that I recommend every aspiring bridge player does.

I second this. I have saved most of Fred's posts in files for personal re-reading, which is why I was able to list several "best things" in this thread.

[dellache]

I've (re)learnt that in order to improve yourself you have to read ideas from many different (good) players.

 

What I like on these forums :

1. very good posters with many different styles, from different countries ;

2. usually thoughtful postings with details, people take some time to express their views -- I especially like it when I realize I was wrong afterwards ;

3. variety of problems (carding, bidding, play, defense, ethics...)

4. enough people better than me.

 

At first I went on these forums because I was stuck at home having H1N1. Finally I have decided to spend time here on a regular basis. And I need to practice my english... which I learnt by reading bridge books mostly.

 

Second thing I've learnt is that fluffy was not an old 75y/o english lady playing ACOL.