[struct48]

 mycroft, on 2026-January-25, 11:58, said:

You're a software engineer, you know how to use search(*). Maybe look through my posts on this forum about the Permanent Pickup Pool, and you'll see comments to others about how getting out of it could solve their problems.

Are you Zia Mahmood?

No?

Then no thank you. Your screeds (your term, not mine) aren't worth my time.

 mycroft, on 2026-January-25, 11:58, said:

I agree, I can't play bridge at your level.

Then your screeds are definitely not worth my time. Gosh, you must be miserable in this forum. Have you considered shifting over to the Beginner/Novice board? Or perhaps a different game entirely? I hear Crazy 8's can be quite fun.

Here is a ball. Perhaps you would like to bounce it?

[struct48]

 mycroft, on 2026-January-25, 11:58, said:

Oh well done. You've shown the reason you're in the PFPP in spades. I only implied it last time, because I couldn't prove it.

Here's why this approach won't work.

Bridge is neither a civilized debate nor an effete tea party. Nobody worth their salt is going to give any weight to your tone (pa)trolling.

Unless the ACBL has started awarding points for good manners, you're not helping anybody's game, and you're not furthering the discussion in any way that's productive.

So how about you kindly, pretty please, with sugar on top, hold your tongue until you have something of utility to offer?

[AL78]

blackshoe, on 2026-January-24, 11:02, said:

A beginner is someone who has just started to play. A novice is someone who lacks experience. A beginner is usually a novice. A novice is probably a beginner, but there are "perpetual novices" who have been playing for fifty years and haven't learned anything.

They have experience in playing at a low standard.

[AL78]

struct48, on 2026-January-22, 11:48, said:

* If you bid again after a weak 2 or preempt when not forced, ...

You live in SE England.

[struct48]

 AL78, on 2026-January-26, 02:39, said:

You live in SE England.

Wot? Birchington-on-Sea lads & lasses fancy givin' their 'eads a wobble?

[jillybean]

mike777, on 2026-January-25, 12:14, said:

I am thinking of going for a few days to our upcoming national event.
Have not gone perhaps in thirty years

Go, good luck, enjoy and post some hands.

[akwoo]

OP - If you want to guarantee a good enough partner without putting in some effort to build social capital in some community...

go hire a pro.

Just as in the other partnership activity