[scoobyroo]

Hi,

My partner and I always find it difficult to find other decent pairs to play against on BBO. Teams matches would be even better but more difficult to organize.

does anyone know a place to advertise.. perhaps here is best.

So any regular partnerships looking for practise evenings from 9pm european time ?

thanks

[diana_eva]

There's no magic formula. Good players like to play with good players so they are selective about whom they accept to play with. Make friends: mark players you like as friends and ask them to play next time you see them online. Those good players will likely have good partners, so perhaps they will join with their partner, etc. The circle of friendship is not easy to create, but it'll come once you find a few who feel like playing with you too

Edit: That's just my personal observation, other people may have different experience or better tips & tricks.


I'm making a team match or two today around 8PM Central European time. You're welcome to play with your partner if you like. Not all players will be experts, but even beginners who post in the forums are way less random than some of the self proclaimed experts out on the big wide BBO.

This post has been edited by diana_eva: 2015-July-04, 10:58

[benlessard]

Maybe one day BBO will implement a few of the most basic feature expected of any game server. Until that day we all have to suffer.

[johnu]

Look for players that self-rate as experts or world class. BBO thinks this is better for the game than any kind of results oriented rating system.

[MrAce]

Did you guys pay attention to the compatibility feature? I observed that the players with 3 stars or more compatibility (4-5 better) usually don't make too many disappointing bids or plays as opponents. I also check their system or conventions that they mention in their cards. For example if someone mentions stayman and transfers, it is a good indication that they are at best intermediates. No good player will mention that they play stayman. Same goes with "5cm, blackwood" instead of system name and RKCB. I also gather info about their level after they sit at the table, for example if a player sits and does not ask or confirm which system and carding to their pd, it means they are there to just throw some cards b4 the dinner or whatever.

It also helps to make player notes, very short notes to each player you played in the past. Same people usually log in to BBO at similar times that you played in the past and if you do not make those notes the chance that you may make the same mistake increases. I prefer table games to team matches unless it is arranged by Csaba or another fellow BBF er. And I never turn down any BBF er who has been writing here long enough that I know, as a pd or opponent.

[neilkaz]

MrAce, on 2015-July-04, 15:37, said:

Did you guys pay attention to the compatibility feature? I observed that the players with 3 stars or more compatibility (4-5 better) usually don't make too many disappointing bids or plays as opponents. I also check their system or conventions that they mention in their cards. For example if someone mentions stayman and transfers, it is a good indication that they are at best intermediates. No good player will mention that they play stayman. Same goes with "5cm, blackwood" instead of system name and RKCB. I also gather info about their level after they sit at the table, for example if a player sits and does not ask or confirm which system and carding to their pd, it means they are there to just throw some cards b4 the dinner or whatever.

It also helps to make player notes, very short notes to each player you played in the past. Same people usually log in to BBO at similar times that you played in the past and if you do not make those notes the chance that you may make the same mistake increases. I prefer table games to team matches unless it is arranged by Csaba or another fellow BBF er. And I never turn down any BBF er who has been writing here long enough that I know, as a pd or opponent.

100% agreed. I have slight notes in the profiles of at least a couple thousand BBOers. Often it is just my evaluation of how well I think they play which is, for the majority, not as well as they self rate.

[johnu]

neilkaz, on 2015-July-04, 16:14, said:

100% agreed. I have slight notes in the profiles of at least a couple thousand BBOers. Often it is just my evaluation of how well I think they play which is, for the majority, not as well as they self rate.

I'm in awe of the number of people that you have notes on. Does that include hands you kibitzed?

[MrAce]

johnu, on 2015-July-04, 23:14, said:

I'm in awe of the number of people that you have notes on. Does that include hands you kibitzed?

I don't know him but I do take notes on both I played with/against and I kibbed.

[rainy11]

Do you notice that team matches more often organized by Chinese players?

Because we have group chat on QQ(an instant message software like MSN) to discuss or organize teams, pairs even leagues.
We hold nearly 100 teams at the same day.
The feature that is QQ group support larger chat group for free and open with client, very convenient.(Skype supports max 50 members and no gruop number, while QQ have 500 for free, 1000/2000 members per group if you pay)

Our group have 1200 members now, some groups even have more. We hold regular TM league Mar-Jun Sep-Dec every Monday 12:00-14:30 noon London time. which may provide some ideas.

QQ International multi language version is not so good as Chinese version, but no ads.
http://www.imqq.com/?lang=1033

[rainy11]

<a target="_blank" href="http://shang.qq.com/wpa/qunwpa?idkey=d52ad2eec7c8141422b3b2143577e11b81ba04eafc4d0ab5b721b95990cb5478"><img border="0" src="http://pub.idqqimg.com/wpa/images/group.png" alt="BBO BridgeTown English Group" title="BBO BridgeTown English Group"></a>

May it work? It may need some tests. QQ Group number 293496275, and we are finding Facebook bridge gruop to communicate with more players!

[rainy11]

I found my girlfriend at QQ group, also related by bridge

[Zelandakh]

Simply send a message to every star player you see "team match?". They love this and are guaranteed to become good friends with you. If there are no star players on, filter by country and select Turkey. Here you will find the greatest single block of experts on BBO and can be assured of a top game.

(In case it is not obvious, this is a joke - please don't really do this! )

[jdeegan]

You can perform a number of screens.

1. How do they rate themselves.

2. Sometimes BBOskill.com can give you a guide.

3. You can examine the past two months of any BBO player's results.

4. Make notes for BBO players you encounter.

5. Are they a BBO star. Most of them can play at the very least OK.

[Gerardo]

BBOskill data is stale since ages ago.

[Bbradley62]

Gerardo, on 2015-August-09, 10:06, said:

BBOskill data is stale since ages ago.

Except in very unusual cases, a one-year-old numerical measure of a person's skill level (even if flawed) is still better than a self-rating.

[johnu]

Bbradley62, on 2015-August-09, 11:03, said:

Except in very unusual cases, a one-year-old numerical measure of a person's skill level (even if flawed) is still better than a self-rating.

Do you mean that knowing how to finesse and sometimes count trump does not make you world class? Nothing is more hilarious (and a little sad) than kibitzing a JEC match and watching self proclaimed experts repeatedly butcher the analysis of simple hands when looking at all 4 hands.

[Bbradley62]

johnu, on 2015-July-04, 23:14, said:

I'm in awe of the number of people that you have notes on. Does that include hands you kibitzed?

I generally review hands after I play a tournament, including looking at other tables to see how they got different results than I did. I note noteworthy things seen there, to help build a list of who I would (or would not) want to play with.