[iansyd]

Hi

I am a 15 (almost 16) yr old from Australia. You'd never guess it but my name is Ian and I was from Sydney. I have played bridge since I was very young. My grandparents taught me. For the last few years I have been playing in club matches with a regular partner - averaging close to 55 matchpoints in fields with a number of good players.

My bridge playing has taken a back seat recently because my father was sent to Port Moresby for work and unfortunately we had to go too. There's no bridge here that I can get to. My regular partner isnt allowed to play online much because it is his last year of school. My grandparents are afraid of computers.

My father bought his three children a computer each because none of us were happy about being located so far from our friends.

So I thought Id play on BBO. Mostly I just quietly watch the good players - but Id like to play too. Often when people see my age they start giving me lessons - well school is for that and the teachers there are qualified. And most experts dont want to play with a 15 year old - I can understand that.

So feeling intimidated, I tried the relaxed room. While the people were nice, the card game being played did not seem like bridge to me.

So I've been using the 'find me a game' function. It works really well - theres so many players here you are put in a game instantly. The problem is that most often people with 'no permission required' are 'novice' or 'intermediate', or I cant communicate with them (I only speak english) or they play systems and conventions I dont know (I can play 2/1 or polish club or acol but since I have mainly played with 1 person i dont know a lot of variations). Basically out of many attempts at finding a game and being placed in hopeless situations I have given up. So my suggestion is to build a little more functionality into the 'find a game' feature - at least so it matches on systems and maybe self-ratng (which I know dont mean a lot - there are so many experts some countries must have their national championships every weekend).

Im not expecting to find a perfect partner or to make friends - 15 yr old bridge players arent everywhere - but I would like a better chance at finding a reasonable game occasionally.

Thank you for the site and for listening to me.

[Elianna]

Hi Ian, and welcome!

A lot of people find themselves in your situation, and I agree that the "find a game" could probably stand improvement, but in the meantime, I suggest finding some of the other younger people on BBO, making friends with them, and playing with them.

I know, easier said than done, huh?

Hopefully some of them will see your message here, and contact you. They're nice people.

-Elianna

[rogerclee]

The most important part of having a good time on BBO is knowing a lot of people. Get to know some of the players on the forums who are nice and probably about your skill level and you should have a good time.

[zzmiy]

Hi Ian. There's a number of juniors on BBO playing together. If you want I'll give you some ID's. You can also try JuniorsBBO club - tournaments on Tue, 20-00 CET and teaching table on Wed 17-00 CET usually opened up by vdoublew . (Hope I don't confuse the time )

[Rossoneri]

zzmiy, on Mar 10 2008, 03:53 PM, said:

Hi Ian. There's a number of juniors on BBO playing together. If you want I'll give you some ID's. You can also try JuniorsBBO club - tournaments on Tue, 20-00 CET and teaching table on Wed 17-00 CET usually opened up by vdoublew . (Hope I don't confuse the time )

Times are correct.

Well yeah, there are many of us juniors, so you can always try to find us around. (I'm usually online quite often nowadays so you can probably try to msg me, though I might not be paying attention to the window)

[ASkolnick]

I don't know what time you get on, but I would be more than happy to play with you.

I am usually on at around 1 AM eastern time which I am not sure what it is Australian time. Although I consider myself an expert, I am not into giving lessons (too much other stuff to do, even though qualified).

When I was younger, I had a lot of support to play, so I am more than happy to encourage people to play.

ID is ASkolnick.

[effervesce]

Hi Ian,
I agree totally with you and others about random bridge games. Playing with people you know/having a regular partner is very useful. There's many sydney players who play together quite often online - my nickname's effervesce (as you may just possibly have guessed) - give me a buzz, I hate kibitzing when I prefer to be playing. I kibitz when I dont have anybody I know to play with - playing with randoms is no fun.

[Tola18]

Agree with the others. There are also quite many australian juniors playing on BBO, most of them better then most of the club-players at my local clubs...

You are warmth welcome into the junior world on BBO.

You can contact me too, although Im not a junior and Im doing some "teaching" if allowed.
Not seldom by analysing my own mistakes.

[Tola18]

zzmiy, on Mar 10 2008, 02:53 AM, said:

Hi Ian. There's a number of juniors on BBO playing together. If you want I'll give you some ID's. You can also try JuniorsBBO club - tournaments on Tue, 20-00 CET and teaching table on Wed 17-00 CET usually opened up by vdoublew.

This is a excellent tip.

Other names to look into here are juniorsbbo = Paula xxx, an enthusiast in charge of the club (also registers newbe´s).
Reisig, who is the main teacher at the analysing table afterwards.


vdoubleu is another enthusiast, teacher and helding the pairing table half an hour before the tournament starts.

So every junior gets always a partner, mentor or junior.

Mentors / adults wanting to play with juniors gets also usually a junior-partner.

Most of the mentors are strong experts, male and female. Im one of the few mentors being a merely advanced.

Only complain is the niveu is rather too high for novices. So it is a place more for good intermediates / advanced who wants up, then a school for novices to get experience.

[Tola18]

Arent you coming Ian??

[EarlPurple]

I'd imagine it may be a bad time for him. I think that Australia are 10 hours ahead of CET during the Northern Hemisphere winter months and 8 hours during the Northern Hemisphere summer months, so 17:00 CET would be something like 3am in Australia?

[Tola18]

EarlPurple, on Mar 18 2008, 04:02 PM, said:

I'd imagine it may be a bad time for him. I think that Australia are 10 hours ahead of CET during the Northern Hemisphere winter months and 8 hours during the Northern Hemisphere summer months, so 17:00 CET would be something like 3am in Australia?

Yes, the junior club isnt optimal for the aussies and kiwis. But yet there ARE a lot of such ones around that time. Of all ages. Maximum for BBO is around 17-24 european time.


Hopefully there are also other "lost souls" reading this thread and using the info.




I think it would be be good if moderator moved this thread to Youth Bridge - forum.