Are BBO players better than everyone else?

[pilowsky]

One element that makes tournament play appealing compared with, say practice, or casual play, is the opportunity to accrete masterpoints.

I notice that the 'floor' in the ACBL and Australia is set at the 50% mark, but in all BBO tourneys, it is set so that only the top 40% get something for competing.

Bridge is unusually stringent in that for most 'examinations', 90% of the candidature pass.

From a commercial perspective, my understanding is that the objective of masterpoints is to encourage people to play.

Why not put BBO at least on par with other jurisdictions?

Since points are handed out on a log scale and playing ability is (likely) normally distributed. This doesn't seem to be a big ask.

One could even argue that for the accretion of masterpoints to represent current skill, they should be awarded so that a very high percentage of players get something - however small.

For those of you old enough to remember 'persistence' in oscilloscopes, there could also be a slow 'apointosis' to coin a word.

Such an approach would have many advantages.

A player would then have a 'lifetime' masterpoint record and a 'moving average' that would reflect current skill over the past X competitions.

BBO and any other jurisdiction would benefit because the incentive to compete would be greater.

[hrothgar]

BBO Masterpoints are all but meaningless

 

BBO hands them out by the bushel to people playing 12 board tournaments where people aren't playing the same hands.

The amount of variance here is ridiculous.

 

Its cute that people think that they signify anything.

[pilowsky]

BBO Masterpoints are all but meaningless

 

BBO hands them out by the bushel to people playing 12 board tournaments where people aren't playing the same hands.

The amount of variance here is ridiculous.

 

Its cute that people think that they signify anything.

 

"It's"

All the same, some people find it to be part of the fun.

As noted above BBO hands out exactly 20% less of a bushel than others.

Where are these 12 board tournaments?

All the ones that I've played in recently are challenge format and reasonably enjoyable - possibly even cute.

[Douglas43]

One element that makes tournament play appealing compared with, say practice, or casual play, is the opportunity to accrete masterpoints.

I notice that the 'floor' in the ACBL and Australia is set at the 50% mark, but in all BBO tourneys, it is set so that only the top 40% get something for competing.

Bridge is unusually stringent in that for most 'examinations', 90% of the candidature pass.

 

 

It's top third in EBU, so I guess no single standard?

[pilowsky]

It's top third in EBU, so I guess no single standard?

 

True, but the EBU has a functional database system that also provides a ranking and other useful comprehensive data to maintain player interest.

The ABF platform updates once a month (assuming the responsible agent at the club remembers the cut-off date).

Masterpoints are the currency that keeps TD's and Admin in paid employment.

The purpose of the post is simply to suggest a way that would enhance the commercial activity of BBO.

It's worth remembering that a Bridge tournament or match is nothing more than an old-fashioned maths exam.

All games are the same: chess, go, pick-up sticks, whatever.

The 'gamification'[1] and provision of analytics generates interest.

All I'm suggesting is that tweaking the gamification model might be commercially beneficial and enhance player experience.

I am not commenting on the intrinsic value of masterpoints - a topic that has been done to death elsewhere.

[1] Gamification is a field of academic research that started around 30-40 years ago.

[nige1]

Nullve seems better than everyone else :)

[barmar]

BBO uses essentially the same masterpoint rules for BBO points as ACBL points, because it was simpler to just use one calculation method.

[pilowsky]

Nullve seems better than everyone else :)

 

True - there should be a nullve-moderated category.

It's getting out of hand.

[Vampyr]

It's top third in EBU, so I guess no single standard?

 

There are also differences in what the masterpoints are “worth”. It is extremely easy to become a “life master” in the ACBL, especially since they started running many bracketed knockouts (yes, I am old enough to remember “before”) and you can achieve this level both quickly and without having to play in any top-rated events.

 

In the EBU the process of becoming a life master is longer and harder.

 

100,000 masterpoints and a token will get you a ride on a bus.