Meet Ari, BBO Marketing Editor

Ari has been involved with BBO for many years, first as a player and now as a content editor. We asked him about his bridge journey, his work behind the scenes, and what makes the bridge community special.

Tell us a little about yourself! Where are you from, where do you live now, and what does a regular day look like for you?

I’m originally from Indonesia, and I’m still based here. My days are usually a mix of writing, editing, and working on bridge content for BBO. That includes reading players’ stories, preparing articles, and making sure newsletters and emails are clear and easy for everyone to enjoy.

What made you fall in love with bridge?

I’m not sure, honestly. I just liked it. Obviously, it was really difficult at first, especially the bidding part, but it was still fun even when I didn’t fully understand everything yet. I don’t really have a grand reason for it. I just enjoyed playing.

Do you remember your first experience with BBO?

I think it was back in high school. My partner told me there was an online bridge platform and said we should try it. So I did, I think around 2008, and I’ve been using BBO ever since.

What’s your favorite thing about the bridge community?

Probably how bridge connects people. You can meet players from completely different places and still immediately have something in common through the game.

Have you ever had a particularly funny, memorable, or painful bridge moment?

Well, I met my wife because we both play bridge, so that’s definitely the most memorable one. We often played on BBO when we were first getting to know each other, and we still play sometimes.

Another memorable moment, I guess, is how I first started playing bridge. I was kind of forced into it. In high school, we were required to take an extracurricular activity, and my friend forced me to accompany him to try bridge. I wasn’t really interested, but since I had nothing better to do, I tagged along. Well, I guess now I still play, and he doesn’t.

What’s it like working on BBO content while also being a bridge player yourself?

It helps a lot because I can usually tell when something feels confusing or unclear from a player’s perspective. I try to make the content simple and easy to follow without losing the important details.

What’s something players might not realize about the work behind BBO articles and content?

Probably how much time goes into small details. Even short articles or emails can take a lot of editing to make sure the wording, structure, and flow feel natural and easy to read.

If you could leave one message for the BBO community, what would it be?

Bridge has given many of us a lot, and I think the best way to keep the game alive is by welcoming new players. A friendly word or a little patience can make a huge difference to someone who is just starting.

What’s one fun fact about yourself outside of bridge?

I like reading comic books and webcomics in my free time. It’s a nice way to relax away from bridge.