Full Programme of Online Tournaments & Seminars

With face-to-face bridge suspended, Ned Paul Bridge has gone online. We are currrently running six online tournaments a week. The programme includes three daytime games a week and also three evening games a week.  The core of the regular players are from Ned Paul's various F2F clubs but we also extend a general welcome to players looking for friendly mainly Acol typically 18-board duplicates, that offer EBU master points. All players should have fully completed BBO profiles  and should be prepared to  announced or alert any conventional bids.  Single players are welcome - see below. A fee is payable for all players. 

In addition to the tournament programme, we are running a once-a-week instructional bridge seminar. This is in the format of an Open-to-All Zoom videoconference, which we discuss a bridge bidding or play topic each week. The conference includes the chance to play themed deals on BBO.

Tournaments

We use the bridge playing site https://www.bridgebase.com/ (known as 'BBO') to run these games. There are now six games a week.  All games are 18 boards, matchpointed pairs (Friday evening may be 20 or 21 boards).  All the games are registered with English Bridge Union (EBU) and give the opportunity to win EBU Master Points. Games will appear on your EBU record as from 'Ned Paul Bridge Club' . Membership of the EBU is free if you play in the tournaments; if you are not yet a member we can register you.

the time and cos

To Play

To play, first make sure that you are registered on BBO (free of charge) - then mail me (ned_paul@outlook.com) with your BBO user name, your real name, your EBU number if you have one, and your contact email.  On receipt of your details, I will add you to the list of 'permitted players' entitled to join my games.

Finding the tournaments on BBO: Log on and at the welcome screen click 'Competitive', then, 'Tournaments', then 'All Tournaments'.  Scroll down the time-ordered list until you find the 'Ned Paul Online Tournament'.  Click 'Register' to play. If you know who your partner is 'Invite' them and your partner, who should be online too, can 'Accept'.  If you have no pre-arranged partner, click 'Show Partnership Desk' and either 'Invite' a player already waiting or add your name to the partnership desk list.

Please be online at the scheduled start time for the game. 

If you are unfamiliar with BBO, please watch this Youtube video which will guide you through the access process and answer many questions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahu_wyTYGGw

Single Players

As far as possible we welcome single players to the tournaments.  As a first step please log on and register and go to the BBO 'Partnership Desk'.  Another single player may invite you to play (or vice versa).  You may also choose to play with a BBO Robot, though if you choose this option voluntarily we will need to charge you the robot's table money too! (This does not apply if we offer you a robot partner after the game has started.)

If no partner is available we will probably spot you waiting there and if so you will be invited by a host.If you cannot get a partner stay in the partnership desk and you will be invited by a host shortly before game time.

New for January 2021:  we have started a 'Find A Partner' service on BBO so you can advertise in advance for a partner for a particular session or sessions.  See the separate text box on the left. 

How To Pay

Games cost £4 per person per game. You may buy games singly at £4.00 plus 30p handling fee; four at a time £16 (no handling fee) or £35 for ten games. This game credit charge reflects the time and cost needed to organise and run tournaments. (Costs include BBO fees, the EBU  'Universal Membership' charge and Tournament Director costs)  

To pay, please use the Ned Paul online payment portal brianbridge.net/npo.  This payment portal has been set up for me by colleague Victor Lesk of BriAn scoring app fame: 'npo' stands for Ned Paul Online.  BACS, Credit/Debit Card and Cheques are all accepted. Please use this payment portal for all payments even if you know my bank details and have previously paid direct.  This will help me keep track of you.

Video Conferencing Seminars

The weekly Zoom/BBO intermediate coaching sessions with Ned Paul & Victor Lesk will continue for 2021. These are on Thursday evenings at 7.15pm.  

A short social social catch-up on Zoom is followed by discussion of a bridge topic of the week with Victor and Ned and then we play hands on BBO.  At present we tend to alternate between a set topic - such as a feature of the basic system, a bidding convention, or a declarer play or defensive topic, all with pre-set deals - and letting BBO deal the hands where they fall.  We find this latter makes a useful supervised play session with lots of topics arising as they would at the table.  Ned will be quick to challenge less than ideal plays but back will this up with explanations of how you should be thnking and what your choices were.  Those who attend say they find these sessions really helpful in the ongoing quest for improvement.  We finish soon after 9.00pm.

The sessions are open to all and easy to join - just click this link at the right time: https://zoom.us/j/731062415 (password 123456) and follow the prompts to download the Zoom app. You will be able to see and hear others, and be seen and heard if you wish. The present schedule is flexible so if you would some like practice on a particular topic, ask Victor or Ned and we will do our best.

Payment: Please book your seminars at the payment portal above brianbridge.net/npo. BACS, Credit/Debit Card and Cheques accepted. Sessions cost £8pp. Any payment queries for the seminars should be directed to Victor Lesk (brianplaysbridge@gmail.com)

If you haven't got round to paying please just join and catch up payment later.  We would rather see you than not.