[Fluffy]

oh, I forgot, I also leart that women can actually play bridge!

[Codo]

The single best thing was to get in touch with so many people all over the world with their different ideas and their different mindsets.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

yes, the most important thing for me is: It helps me to keep in touch with
ideas, which differ from my ideas, may even be standardt, and it forces me
to reevaluate, and sometimes to formulate my ideas in clear / precise words,
... , if you think I write cryptic / uncomprehensivel things here, you have
no idea, how cryptic / uncomprehensivel I communicate in real life.

It used to be rec.games.bridge, now it is BBF.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[eyhung]

maggieb, on Nov 29 2009, 04:28 PM, said:

Maybe this is a little offtopic, but one of the first things I ever did on these forums was search for all of Fred's bridge-related posts and read all of them. I think he will always be the biggest asset to the forums, and I am really thankful that there are thousands of thoughts from a top American player that are just free to read for everyone. I learned a lot from them, and it wasn't just about his bridge, but also about his views on bridge politics, policies, training, and etiquette. It's something that I recommend every aspiring bridge player does.

I second this. I have saved most of Fred's posts in files for personal re-reading, which is why I was able to list several "best things" in this thread.

[dellache]

I've (re)learnt that in order to improve yourself you have to read ideas from many different (good) players.

What I like on these forums :
1. very good posters with many different styles, from different countries ;
2. usually thoughtful postings with details, people take some time to express their views -- I especially like it when I realize I was wrong afterwards ;
3. variety of problems (carding, bidding, play, defense, ethics...)
4. enough people better than me.

At first I went on these forums because I was stuck at home having H1N1. Finally I have decided to spend time here on a regular basis. And I need to practice my english... which I learnt by reading bridge books mostly.

Second thing I've learnt is that fluffy was not an old 75y/o english lady playing ACOL.

[aguahombre]

How old is fluffy in dog years?

[Fluffy]

I am 29, I supose 4 in dog years

[pooltuna]

gwnn, on Nov 27 2009, 08:12 PM, said:

What is the single best thing that you have learned on these forums?

well among other things the best way to play

---

for 5 tricks

[vuroth]

Best thing? How much visualization and counting experts really do.

I've also learned to read everything Fred says twice. He always seems to stress the partnership game, which trumps a lot of the "expert" advice that is sometimes doled out.

I've also learned that I should have started playing duplicate 10 or even 15 years ago.

[gnasher]

vuroth, on Dec 1 2009, 03:44 PM, said:

Best thing? How much visualization and counting experts really do.

Personally I do a lot more visualising and counting when answering a forum post than I do when actually playing. Though of course I'm not an expert, except in the inflated terminology of online bridge.

[Free]

Like Fluffy I've been around here for a very long time. One of the most useful (which comes up frequently) things I've learned is to play takeout doubles after intervention over our 1NT openings. Hand evaluation has improved as well, although not only because of the forums.

General knowledge I've accuired: don't post any line of thought when you're tired/drunk/working because some people expect you have all the time in the world to think stuff through.

[Phil]

Wow interesting thread.

Its hard to pick any one thing because nearly all of the ideas I read about from better players than myself have a substantial impact on my views about bridge. I suppose some of the key things I have changed over the years are:

- don't be afraid to make a TO double on a flat 13;
- open 1♠ a lot at MPs;
- bidding 4♠ over 4♥ can be right in many ways but only wrong in a few ways

I have certainly become more aggressive as a result of reading the fora. I'd like to think my card play has kept up as well

[gwnn]

gnasher, on Dec 1 2009, 03:13 PM, said:

of course I'm not an expert, except in the inflated terminology of online bridge.

how about the inflated terminology of EBU selection?

sorry being off-topic.

[nige1]

gwnn, on Nov 27 2009, 08:12 PM, said:

What is the single best thing that you have learned on these forums?

I used to think that I made about two mistakes per board. BBO has taught me that I make more. And I'm not alone. Now I hope that BBO will help me to make fewer.

[jocdelevat]

BBF=Google for Bridge
Ty all