[Marycakes]

Hello - I'm sure this must have been asked before, but I can't find anything via the search tool.
Is there any way of setting up to play in BBO using preferred conventions - for instance, if I want to bid with Weak No Trumps? It would be great to practise ACOL bidding (the way Ive been taught), but the robots seem to use their own conventions (like strong NTs!) and it gets quite confusing!
Any suggestions much appreciated

[pilowsky]

If you sit on a teaching table (this works in Prime)
You can put yourself into the East and West seats. I often do this when I want to 'force' a seat to bid in a particular way.

If you want a different computer program, then you have two choices.
Write your own, or go elsewhere. GIB only does what GIB does.

[nullve]

pilowsky, on 2021-February-15, 14:37, said:

If you sit on a teaching table (this works in Prime)
You can put yourself into the East and West seats. I often do this when I want to 'force' a seat to bid in a particular way.

I do this all the time and I'm not a Prime member.

[johnu]

pilowsky, on 2021-February-15, 14:37, said:

If you sit on a teaching table (this works in Prime)
You can put yourself into the East and West seats. I often do this when I want to 'force' a seat to bid in a particular way.

This should cut down the number of bidding misunderstandings by at least 10%

[pilowsky]

johnu, on 2021-February-15, 15:17, said:

This should cut down the number of bidding misunderstandings by at least 10%

at least!
Even better, you can turn on the double-dummy while you play.
When I do this, I sometimes also make the contract - mind you, it's touch and go.

[helene_t]

Marycakes, on 2021-February-15, 14:31, said:

Is there any way of setting up to play in BBO using preferred conventions - for instance, if I want to bid with Weak No Trumps?

No, the BBO robots only play their own system. They also assume that the opponents play their system.

There is plenty of software that can play other systems, including Acol with weak NT. Jack, for example, has robots that can play a wide range of systems and you can also play online, although obviously in a much smaller community than BBO.

But of course you can play whichever system you agree to when you play with a human partner. If you want robot opponents on BBO they will play their system and also assume that you play their system, but if you play Acol it's not too bad that they assume you play the robot system.

[pescetom]

Funbridge (owned by the same company as BBO) is another platform that has a robot which can play Acol.