Marathon for Maureen
On April 18, the BIL community will come together for a special event, a full da...
When people think about BBO, they usually think about games, tournaments, robots, or results. What they don’t always see is the group of people behind it all. This article is about them.
Diana has been part of BBO since the very beginning. If you have ever written to support, asked a question, or needed help understanding something, there is a good chance she has been there for you.
She is also a dedicated bridge player. Over the years, she has played in national events and represented BBO at major tournaments, including the NABC in St. Louis, where she shared the experience of competing alongside teammates from the platform she helps build.
"I barely play any live bridge at all. Turns out I strongly prefer playing online, perhaps because I made friends in such a wide variety of countries and I have opportunities to play with players so strong and famous that live bridge pales by comparison in a small country like Romania."
Many players know Diana from support, but bridge has always been a big part of her life. She has seen the community grow from a small online gathering to a global meeting place. Through it all, she has remained close to the table, close to the players, and deeply committed to the game.
Dan is part of the leadership team and a long time duplicate player. He plays regularly and understands the rhythm of the game from the inside.
"I learned how to play bridge as a kid. We didn’t have any bridge clubs near home, so my dad decided to teach all his sons, hopeful he could fill a table for a decent rubber game. Later, while attending college, it was my turn to teach the basics to some classmates. Who would imagine, back then, that one of those friends would end up being Brazilian champion in 2016? (Disclosure: I didn’t teach him to play that well!)”
His experience at the table shapes the way he thinks about decisions, improvements, and long term direction. He knows the game from the player’s side, and that shows in how he thinks about BBO. That perspective carries into everything he does.
Players may know him from events, discussions, or tournaments. What they might not always see is that he approaches the platform first as a fellow player.
Jessy grew up with bridge. Her father taught her Minibridge when she was young. She stepped away for a time, then returned to the game in college, joining a student club and rebuilding her skills from scratch.
Today, she balances family life with her bridge life. Her three year old son already recognizes the suits and often says he wants to play too. She understands the game not just as competition, but as something that connects generations.
“Being a bridge player definitely shapes how I see my work at BBO. It feels natural because I’ve always been around bridge, and it helps me understand the product more easily and see everything from a player’s point of view.”
For Jessy, every hand is a new problem to solve. That mindset helps her see the platform through a player’s eyes.
Behind the screens, there are people in different countries, with different backgrounds, but one thing in common: they play bridge too. They study hands, play tournaments, talk about partnerships, and care about the game in the same way many of our players do.
It is a pleasure to comunicate with the BBO TEAM and to ask for the continuation of the excelent work you do about bridge.Even with the eventual bad cards I am aspecial Fan
Unlike some, I am impressed with the quality of play by BBO. I obtained from a friend of a friend an early bridge-on-the-computer in 1987 which was written in Intel 8086 assembly, driven by an expert system with a limited rule set. Bidding was weak, card play was poor, but I did get to play as many hands as I liked when I could not get an actual foursome together. BBO Bridge is many generations of skill ahead of that early example of computer bridge. Perhaps if people thought about how hard it is to play skilled bridge, they might appreciate all the intellectual effort that has going into BBO's robot bridge.
Coming back to serious bridge 18 months ago after decades away from it, playing hundreds of hands vs robots helped me jump start my in-person bridge playing.
Having appreciated BBO's bidding and declarer play, for the future, I would like to see improvements in the BBO defensive signaling. It would not need to be perfect, but some focused attempt at standard signals would help me improve my own card counting and signaling.
Can somebody tell me where I can purchase a game of Minibridge as mentioned in one of the above comments please. My seven year old grandson wants to learn to play and I wish to encourage him for however long this interest lasts, but if it fades he will have the basics for later in life.
Thank you in advance.
Kind regards,
Ann.
It's not something you can buy but there
Are pamphlets available giving details of how to play it.You can probably find details in your country's bridge website.
Merci encore pour ce que vous faite pour le bridge et pour et pour nous les bridgeurs a travers le monde.
Je suis fan depuis le début.
I cannot, as usually, thank enough to these wonderful people of BBO!
Bridge, with its "surprises" is definitely the most wonderful and fascinating game!
And I found it a very good idea we could see the people taking care of us "poor addicts" in the background of the cold screen...
Thanks for your contribution that bring global players together to enjoy bridge.
Thank you all 🙂
Idon't english language 🙁
But Iam hapy.
Because, you are very nice person.
BBO has been a boon for so many especially from the COVID days & beyond, more power to those who tirelessly & unselfishly give their time & energy to continuing improvement
Thanks BBO Staff for providing the game of bridge that I and so many enjoy.
