[jandrew]

As we approach the end of the third week of massive increases in the visits to BBO, now is the time to take stock of the wonderful efforts made by the BBO team.
Thousands - NO, tens of thousands - of club players have flocked to Bridge Base Online to get their regular fixes of this wonderful game.
The BBO team have risen to this challenge in a magnificent way.
I can not imagine the miracles undertaken behind the scenes and, no doubt, there have been moments of panic.
Here is a team the has been ready to grasp the challenge and strive for success against the odds. And - successful they have been.

"Never has so much been owed by so many to so few"

Congratulations to all the team - may your reward be in the further expansion and success at BBO for many years to come.

[FelicityR]

The odd thing is why so many players have avoided, or had little interest, playing online in the first instance before the virus lockdown. But yes, BBO have made a wonderful effect to accommodate the extra players so quickly. The only slight downside I have found is that it's sometimes difficult to log on to the forums, but then again with so many extra people using the internet from home, many other websites are experiencing similar problems.

[euclidz]

Andrew, I know you and Suzie have been under immense pressure and are working very hard and we are all truly grateful.

I registered with BBO 5 years back to observe and play to improve my card play and I am know that objective has been achieved. I continue to play for the same reason and because I enjoy the game and because, in some quite moments, I am entertained. BBO is a great resource/service, I have independently emailed support@bbo several times to thank them for providing this service because I am truly grateful; I personally would be willing to pay money for what I get.

All that said . . . I wonder whether allowing the system to be swamped with uncontrolled numbers of new members, some of whom are whole Clubs setting up their members inside existing BBO 'Club's best serves the interests of existing loyal members?

[barmar]

euclidz, on 2020-April-02, 06:45, said:

I have independently emailed support@bbo several times to thank them for providing this service because I am truly grateful; I personally would be willing to pay money for what I get.

While we appreciate the sentiment, our tiny support group is getting 2500 messages/day at this time. Please use it only for necessary support requests.

[661_Pete]

euclidz, on 2020-April-02, 06:45, said:

All that said . . . I wonder whether allowing the system to be swamped with uncontrolled numbers of new members, some of whom are whole Clubs setting up their members inside existing BBO 'Club's best serves the interests of existing loyal members?

Just how, then, do you expect the hundreds of local clubs to survive this disaster? Play on Skype or Zoom (which are of course also overloaded)? How do you deal out the cards????

At the moment some of our local f2f club (only a very few, actually - we have over 50 members but I've only seen up to ten of us online at one time) have been trying out the (paid-for) ARBC tournaments in the afternoons (when BBO is slightly less crowded). They have been going smoothly up till now, but I'm sure they won't cope if every club member deprived of f2f bridge joins up! I personally have dropped out of ARBC because I don't like playing against robots.

I appreciate what the BBO techies are doing, but I still think it's not enough. I tried to get on Acol@bbo last night, but no go - it just crashed out a few seconds before the start.

We're looking into an alternative option (not BBO) but I'm not going into details here.

To be honest, I don't think there is a solution, and for many of us older people for whom bridge is a major component of our social life, things are looking dire. How many will give up bridge altogether, I don't know.

Just as I don't know how many will die.

[Curls77]

THANK YOU BBO ♥

[MJXXX]

Thank you BBO. I very much appreciate what you done to support the club online games along with those you've offered before.

[msjennifer]

Sir,THANKS a lot at BBO for all the hard work. Bridge has become more exciting for so many thousands.Almost marching towards 50000.

[johnu]

euclidz, on 2020-April-02, 06:45, said:

I personally would be willing to pay money for what I get.

If you haven't already, you can join BBO Prime as a paying member, rent GIB robots, or play any of the various ACBL and non-ACBL paid games which helps BBO stay in business.

euclidz, on 2020-April-02, 06:45, said:

I wonder whether allowing the system to be swamped with uncontrolled numbers of new members, some of whom are whole Clubs setting up their members inside existing BBO 'Club's best serves the interests of existing loyal members?

Most of the existing "loyal" members use BBO computer resources but don't pay a dime towards BBO operations. Many of the new members will be paying to play in various paid games which will help BBO's bottom line. Certainly the user count will decrease once live bridge becomes safe, but a lot of new members will continue to play in paid game which will help BBO.

[jshah]

Thank you BBO Team ♥. Your effort and dedication is high appreciated especially during this stay at home time. Hats off to the team. I am a BBO director and I have reasonable software knowledge and good understanding of bridge, I would like to help in any way possible. Feel free to contact me.
Once again my bridge club members and I would applaud your the BBO team effort.

[euclidz]

johnu, on 2020-April-03, 22:53, said:

If you haven't already, you can join BBO Prime as a paying member, rent GIB robots, or play any of the various ACBL and non-ACBL paid games which helps BBO stay in business.

Prime . . . . call me odd but personally I want a partner who plays the system I play (Acol) and I want to play against ops who play the same system and the majority in Prime play 2/1 or SAYC. I accept that there are some Bridge 'junkies' who might enjoy studying every system and every convention in every system but not me.

And, I recognize that BBO is free to us (and I am grateful) and I recognise that BBO is a business and our relationship (BBO / member) is a symbiotic relationship in that NNO needs us (members) for ad revenue and we, in return, get free play. I have several ideas which I believe would make the online play experience better and would (IMO) improve the model but nobody is asking me and knowing the nature of man I suspect any suggestions I made would be viewed as 'complaints'. Last might there was complete pandemonium in Acol Club and I am sure if they had been f2f it would have ended up in a brawl. That bedlam last night was entertaining but arguably not the sort of entertainment that a Bridge Club aspires to!

[Vampyr]

jandrew, on 2020-April-02, 03:24, said:

"Never has so much been owed by so many to so few"

Disgusting to say this. Yes, they have done a good job. But comparing them to the RAF during WWII shows an enormous lack of respect for the latter.

[Rsquared2]

Yes, a very big thanks to the BBO team! Having worked on the periphery of project development, I can't imagine the work that went on behind the scenes to make this successful. Thanks especially for the Support Your Club games. What a very nice thing to do to make games available for regular partners online and to provide some needed revenue for clubs all over the world.

As you can see from the comments, you are appreciated!

Ray

[Vampyr]

FelicityR, on 2020-April-02, 05:15, said:

The odd thing is why so many players have avoided, or had little interest, playing online in the first instance before the virus lockdown.

Is it odd? They had normal bridge before and were happy with it. Yes, now online bridge is the only game in town, but that doesn’t mean it is people’s preference. Though I must admit, if the EBU continue to run mini-sessions after the lockdown, I may play in some of them. Or ACBL, if I can find a session without robots!j

[euclidz]

Rsquared2, on 2020-April-04, 15:39, said:

What a very nice thing to do to make games available for regular partners online and to provide some needed revenue for clubs all over the world

When I said earlier above that amongst the massive influx of new 'members' were external Bridge Clubs who were setting up their own groups within existing BBO Clubs I didn't think for one minute they were raising revenue from it for themselves!

The last few days have caused me to wonder what are BBO's strategic objectives, who is setting them and who is driving them. Taking aside the fantastic and much appreciated hard work of all the unpaid volunteers holding it all together - I wonder if there is a plan and what that is? (I know that it none of my business and I have no rights to know but I can wonder).

[dave1hall]

I am one of the virus players. I played a little several years ago, but played f2f since.
BBO has been a lifesaver.
I am retired.
I will "chip in" with prime in a few minutes. The reason is the same as paying ACBL dues and not really caring about MP.
Actually the cost will be less than my table fees.
Thx all
Dave