[bd71]

Curious as to how people with experience in both standard events think the fields compare.

Assume we are talking about a typical two-session open pairs at an ACBL regional. Am curious how people think the typical/median player there compares to median BBO Speedball player.

Comments on how the tails of the distribution of these fields compare are welcome as well.

[JLOGIC]

Probably about the same. Regional pair games are quite weak now since the best players are almost always in knockouts rather than pairs. I'm sure you have more players at each tail end of the spectrum in a speedball because they are bigger.

[peachy]

I would have voted "Worse than substantially worse". In a Regional, the field does not have the bottom end of the spectrum, hardly any of it, because those players are in the KO's earning what gold they can, or playing in restricted events or side games. In BBO Speedball, you will be lucky to meet even one expert pair and the vast majority don't have a clue.

[Mbodell]

I think a more interesting comparison might be a decent club 299er game to the speedballs. There are likely to be more good players in the speedball than the 299er game, but I'm not sure the median or mean strength is that different.

[awm]

Regional open pairs include a lot of "strong flight B" type players. These folks are not going to miss game on 26+ points, or bid slam off three cashing aces, or go down in a cold contract. They aren't experts really -- they generally won't find squeezes, have trouble in very competitive auctions, and will often take inferior (but not obviously nullo) lines of play or defense.

However, acbl speedball fields routinely make all the sorts of mistakes described. Bidding and making a cold game on 26 high is always winning multiple imps. It just really isn't close.

Speedball vs club game might be more interesting.

[barmar]

I think online tourneys tend to have lots more pick-up partnerships than f2f tourneys. And they will have spent less time discussing their CC than their f2f counterparts, probably a minute or two versus at least 10 minutes. So they're not going to be as competent in complex auctions or when defending.

[hrothgar]

# of Boards is another very significant difference.

High variance low expected return strategies are much more attractive in 12 board games than 27 board games...

[rduran1216]

Even speedball versus club game IMO the speedball players are far worse.

Justin you must not play in the speedball's at all, I mean the players in them at certain points of the day are so bad its frightening.

[sallyally]

IMO the ACBL speedball has ruined the regular acbl game. Speedball gets lots of players (only an hour) and the regular game is poorly attended. 4 minutes a hand is not much time for thinking about what should be done.

[helene_t]

wow I think the speedball people are better than at my local club. Maybe club bridge is better in the US than here or maybe my perception is off.

Anyway, a regional tourney here in UK surely has a much higher level than any online bridge except for certain team matches.

[Bbradley62]

sallyally, on 2011-August-30, 19:38, said:

IMO the ACBL speedball has ruined the regular acbl game. Speedball gets lots of players (only an hour) and the regular game is poorly attended. 4 minutes a hand is not much time for thinking about what should be done.

Sounds like a clear case of giving the players what they want.

[ArtK78]

There are some good players in the ACBL Speedball games on BBO, which makes them far better than most club games (although I would have to say that a recent club game that I played in - a NAP qualifying game - was much better than most regional pair events).

It is my impression that most club games are populated by players who never play at any game but a club game. These are players who have played at the beginner level for many years and feel at home in the club, but are too afraid to venture out to any sectional or regional tournament.

Admittedly, I rarely play in club games, except for special events such as a NAP qualifying game. I do play in some Speedball games, usually after 8:00pm New York time.

[ggwhiz]

I suspect the caliber of players is the same but they don't look like it in speedballs.

Not only is the lack of time a factor but probably 1/2 the field are pick up partnerships with no system discussion to speak of. Add the mis-clicks and it's just a different game.

[barmar]

The speedball players are still far better than the ones I generally encounter in Free Express Automated Fun tourneys. 75% of them seem to be totally hopeless.