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I used to be a really good player 30 years ago using Acol. I'm happy with 5 card majors, stayman, blackwood etc but I don't know what I'm expected to use in bbo casual, especially with foreign (to me) players. So, what are the "expected" conventions?
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Requited conventions knowledge Playing with unknown partners on bbo casual
#2
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Posted 2024-October-31, 16:43
Should have said I've had a long layoff but want to get back into bridge.
#3
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Posted 2024-October-31, 18:50
As I'm sure you know, you can do very well with Stayman, Blackwood, and very good judgement and play skills.
Unfortunately, until you find partners who also can (and those of us who have sufficient skills to play that way have had them atrophied by convention crutches.(*)), you're stuck trying to play "modern bridge" on BBO.
I would strongly suggest understanding USAnian 2/1. After all, players without a card and without one of the six British Isles flags will just assume that's what you play anyway (and if it's the stars and stripes or the maple leaf, likely it's "the only way to play").
As for conventions within American-style 2/1, look at the stock "BBO 2/1 Advanced" card. If you're good with those (or even most of those), you're probably good with "randoms" until you find a partner to actually grind down and work on system.
If you really were good back in the day - like national-competition good, there's probably someone you used to know, here, that can hook you up with some people who won't completely frustrate you while you're learning and meeting a new crowd. If you were "club-level" good (and that club wasn't the Young Chelsea), then check with them, and that may help too. You do want to minimize your time in the Permanent Floating Pickup Pool trying to find people who can play and who won't yell at you for being old-fashioned if you can.
Oh and two other things. You will hear about this magic thing called "SAYC". You might even think you want to learn it. You will find after you do that nobody plays SAYC, even those who say they do (they just don't play 2/1GF or Forcing 1NT). You might still want to learn it so that you have a hope of guessing close to right, as long as you know.
You also should learn "GIB 2/1". If you ever play a game with a GIB robot (either as a fill-in, or solitaire, or...) you play their system, because they won't play yours. But that's for when you need to relax and push cards, or practise declarer play (or "how to fool the robots" play) and is a lower priority.
(*) I was not one of them. I was a scientist from day 1, and learned an entirely new system to force me to train my judgement and table feel for when I went back to my science.
Unfortunately, until you find partners who also can (and those of us who have sufficient skills to play that way have had them atrophied by convention crutches.(*)), you're stuck trying to play "modern bridge" on BBO.
I would strongly suggest understanding USAnian 2/1. After all, players without a card and without one of the six British Isles flags will just assume that's what you play anyway (and if it's the stars and stripes or the maple leaf, likely it's "the only way to play").
As for conventions within American-style 2/1, look at the stock "BBO 2/1 Advanced" card. If you're good with those (or even most of those), you're probably good with "randoms" until you find a partner to actually grind down and work on system.
If you really were good back in the day - like national-competition good, there's probably someone you used to know, here, that can hook you up with some people who won't completely frustrate you while you're learning and meeting a new crowd. If you were "club-level" good (and that club wasn't the Young Chelsea), then check with them, and that may help too. You do want to minimize your time in the Permanent Floating Pickup Pool trying to find people who can play and who won't yell at you for being old-fashioned if you can.
Oh and two other things. You will hear about this magic thing called "SAYC". You might even think you want to learn it. You will find after you do that nobody plays SAYC, even those who say they do (they just don't play 2/1GF or Forcing 1NT). You might still want to learn it so that you have a hope of guessing close to right, as long as you know.
You also should learn "GIB 2/1". If you ever play a game with a GIB robot (either as a fill-in, or solitaire, or...) you play their system, because they won't play yours. But that's for when you need to relax and push cards, or practise declarer play (or "how to fool the robots" play) and is a lower priority.
(*) I was not one of them. I was a scientist from day 1, and learned an entirely new system to force me to train my judgement and table feel for when I went back to my science.
When I go to sea, don't fear for me, Fear For The Storm -- Birdie and the Swansong (tSCoSI)
#4
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Posted 2024-November-01, 01:05
Jaybarnes, on 2024-October-31, 16:42, said:
I used to be a really good player 30 years ago using Acol. I'm happy with 5 card majors, stayman, blackwood etc but I don't know what I'm expected to use in bbo casual, especially with foreign (to me) players. So, what are the "expected" conventions?
I think you can get along well with stayman, jacoby transfers, jacoby 2nt,rkcb,inverted minors, cappelletti,new minor forcing, 4th suit forcing, drury, negative doubles, support doubles. Most of bbo pick-up partners expect you to play them. Smolen and Lebensohl will be nice though.
#5
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Posted 2024-November-01, 05:55
Play a few robot games. The robots play the conventions that most BBO players do, and you can click on their bids to find out what they mean. Now and then you'll be caught by surprise because it's something that became widespread after you ceased playing. Although you'll get the occasional bad board, it's otherwise painless - the robots are never judgmental.
#6
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Posted 2024-November-01, 16:33
harikannan, on 2024-November-01, 01:05, said:
I think you can get along well with stayman, jacoby transfers, jacoby 2nt,rkcb,inverted minors, cappelletti,new minor forcing, 4th suit forcing, drury, negative doubles, support doubles. Most of bbo pick-up partners expect you to play them. Smolen and Lebensohl will be nice though.
Urgggh. You're probably right, but you just reminded me why I never play with pickup partners in the first place. I would certainly never learn Jacoby 2NT or NMF or Drury (let alone the awful Cappelletti) just to be compatible with strangers. Assuming anyone can simply name the convention and be fully understood in the first place (I doubt it).
#7
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Posted 2024-November-01, 16:48
SMN0, on 2024-November-01, 05:55, said:
Play a few robot games. The robots play the conventions that most BBO players do, and you can click on their bids to find out what they mean. Now and then you'll be caught by surprise because it's something that became widespread after you ceased playing. Although you'll get the occasional bad board, it's otherwise painless - the robots are never judgmental.
The robots are not judgemental, but human opponents are, when you screw up with a robot (or when you both get it right, unexpectedly).
And they play some conventions that nobody else plays (splinters over 1NT anyone?) or would want to play (Cappelletti with a 4cM ?).
Also, the System Notes are skimpy and inaccurate and the explanations offered to opponents (and illegally to you) often diverge from the actual agreement (if you have picked it up in the first place).
Nevertheless, on the whole it offers a reasonable system and a faithful partner, a closer experience to bridge than playing with a pickup IMO.
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