I have been playing bridge for over 65 years as I started when I was a teenager and was taught originally by my parents. I played in college and then, after marrying, I was invited to join a bridge club in Miami where we lived and have continued through the years. I don't have a regular partner as I find it fascinating playing with people from all over the world.
Thank you for sharing this, Kendra. Playing with people from different places is really one of the nicest parts of bridge. 🙂
I’m always leery about the potential for the rare few players who may be cheating. How do you suggest address this?
In BBO’s opinion, is this a valid concern?
Since joining BBO, many decades back, the site has grown and improved drastically. The pandemic created many new players out of desire to keep their game and minds more sharp. It's great to see so many new players, from all around the globe in the tournaments. Hopefully, BBO, will continue with 'EDGAR' and the site can become even a better place to spend our precious minutes in a very clear path to improving our memory and reasoning skills.
Great site spent many hours playing and learning , thankyou
What a great site to play bridge on my friends and I use it regularly to while away a couple of hours challenging ourselves and each other having fun playing bridge. A big fan well done.
.
Without BBO the game of bridge in general would have suffered during the pandemic years, when in-person games were a rarity.
Question. . .Can I save my scores from day to day? I can not believe a player score 20 to 30,000 in one sitting. . .
In which game? In Just Play Bridge? Leaderboards reset daily so no, scores are not saved. We'll consider a way to save them for players who played logged on BBO.
HI DAVID i feel the same way also it seem like you go on line and start the bidding YOU ALWAYS GO DOWN. I HAD A HAND YESTERAY WESETTLED ON 4 HEARTS WHIICH OPEN WITH FIRST BID AND MY BOT WENT TO 5 SPADES / AND I WENT. MY HUSBAND I PLAY AT TWO GAMES IN N.J. SOME VERY EXPERIENCED AND SOME MEDIUM + we have played over 40 years and dropped my points because no one to play with. sorry to go on but many mistakes on BBO.thanks
Lately I have noticed that the advertisement continue to pop up in middle of me playing the games. Sometimes it blocks the " Claim" window and it always block history, acct etc. Is there a way to avoid the advertisements blocking the necessary items that we need while playing the bridge ?
thank you.
I have the same problem a friend told me it’s because I play on my iPad. I find it embarrassing that people think I leave in the middle of a hand.
Keep on going, nice platforme, nice team, congratulatons
How does one set up specific kinds of boards for a teaching table?
Hi Karen, please contact us at support@bridgebase.com so we can help you with this. 🙂
as passed down by my mom, what a wonderful game to play, bridge never gets old. i thoroughly enjoy the .50 bbo tourneys for the chance to win .25! Thx for building this platform and enabling so many of us around the globe to partake.
kc 11
Many thanks BBO for all your work for us!
You're keeping us all young! 😊
Can you add a link so I can click on opening leads to understand in general terms leads and signals.
I am an ACBL certified Best Practices and Online Bridge teacher, if you would like a class on opening leads.
Thank You for your work
In the 30 year hiatus that I took from playing duplicate New Conventions! were adopted!! Until I learn these well enough to play again with humans I so appreciate practicing and learning from
You! Every day. Thanks!
I am an ACBL certified Best Practices and Online Bridge teacher. I teach beginning, intemediate, advanced lessons, private and semi-private lessons. Please let me know if you are interested.
I very much enjoyed this article about the people that make it possible for me to enjoy this game. Being visually impaired it would be nice to color code ACBL point one color and Bmx games another. The new format is very hard for me to see the different games. I grew up playing cards. In college I started playing and I always say I majored in bridge, minored in boys and managed to get a degree on the side.
You have me smiling at your response!
Thank you for your work behind the scenes. I love the comment from Jessy about connecting generations. When the platform went down recently the impact reverberated around the world. There were tens of thousands of bridge players impacted by not been able to get on line. Such is the power that this game has over us .
Thanks for allowing us to fill empty hours with enjoyable activity.
In no way can your thanks be trumped.
BBO is an exciting world and an exciting feasibility when waiting for my turn in the line or during my little free time I can turn to BBO and play. The mobile phone is an advantage to do it away from home, my PC is another feasibility when being at home. But the main snag is that this remains an entertainment filling my short free time slots. With lots of fun and sometimes upsets… when I cannot focus on the games. Naturally during the past few years, I notice a difference how the deal developed and changed, became harder challenge during the few past years with AI – I think. But I may be mistaken because the few decades I played bridge still does not seem to be enough to say I am a conscious player. BBO is fantastic, and one understands it must make income. However, those possessing little free time have limited access to the tournaments, competitions and development in quality.
