[HighLow21]

 phil_20686, on 2012-February-13, 17:16, said:

I never had much problem. When I started BBO I would just play on random tables and when I found someone semi decent I would friend them. You dont need to tell them you are doing this, its just a convenient way to find tables that are decent. When you log on look down your friend list and look for tables with spaces. When you find one, sit in it. After they have played against you a few times they will probably friend you back and do much the same thing, sitting at your tables. Most tables have a high enough turnover that you can rapidly get a game with somoene semi decent. Also, good players tend to hang out together. As I got better I pruned my friends list from the people I no longer really wanted to play with. I also friend pretty much anyone I see who is famous-ish, so that I can find their tables to kibitz. Friending BBO commentators from lesser competitions is a good way to find expert games. Most of them are not WC players and some of them are often around at tables with spaces.

Friending is not a commitment. Use it a lot just to keep track of random people you would be prepared t play with/against again.

You can also leave notes on each person when you click their profile. These notes can only be seen by you. Notes like "chronic overbidder," "too quiet," "real name is Michael and he's super-nice." These can be immensely helpful when you see their name 3 weeks later and need some context!

[neilkaz]

 HighLow21, on 2012-February-13, 17:28, said:

You can also leave notes on each person when you click their profile. These notes can only be seen by you. Notes like "chronic overbidder," "too quiet," "real name is Michael and he's super-nice." These can be immensely helpful when you see their name 3 weeks later and need some context!

Just what I do and often simply my rating of what I think of their bidding, declarer play, and defense which is of course subjective and could change.

I probably have my own ratings and comments on over 1000 players in MBC.

[Lurpoa]

I know, not everyone regards humility as a virtue.
But some kind of humbleness might be welcome here.
Or are you really one of those Texan Aces, without shame.

 wank, on 2012-February-04, 23:53, said:

In occasional moments of weakness, when feeling particularly bored, I play BBO tournies with randoms. Of course I realise this is a bad idea, but I need to be reminded sometimes.


On this occasion my 'expert' partner produced these two classics:

---

-6 for 14 bills.

to punish me for my contribution to that board, he then did this (I had a void club so the 3NT opener was actually plausible from my side)

---

with AK A and partner's A of trumps, i essayed a claim for 4 tricks and -3400 which the opps rejected, evidently desperate to extract the full 4k for the extra matchpoints.

This post has been edited by barmar: 2012-December-17, 09:54
Reason for edit: hearts

[barmar]

 Lurpoa, on 2012-December-17, 09:38, said:

Or are you really one of those Texan Aces, without shame.

Are you really claiming that it takes an expert to know not to open 3NT with 5 HCP? The first auction is just barely understandable for a poor player, but the second is clearly random bidding.

[Lurpoa]

 barmar, on 2012-December-17, 09:59, said:

Are you really claiming that it takes an expert to know not to open 3NT with 5 HCP? The first auction is just barely understandable for a poor player, but the second is clearly random bidding.

Well, then maybe a Houston Ace ?

This post has been edited by barmar: 2012-December-18, 09:34
Reason for edit: Removed irrelevant questions about why I edited out hearts (they contained even more hearts)

[barmar]

What's a "Houston Ace"?

I don't understand the point you're trying to make, it seems like you're just trolling. No amount of inexperience can justify the 5♣XX auction, it could only be explained by someone being deliberatively disruptive.

[Bbradley62]

 barmar, on 2012-December-18, 09:39, said:

No amount of inexperience can justify the 5♣XX auction, it could only be explained by someone being deliberatively disruptive.

And therefore, I hope Lurpoa reported this action to abuse@bridgebase.com, so that the perpetrator can be told to either play bridge or get banned from the site.

[jillybean]

 Bbradley62, on 2012-December-18, 22:08, said:

And therefore, I hope Lurpoa reported this action to abuse@bridgebase.com, so that the perpetrator can be told to either play bridge or get banned from the site.

We'd lose the majority of the players if this were enforced.

[Bbradley62]

 jillybean, on 2012-December-18, 23:54, said:

We'd lose the majority of the players if this were enforced.

Sounds like a good idea to me... A smaller site without assholes is preferrable to a bigger one where some players do spiteful things and ruin the game for others.

[billw55]

 barmar, on 2012-December-17, 09:59, said:

Are you really claiming that it takes an expert to know not to open 3NT with 5 HCP? The first auction is just barely understandable for a poor player, but the second is clearly random bidding.

I call it sabotage and auto-blacklist those who do it.

Usually it takes the form of random 7NT or redoubles, but this case is also clear.

