[Wsue601]

I've spent many months studying Fred Gitelman's SAYC tutorial offered at ACBL. Now I'd like to practice all I've learned.

I've visited Bridge Base Online. It's frightening!!! There's no way I'm going to plop down at a table with experienced players from around the globe.

Where do SAYC beginners go to practice?

Sue

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

BBO could still be the place you are looking for.
Just create your own table, i.e. you are the host.

Label the table clearly
- Beginner
- Looking for Friendly/Patient opponents

If somebody gets rude, with you or with
each other (opponent pair) kick him out.

It may take some time, until you find a
stable round, but the labeling will do the
trick.

Mark nice people as friends, rude people as enemies.

With kind regards
Marlowe

PS: But this wont teach you SAYC, just the play of the card
or what people understand under SAYC.

[Gerben42]

What I can also recommend is the right box "view" there is an option "select level". If you filter out everyone other than novice and beginner you can see who is basically in the same group of players as you.

Happy bridging!

[Badmonster]

Definately join BIL. Run, do not walk to this website and join up:
http://www.bridgebas...text/index.html

Why? First: This club is restricted by level to beginners and intermediates. Everyone there can empathize with how intimidating online bridge, or for that matter bridge with other people in general, can be for the beginner.
Second: The mood is generally more relaxed and friendly.
Third: They offer an amazing array of services, including free classes, a mentor program, and beginner intermediate tournaments.

[Double !]

To directly respond to the question : where do beginning players go to play bridge?

Answer: anywhere they wish! And don't feel intimidated.

Totally agree with recommendations of the BIL club.

In addition, you might try playing in the WP Refugees club found under the "Public Clubs" section. The majority of players here used to play on a now closed bridge site run by EA games called (surprisingly) World Play Bridge. I knew many of the people who still play there (I used to play on World Play). A number of the players on this site are social bridge players, and I felt that the majority of them were nice people. WDP, gtp, wdo, and gto are frequently communicated. I really enjoy playing there every once in a while just to say hi to some old friends.

DHL

[Sigi_BC84]

Double !, on Feb 2 2006, 03:06 AM, said:

In addition, you might try playing in the WP Refugees club found under the "Public Clubs" section.  The majority of

I second the recommendation of the WP club. Mostly US american and canadian players, so the WP main playing times should match yours (assuming you are from the US).

There are hardly any dorks at all, and hardly any safe-labeled experts who miss that rating by a huge margin (compare this to the main bridge club, where 90% of the the players are "expert").

I've found it really easy to find a stable and friendly table in the WP club; also, many people there know eachother so you will find a good general atmosphere because of that.

--Sigi

[Wsue601]

Thanks for your suggestions. I hope to try them this weekend.

Sue

[helene_t]

Yes, WP Refugees is a nice place. Many people there play an old-fashioned style, though, with 16-18 1NT, natural response to 1NT and strong two-openings.

[Gweny]

Welcome to BBO!

I agree BIL is wonderful and so is WP lounge but do not over look Total Points Tournaments under Public Clubs link (Play Bridge----Public Clubs----Total Points)

Tournaments are friendly and fun and start at 12pm, 3pm, 6pm, 9pm and 12am - just join TD table and ask for a partner. :-)

Other beginner/intermediate tournaemnts include ACBL 299ers - it is at 8pm eastern each day but you need to put your ACBL number on record with BBO to play. Let me know if I can help... (Gweny@bridgebase.com)

[han]

After all this info you might think that the main club stinks, NOT TRUE!

There are a lot of nice people out there, it just takes a little time to find them. They may be intimidating at first, but I find that the really good players are among the most pleasant people. True, they might not say glp and wd before and after every hand, and they may be critical to their peers, but not to a beginning player who joins them. Also, playing with and against people who are considerably better than you are is a great way to learn the game.

So I'd say: when you feel ready, give the main club a try.

[Sigi_BC84]

Hannie, on Feb 6 2006, 06:41 PM, said:

After all this info you might think that the main club stinks, NOT TRUE!
[...]
So I'd say: when you feel ready, give the main club a try.

Playing in the main club (and enjoying it at the same time) is not so much a question of "being ready" but of luck and opportunity; i.e. if you are lucky enough to find a table that doesn't fall apart after 2 boards.

This certainly does happen from time to time, but I have found it a lot rarer in the main club than e.g. in the WP refugees bridge club.

A good way to meet new people is joining tournaments and picking up partners from the partnership registration desk. These are often serious players and you are guranteed to play with them at least over the length of the tournament, so you get to know them a bit in terms of playing strength, attitude and general reliability. If the tourney went well, it is not a problem to meet up with them again => 1 new BBO partner!

Apart from that I have found it quite easy to make BBO friends if you are friendly and communicate with opps and partner (more than just saying "glp", "typ", and "wdp").

--Sigi

[sharon j]

I am also using Fred's Learn to Play Bridge I and II. I've met a number of very nice Novice and beginner players in the BIL. The intermediates are wonderful to play with and will help you along. Be brave!