[dboxley]

Arrange the bidding and play so that each player sees the other's bids and plays all at the same time so no one knows who is hesitating. This avoids UI and also eliminates a lot of the "faster please" comments. The software could also monitor each player's times and privately issue warnings to slow players.

[Vampyr]

It would slow down the game, because players will have to think about 3 calls or plays at once, rather than one at a time.

[dboxley]

Vampyr, on 2017-April-23, 11:45, said:

It would slow down the game, because players will have to think about 3 calls or plays at once, rather than one at a time.

Hadn't thought about that, good point.

[mycroft]

I wouldn't mind "screen rules" where LHO and partner's calls show up at once, but RHO is in real time. We could even do it as "virtual screen rules" where it's that way for all 4 players, rather than E-W getting hit every time.

But I wouldn't worry about it too much.

[johnu]

Vampyr, on 2017-April-23, 11:45, said:

It would slow down the game, because players will have to think about 3 calls or plays at once, rather than one at a time.

Some players don't even think about the last call or play so it wouldn't slow down the game for them.

For the non-speedball players, there could be an option to group the plays and calls together. Maybe just LHO and partner's actions grouped together, or maybe all 3.

[Vampyr]

mycroft, on 2017-April-26, 09:26, said:

I wouldn't mind "screen rules" where LHO and partner's calls show up at once, but RHO is in real time. We could even do it as "virtual screen rules" where it's that way for all 4 players, rather than E-W getting hit every time.

But I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Good idea.

[barmar]

This is one of the most frequent suggestions we get.

Our general attitude is that it's not worth it for the kinds of casual games that are played on BBO. If we ever become the platform for serious national tournaments -- the kinds of games that use screens when played f2f -- then it would be needed.

[mycroft]

Ah, so not the District 18 GNT finals then :-)

Looking forward to it, even if our local unit has decided to shoot itself in the foot. Thanks, again, for making it more feasible than what we did before.

[Vampyr]

barmar, on 2017-April-27, 09:45, said:

This is one of the most frequent suggestions we get.

Our general attitude is that it's not worth it

Love it

[GlobalClub]

In big in-real-life matches, bidding, if not play, is bundled 2 players at a time. E.G.., the bidding board is passed under the screen from S&W to N&E (or W&N to S&E).

This could easily be done online for both bidding and play. Then hesitations from partners could not be distinguished from hesitations by opponents.