[Rockomo]

I have been unsuccessfully trying to get in a novice game for several days now.

Any good tips or tricks are greatly appreciated.

Thanks! ..Rock..

[helene_t]

Join BIL, 5th chair, the Acol club, or WP refuge.

[thepossum]

Sad that it is so hard to find 3 pleasant relaxed, maybe mixed standard, people in BBO

[Gamboola]

Rockomo, on 2025-March-08, 18:46, said:

I have been unsuccessfully trying to get in a novice game for several days now.

Any good tips or tricks are greatly appreciated.

Thanks! ..Rock..

[Gamboola]

I am a Grade 3 beginner and I would be happy to partner you on-line. I am Australian and play American Standard. Play the cards OK but I would like to improve my bidding skills with a similar courteous partner. - Don.

[helene_t]

thepossum, on 2025-March-15, 21:28, said:

Sad that it is so hard to find 3 pleasant relaxed, maybe mixed standard, people in BBO

If you don't know anyone already then it takes some effort, but it is doable.

One way to find BBO friends is by subbing. People are so grateful if you sub

In the bbo profile, if you frequently use the partnership desk, it may be more important to talk about you attitude than to provide a long list of conventions. Humour is good, sarcasm not good.

Whenever you have had a pleasant game with a stranger, make sure you don't lose them. "Thanks for the game p, I enjoyed playing with you, I hope you don't mind that I added you to my friend list " is good enough. Don't be more pushy than that, though. Don't ask other people to mark you as a friend. And needless to say, gentlemen don't ask ladies for their WhatsApp number

And then you can join random tables in the Acol Club or IAC or WP Refuge, there are probably others. Don't join random tables in the main room and don't allow randoms to sit if you need a 4th. If you need a 4th, invite friends, ask the other two players to ask their friends, and failing that you take a robot.

[thepossum]

 helene_t, on 2025-April-14, 01:18, said:

If you don't know anyone already then it takes some effort, but it is doable.

One way to find BBO friends is by subbing. People are so grateful if you sub

In the bbo profile, if you frequently use the partnership desk, it may be more important to talk about you attitude than to provide a long list of conventions. Humour is good, sarcasm not good.

Whenever you have had a pleasant game with a stranger, make sure you don't lose them. "Thanks for the game p, I enjoyed playing with you, I hope you don't mind that I added you to my friend list " is good enough. Don't be more pushy than that, though. Don't ask other people to mark you as a friend. And needless to say, gentlemen don't ask ladies for their WhatsApp number

And then you can join random tables in the Acol Club or IAC or WP Refuge, there are probably others. Don't join random tables in the main room and don't allow randoms to sit if you need a 4th. If you need a 4th, invite friends, ask the other two players to ask their friends, and failing that you take a robot.

I get bored with robots but very anxious about random partners in tourneys. Not anxious about their play but about me in a tourney with people I don't know 😕

[pescetom]

thepossum, on 2025-April-14, 12:41, said:

I get bored with robots but very anxious about random partners in tourneys. Not anxious about their play but about me in a tourney with people I don't know ��

Not sure why you should get bored with a robot partner (unless you know it inside out) or with a human+robot pair as opponents.
I cheerfully accept either.

I avoid random partners not because of anxiety but frustration... however likeable or good they may be, I resent playing guessing games and the ethical mess that results.

[thepossum]

pescetom, on 2025-April-14, 12:50, said:

Not sure why you should get bored with a robot partner (unless you know it inside out) or with a human+robot pair as opponents.
I cheerfully accept either.

I avoid random partners not because of anxiety but frustration... however likeable or good they may be, I resent playing guessing games and the ethical mess that results.

Robots of any kind to date become rather tedious and predictable very quickly


The opposite excitement was when I first joined BBO and had no idea what it was like occaaionally being parachuted randomly into the first seat available
Was fun a few times lol