On the third hand posted, west's 5♦ strongly suggests cheating and should be reported.

[barmar]

 Bbradley62, on 2012-December-18, 22:08, said:

And therefore, I hope Lurpoa reported this action to abuse@bridgebase.com, so that the perpetrator can be told to either play bridge or get banned from the site.

But Lurpoa is the one saying that we shouldn't judge the player who did this harshly, why would she report them? She resurrected this 10-month-old thread to criticize the OP.

[blackshoe]

Yesterday at the club, we had this auction:

---

I (North) asked about the alert of 4♦ at the time it was made. The explanation was "I don't know, it's either natural and weak, or a splinter)." After the auction, and before partner led, I asked if the explanation was correct, since West didn't seem disposed to say anything. He then said "we have no agreement". I called the TD. In the ensuing discussion, it came to light that West just wanted to "screw with their auction", although he did in fact have a splinter raise of spades. The TD said "you can't do that". West argued. TD repeated himself. Eventually West shut up, and the TD went away.

They didn't have an agreement. Like many pairs, they just checked the "splinter" box under responses to 1M, and never gave any thought to whether splinters apply in any other auction. Oh, the TD did say, while he was at the table, that "you have to have an agreement here".

They missed their slam.

[Lurpoa]

 barmar, on 2012-December-18, 09:39, said:

What's a "Houston Ace"?

I don't understand the point you're trying to make, it seems like you're just trolling. No amount of inexperience can justify the 5♣XX auction, it could only be explained by someone being deliberatively disruptive.

♥ ♥ ♥


as said,

an Ace from Houston,

impolite, without shame, and arrogant.

Honestly, we do not understand why you do not want to understand.

Also, why don't you allow a few !Hs ?

[Lurpoa]

 Bbradley62, on 2012-December-18, 22:08, said:

And therefore, I hope Lurpoa reported this action to abuse@bridgebase.com, so that the perpetrator can be told to either play bridge or get banned from the site.

Brutus !
You too ?

♥

[Lurpoa]

 billw55, on 2012-December-19, 08:47, said:

I call it sabotage and auto-blacklist those who do it.

Usually it takes the form of random 7NT or redoubles, but this case is also clear.

On the third hand posted, west's 5♦ strongly suggests cheating and should be reported.

All interpretations...

Yes need to be checked....

That is why, reporting here is just something only Houston Aces would do.

When such a thing happens one action: "abuse".

Right !

[Lurpoa]

 Bbradley62, on 2012-December-19, 00:22, said:

Sounds like a good idea to me... A smaller site without assholes is preferrable to a bigger one where some players do spiteful things and ruin the game for others.

In stead of replying here, I would have loved to report this,
But our Great Inquisitor, sabotaged my Report Feature.

Therefore, just a short:

V E R Y R U D E A N S W E R !

[Lurpoa]

 blackshoe, on 2012-December-19, 10:30, said:

Yesterday at the club, we had this auction:

---

I (North) asked about the alert of 4♦ at the time it was made. The explanation was "I don't know, it's either natural and weak, or a splinter)." After the auction, and before partner led, I asked if the explanation was correct, since West didn't seem disposed to say anything. He then said "we have no agreement". I called the TD. In the ensuing discussion, it came to light that West just wanted to "screw with their auction", although he did in fact have a splinter raise of spades. The TD said "you can't do that". West argued. TD repeated himself. Eventually West shut up, and the TD went away.

They didn't have an agreement. Like many pairs, they just checked the "splinter" box under responses to 1M, and never gave any thought to whether splinters apply in any other auction. Oh, the TD did say, while he was at the table, that "you have to have an agreement here".

They missed their slam.

Honestly, what is the use to report this ?
Houston Ace ?
And more, LOL it ! ????
I cry over it .

[barmar]

 Lurpoa, on 2012-December-19, 10:35, said:

as said,

an Ace from Houston,

impolite, without shame, and arrogant.

I've heard of the Dallas Aces, the professional bridge team sponsored by Ira Corn a few decades ago. What does Houston have to do with arrogance?

Quote

Honestly, we do not understand why you do not want to understand.

Is that the "royal we"?

Quote

Also, why don't you allow a few !Hs ?

I do. But just a few, not all. You've been warned repeatedly, and you refuse to understand.

[barmar]

 Lurpoa, on 2012-December-19, 10:44, said:

In stead of replying here, I would have loved to report this,

Just as well that we blocked your reports, since there's nothing objectionable there.

[sfi]

 Lurpoa, on 2012-December-19, 10:35, said:

Honestly, we do not understand why you do not want to understand.

QFT.