It's also a problem how in the modern world you have to pay for something to be a part of something interesting. I could imagine competitions that start out free, which then become paid as they progress, and the outside world, TV stations, and other social organizations would pay to make the competition happen and could become part of it. Maybe it has also became a reality by now.
Thank you BBO. When World Play Bridge folded in 2005 I was lost. I wondered how in the world I could live without my daily bridge fix on WP. Then along came BBO, and I joined immediately. (KrystalCA) 2005-Present. Thanks for all the hard work it takes to keep this running. I still miss World Play and all the friends I made there, but I have made a lot of friends here on BBO as well and look forward to my daily addiction mainly playing solitaire Instant Tournaments, or Galaxy Prime Club. Thanks again.
would it be possible to separate the cards (or add a green line) when the hand is 'out of a set' -- rather than attach the colours that is done now ?
eg
"hearts/next to /diamonds"-- or "clubs/spades"
a separator line- or a green line, would help !!!
Sounds like a good idea. I have a friend who has severe macular degeneration. She would like to be able to separate ♠️ and ♦️ because the sharp shape of the top of them are similar.
My friend would like a separation between ♠️ and ♦️ because both suits have points at the top. She has severe Macular Degeneration, anything that can be done would be helpful to her and to many with poor sight.
Thank you for your suggestion, Mavis, we'll take note of this 🙂
We love playing on BBO and you all make it possible and pleasant. Thank you
Thank you all of BBO - We do appreciate all the time and effort you put in to keep us going.
Thank you all of BBO - you make life so much fuller for all of us! We do appreciate all the time and effort you put in to keep us going.
Muchas gracias por crear y mantener una aplicación de Bridge de semejante nivel!Siempre leí en los diarios la página de Bridge pero nunca pude acceder ni a un Club o maestro. Recién ahora ,en mis flamantes 80 años estoy aprendiendo,jugando y disfrutando plenamente! Muchas gracias otra vez!
As a new player BBO helps me use what I know how to do when playing and learn more as I play.
I'm grateful for the no tolerance of abuse for the occasional person who does so.
I teach beginning, intermediate, advanced, semi-private and private lessons. I am a certified ACBL Best Practices and Online Instructor. Please contact me if you are interested in lessons.
I teach beginning, intermediate, advanced, semi-private and private lessons. I am a certified ACBL Best Practices and Online Instructor. Please contact me if you are interested in lessons.
Many thanks for BBO. I follow you from years. You are always in my days when I travel or at home. You are so kind. I enjoy always
I like playing bridge on line although I have never leant to play only helped covering at private houses.
Many thanks for BBO. I follow you from years. You are always in my days when I travel or at home. You are so kind. I enjoy always
I prefer BBO bridge to live bridge, even considering how unexplainable some of the Robots bid and play. It almost seems like they are programmed to make random mistakes 10% of the time. In spite of that, BBO keep up the great work.
I truly enjoy this venue. It’s always there waiting for me. Met some nice players
Question
My husband Murray R Young in Calgary Alberta Canada has forgotten his bridge name after not playing for some time. He would like to play again or at last his wife would like him to. I'm sure he has forgotten what he has been missing.
Can this be found?
Erg leuk om met mensen uit andere landen/wereldde-len te spelen! De meeste zijn erg aardig......
4th for Bridge - We are 3 men in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, who had a long standing, weekly, home, bridge game. We recently lost our 4th & seek new 4th with good skill & sense of humor. Sports knowledge a +, but not necessary. I am a former sportscaster, another a top TV comedy writer, the other in sales. If this is you, I hope we can communicate & hopefully join our game. Please reply
I have enjoyed playing on BBO for a few years. A big thank you for the team for all they do.
You have all made the game so much better for us all! Glad to put names and faces to your creation. I’ll be thanking you every day as the online game gets better and better. A million thanks! 🌹❤️
Hi, thanks team, due to your efforts, have lot fun in our lives, best of luck and regards
Thank you, BBO staff! You make so many of us enjoy bridge and have easy opportunities to do so. Let's also thank Fred Gitelman, who made all this possible!
I LOVE BRIDGE
I seem to have lost the number of BBO points with my name. Is there a way you can help me?
Hi Linda. Click the Account tab, then Settings. Make sure the "Show badge" toggle is ON. This will display your points and badge in profile.
I would love it if BBO would develop a rating system. Based on your play, and adjusted for how you do against the ratings of other players. For example, you do not get as many points for excelling against novices as you do for excelling against experts. Similar to chess ratings. Any way to do that?
interesting
many thanks for your BBO creation. I've played here for many years and told all my friends how much I enjoy it. Thank you all!