[cherdano]

Eamon (eamong on BBO) pointed me to this site, and I am enjoying it a lot. It is a server with a collection of Challenge-the-Champs like hands. You create an account and then bid the hands turn by turn with a partner.

While a few of the hands smell a little constructed, most of them are really good. I have already learned a lot from them, and many of the hands led to useful discussions for us (I am bidding them with Han). And many (in particular the slam auctions) have been a lot of fun.

I think many of the BBF readers would enjoy bidding them with their regular partners.

Arend

[joker_gib]

Tx Arend !

Seems very interesting but, from work, behind a firewall, it doesn't connect !?!?

Does anybody have the same ?

Do I have to try later from home ?

Alain

[Chamaco]

joker_gib, on Nov 8 2005, 03:08 PM, said:

Tx Arend !

Seems very interesting but, from work, behind a firewall, it doesn't connect !?!?

Does anybody have the same ?

Salut Alain :-)

I have the same problem: Firewall from work , so could not connect...

[inquiry]

It might be fun (suggested a long time ago by others) to organize bidding room contest from here in the BBO forum. Interesting hands can be prepared (say 10) and a time set where a moderator/volunteer would load the hands in a number of bidding rooms (or at teaching tables). The moderator would log the bidding and various "pairs" would bid the hands. The results of the bidding could then be posted here. Sort of a challenge the champs kind of thing, but not necessarily limited to 2 pairs (it would be limited by the number of tables that could be set up to run).

I know the moscito fellows would want to wow us with spiral scan etc, and this is certainly doable. It could even become a spectator sport as kibitzers could be allowed.

On the other hand, the website quoted above looks like fun (but no spectators, an hard to appreciate auctions not shared with the world.

Ben

[barmar]

I also couldn't connect from my corporate network, which is behind a fancy firewall. I also tried it from our lab network, which has a simple firewall that allows everything out, so it's basically like a NAT router, and I also couldn't connect.

To be clear, we're all failing when we login to the site and it displays "Connecting, please wait..." in the chat box, right?

[Robert]

Hello everyone

Spiral scan bidding if often impressive. However, any well bid hand is worthy of note.

I do not feel that sharing a well bid hand with the world is of much 'added' value. Just knowing that our methods coped with a difficult hand is the result that I try to produce.

Of course, my view might change after I win my first Bermuda Bowl. The masses of my loyal fans can throw flowers at that time.

Regards,
Robert

[inquiry]

For those who don't want to share their bidding with the world, the website listed here is good place to practice (along with each month's challenge the champs).

But, we have people here advocating a variety of odd ball systems. My own in Misiry and specialized three suit opening bids (don't worry too much about either, not the point). For these people, a bidding contest where they can show off some of their toys would be helpful.

The concept for a "challenge the champs" organized somehow through these forums has been around a long time. BBO Gold star champion Luis suggested it in July 2003 ( http://forums.bridgebase.com/index.php?sho...findpost&p=4052 )

Richard (hrothgar) expressed a desire for a challenge teh champ kind of thing in the April 2005 thread that gave rise to the BPO bidding contest.

Hannie revived this request in August 2005, http://forums.bridgebase.com/index.php?sho...indpost&p=86767 in his post.

And the good news, if someone steps forward to create such contest, is those not wanting to participate officially, could download the hands (later of course) and bid them with their favorite partners.

Perhaps we should limit each contest to three or four pairs, and have the "champs" from each contest return. Of course this assumes there would be eough people wanting to risk humiliating themselves by trying to bid difficult hands.

[tysen2k]

I would love to see something like this and then a place where merits/ideas could be discussed. The problem I always have with things like this is that it's not real bridge. The hands are not everyday hands and there is rarely/never any competitive bidding. Perhaps a 4-handed contest would be better? That way you can test your competitive bidding styles.

Tysen

[hrothgar]

tysen2k, on Nov 8 2005, 10:00 PM, said:

I would love to see something like this and then a place where merits/ideas could be discussed. The problem I always have with things like this is that it's not real bridge. The hands are not everyday hands and there is rarely/never any competitive bidding. Perhaps a 4-handed contest would be better? That way you can test your competitive bidding styles.

Tysen

I'm not sure that adding competitive bidding is sufficient.

There are all sorts of inferences between bidding and declarer play/defense. Different auctions to same end contract might be considered good or bad depending on how they impact the defense.

Potentially we should extend the exercise to also including playing the the hands...
We could have two teams sit down and compete over 24 boards. I suggest calling this a bridge "match".

[G_R__E_G]

Quote

I'm not sure that adding competitive bidding is sufficient.

There are all sorts of inferences between bidding and declarer play/defense. Different auctions to same end contract might be considered good or bad depending on how they impact the defense.

Potentially we should extend the exercise to also including playing the the hands...
We could have two teams sit down and compete over 24 boards. I suggest calling this a bridge "match".

Nahh, it'll never work.

[inquiry]

I don't know, kind of a novel idea. A match? How might it work? We sign up teams of Forum members, and what? We select two teams (maybe first two to signup) to play one of those "match things", maybe 16 boards? The winner becomes the "champs", the loser drops to the bottom of the list of teams, and the next team has a go at playing the champs? Hmmm... don't think it will work either. Who ever heard of such nonsense.

[luke warm]

great site, arend, especially for *ahem* those who are designing a system

[tysen2k]

I almost didn't post before, anticipating the response...

The only advantage I saw over a "match" was speed. The pairs could go through a larger set of hands.

[joker_gib]

barmar, on Nov 8 2005, 05:41 PM, said:

To be clear, we're all failing when we login to the site and it displays "Connecting, please wait..." in the chat box, right?

Yes

[han]

I'm getting annoyed with the site, I didn't know I was that bad.

[cherdano]

Hannie, on Nov 9 2005, 04:18 PM, said:

I'm getting annoyed with the site, I didn't know I was that bad.

Why don't you just blame your partner?

[Fluffy]

I wouldn't feel comfortable if I had to try to bid online with my regular partner, who happens to connect from 12 metres from where I am :/.

[FrancesHinden]

12m? That's a lot.
When we both commentate, we are usually sat close enough together to touch.

[luke warm]

cherdano, on Nov 9 2005, 09:54 AM, said:

Hannie, on Nov 9 2005, 04:18 PM, said:

I'm getting annoyed with the site, I didn't know I was that bad.

Why don't you just blame your partner?

*grin*