End of free tournaments?

[cherdano]

Because I helped run a few free tournaments ages ago, I still have TD privileges on BBO.

 

Today I received an email containing the following:

You currently have permission to create free tournaments on our platform. You will be able to continue to host free tournaments until August 1st, as follows:

 

- You will be able to create and run free tournaments at any hour, 24/7.

- You will only be able to create one tournament at a time, but you can start a new one as soon as the tournament in progress ends.

- Free tournaments will have at most 20 tables.

 

After August 1st, be sure we'll offer solutions to address your needs, regardless of which type of tournament or event you wish to organize on our platform.

 

 

Free team match creation, challenges and other types of free games will remain unchanged.

 

You have questions about any of these changes? We welcome any questions, comments or suggestions. Please, get in touch with us at tournaments@bridgebase.com.

 

Thank you for using Bridge Base Online.

 

I guess this is completely unsurprising news to anyone who has followed BBO's actions over the last half year. Still I think plenty of people would like to know about it, and as BBO apparently hasn't found time to write a news item about it yet, I thought I'd help them out with a post here.

[hrothgar]

Because I helped run a few free tournaments ages ago, I still have TD privileges on BBO.

 

Today I received an email containing the following:

 

I guess this is completely unsurprising news to anyone who has followed BBO's actions over the last half year. Still I think plenty of people would like to know about it, and as BBO apparently hasn't found time to write a news item about it yet, I thought I'd help them out with a post here.

 

As I mentioned in another post, I will reserve judgement until I see the new policies

I wouldn't want to use an expression like "Greedy motherf$ckers" prematurely...

[jandrew]

Quoted from message to cherdano:

 

You currently have permission to create free tournaments on our platform. You will be able to continue to host free tournaments until August 1st, as follows:

 

- You will be able to create and run free tournaments at any hour, 24/7.

- You will only be able to create one tournament at a time, but you can start a new one as soon as the tournament in progress ends.

- Free tournaments will have at most 20 tables.

 

After August 1st, be sure we'll offer solutions to address your needs, regardless of which type of tournament or event you wish to organize on our platform.

 

I refuse to be defined by my wheelchair, and I cannot be the only player unable to hold a hand of cards, which is why I find BBO a godsend and I very much appreciate it.

 

I try to put something back by arranging at least four and sometimes up to 8 tournaments each week. This change from 1 July fills me with apprehension and fear of substantial difficulties ahead.

 

Each tournament has a different set of options (MP%/IMPs, Swiss, Indi/Pairs, 12 to 18 hands with 2 or 3 hands per round, etc.). Each one gives me a laborious, finger-aching challenge in typing title, welcome and description messages, in addition to then choosing options over 4 pages of tournament set-up.

 

Currently, this is all achievable by setting-up each tournament once and then copying it to the next week. It is easy, thereafter, to copy each tournament forward by 7 days as each week passes. To do this I need to be able to create several tournaments in advance (simply to wait for their starting-time and never to run at the same time). I have not needed to create a tournament from scratch for over 4 years – the copy function has been a boon.

 

If I can create only one tournament at a time this simple task will become intolerably onerous. Every tournament will need to be created painfully and slowly from scratch. And when will I find the time? When one tournament ends on Friday night and the next starts early on Saturday morning, I have neither the strength nor the time to create the tournament over-night and – on those occasions when I have a night or two in hospital or on respite I shall not have the opportunity.

 

The tournaments which I create are for a club membership. I cater for a "members' list" of over 800, of which over 500 have played in at least one tournament in the last three months. At least one of the tournaments (and often two) exceeds the 20 table limit.

 

And what is going to happen on the 1 August? I wish that I felt more confident about a future improvement than I do.

[Vampyr]

I refuse to be defined by my wheelchair, and I cannot be the only player unable to hold a hand of cards, which is why I find BBO a godsend and I very much appreciate it.

 

I try to put something back by arranging at least four and sometimes up to 8 tournaments each week. This change from 1 July fills me with apprehension and fear of substantial difficulties ahead.

 

Each tournament has a different set of options (MP%/IMPs, Swiss, Indi/Pairs, 12 to 18 hands with 2 or 3 hands per round, etc.). Each one gives me a laborious, finger-aching challenge in typing title, welcome and description messages, in addition to then choosing options over 4 pages of tournament set-up.

 

Currently, this is all achievable by setting-up each tournament once and then copying it to the next week. It is easy, thereafter, to copy each tournament forward by 7 days as each week passes. To do this I need to be able to create several tournaments in advance (simply to wait for their starting-time and never to run at the same time). I have not needed to create a tournament from scratch for over 4 years – the copy function has been a boon.

 

If I can create only one tournament at a time this simple task will become intolerably onerous. Every tournament will need to be created painfully and slowly from scratch. And when will I find the time? When one tournament ends on Friday night and the next starts early on Saturday morning, I have neither the strength nor the time to create the tournament over-night and – on those occasions when I have a night or two in hospital or on respite I shall not have the opportunity.

 

The tournaments which I create are for a club membership. I cater for a "members' list" of over 800, of which over 500 have played in at least one tournament in the last three months. At least one of the tournaments (and often two) exceeds the 20 table limit.

 

And what is going to happen on the 1 August? I wish that I felt more confident about a future improvement than I do.

 

Perhaps the inability to create more than one tournament at a time applies only to free tournaments. It would be nice if someone on the BBO staff would comment. The fact that they have not kind of suggests that there would be an uproar if they told the truth.

[barmar]

Perhaps the inability to create more than one tournament at a time applies only to free tournaments. It would be nice if someone on the BBO staff would comment. The fact that they have not kind of suggests that there would be an uproar if they told the truth.

This policy change only applies to free tournaments.

[661_Pete]

John Andrew - I was totally unaware of the personal issues you have to contend with, as detailed in your post. All respect for your perseverance!

 

I've been playing in the Acol@BBO tourneys, on and off, for some years now and I hope to see them continue (though I keep forgetting about the time changes!). I'd be happy to play them even if they becomes paid-for tourneys (within reason), but perhaps other participants might take a different view? I don't know. Would it be worth canvassing the Acol@BBO members to see what they think?

 

Since the lockdown I've of course not been paying my regular table money at the f2f club. Same true for most other club players I reckon. People should perhaps be reminded of this!