Although I haven't played it in a long time, I love bridge, and when I played it, I was a decent player. However, sites such as Yahoo were the reason why I quit playing. After I got separated from my long time pard, with whom I had played face-to-face around a real table with real bidding boards and what not for years, I started playing online but after a few weeks on Yahoo and such, all the loud-mouth, self-proclaimed masters and convention junkies who in fact did not know the first thing about bridge but would not listen to anybody, insecure twits who, safely tucked away behind a monitor, got their daily dose of ego boost by abusing other people, and in short, the general "ambiance" really put me off and I decided to stay away since it was no longer fun for me to play. Nevertheless, if I knew that I would find some people I could get along with, I'd consider getting back to the game.
...I started playing online but after a few weeks on Yahoo and such, all the loud-mouth, self-proclaimed masters and convention junkies who in fact did not know the first thing about bridge but would not listen to anybody, insecure twits who, safely tucked away behind a monitor, got their daily dose of ego boost by abusing other people, and in short, the general "ambiance" really put me off and I decided to stay away since it was no longer fun for me to play. Nevertheless, if I knew that I would find some people I could get along with, I'd consider getting back to the game.
This is my dilemma. I want to play and the online playing is convenient. Maybe its too convenient, hence these issues you describe here. I am looking for a couple partners who I can get to 'know' and understand their playing so I can play more reliably myself. Its incredibly difficult when you don't know anything about who you are playing with.
I'm basically a novice in the greater scheme of things but I do play a decent game. I have been playing on and off for about 4 years. I normally play the standard Goren bidding conventions... 5 card majors, short club opens, blackwood, gerber, stayman, 2c force... 13pts to open... the general stuff...
I don't play bridge, but I used to work in the publishing department of the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL), which promotes bridge tournaments and clubs throughout the country. If you want to meet some people to play in person, you can find a local bridge club through their web site. And if you sign up for one of their bridge cruises, you might even meet Omar Sharif! ;-)
