[barmar]

OldPlayr, on 2012-December-11, 17:38, said:

Being a new member, who always must resort to playing as a single, I find the opportunities to play with humans disappointing. I'm pretty much limited to the ACBL individual tournaments every hour or so.

No matter what we do, it's probably not going to work well for new members. If we calculated ratings based on your past results, you wouldn't have any.

[Cthulhu D]

jillybean, on 2012-December-11, 18:05, said:

As others have said many times before, the only way to find a quality game on BBO is to play with "friends" and an extended circle of friends.
How do you get this list of friends? Befriend local players, bbf'ers, random players you are compatible with and partners of "friends".

And expect to kiss a lot of frogs along the way

It doesn't have to be like this. I don't play on BBO much because it is like this. It's just dumb.

barmar, on 2012-December-11, 18:27, said:

No matter what we do, it's probably not going to work well for new members. If we calculated ratings based on your past results, you wouldn't have any.

Of course it won't work brilliantly for their first first 5 games, but no reason why it shouldn't be functionally perfect after that.

[mycroft]

I frankly can't remember the last time I've played with someone at my level (actually I do; to within a week). My regular partners are worse than I am (but of course, 90% of players are better than their partners, there was a survey on that). I occasionally get to play with one of the locals who are truly better, and I try very hard to learn and do well when I do so.

I *don't care*. Yes, I don't want to play with someone who can't signal, or won't think, or can't see past her 13 cards no matter what you say; but I'll take the next level up over "????" or "faster plz" on speed-dial, or "WTH, pd?" even if they're as good, or better than I am.

That's the key reason, I do realize, why I'll never be an Expert - I don't challenge myself enough. Oh well.

"Find me a partner" by results won't help with that, will it?

[Bbradley62]

barmar, on 2012-December-11, 18:27, said:

No matter what we do, it's probably not going to work well for new members. If we calculated ratings based on your past results, you wouldn't have any.

Don't let perfect be the enemy of good.

[OldPlayr]

Some simple improvements could be made.

Profiles could have checkboxes for the major bidding systems that a player can play, perhaps with one as a preferred. This could be used in the "find a game" feature.

Given that BBO has a record of all hands played with results, a player could be put into one of four quartiles, based upon average ranking for all hands played. Not perfect, but it does convey some indication of ability. This also could be used in "find a game".

In searching for a game, one could select "plays ACOL", ranked in quartiles 2,3, or 4. While not guaranteeing a good fit, it would at least eliminate many bad fits.

[jillybean]

Hey OldPlayr I've asked you twice if you would like a game now and each time got no response. If you really do prefer to play with robots that's fine just say so!

[Cthulhu D]

mycroft, on 2012-December-14, 11:15, said:

"Find me a partner" by results won't help with that, will it?

Find you a partner should, in an ideal world, find you a partner and two opponents of roughly equal skills. Quality partners and opposition is a good situation in which to improve imho. It wouldn't cut out the angry asshole partners, but hey, nothings perfect.

[jillybean]

It's hard enough finding a good partner and opponents in real life, and here we are expecting BBO to do it for us with a bunch of nameless, unkown identities.

[OldPlayr]

Sorry Jillybean. I never saw the invitations - I always play with the chat window hidden.

[lycier]

jillybean, on 2012-December-14, 22:17, said:

It's hard enough finding a good partner and opponents in real life, and here we are expecting BBO to do it for us with a bunch of nameless, unkown identities.

I think so.

[jillybean]

OldPlayr, on 2012-December-15, 08:23, said:

Sorry Jillybean. I never saw the invitations - I always play with the chat window hidden.

It's no wonder that you are having trouble finding partners

[OldPlayr]

jillybean, on 2012-December-16, 21:13, said:

It's no wonder that you are having trouble finding partners

I see better with more screen real estate. The value to trash ratio in chat is too low for me to bother.

[mgoetze]

barmar, on 2012-December-07, 09:51, said:

What difference does it make? They don't play with randoms.

You think Cayne doesn't play with randoms, huh? Have you checked the "BBO Forum Events" section recently?

[barmar]

Against, not with.