[acornteam]

Trickster bridge is still free

[jillybean]

Ok, what is trickster bridge

[a4_sen]

jillybean, on 2026-August-15, 18:02, said:

At a rate of 1.6 minutes per hand, you aren't playing bridge anyway.

The average amount of time I take to finish a 8 hand tournament when I am not hurrying is ~ 12 minutes, that is ~ 1.5 minutes per hand. For a tournament, I score about ~ 58% or ~ 8 IMPs. I do think I am playing bridge

If I hurry, I can finish a tournament in ~ 8 minutes, though my score does go down.

[a4_sen]

OrShoham, on 2026-August-14, 11:51, said:

I'm not here to yell, scream or snipe, but I'd like to chime in with my proverbial two cents on this subject.

1) I understand that BBO is a business and needs to make money.
2) I assume the current business model isn't making enough money, hence the need to revise it.
3) Six boards a day is simply not enough to consider this a viable Freemium service. That's less than a free tournament, and it's not enough to bother looking for a table to sit down at - by the time you get warmed up, your quota is done. You're either paying for the premium membership, paying for the tournament, or you aren't going to be on BBO. It might be enough if the boards carried over across days - you could play a couple times a week - but not as it stands with no carryover.
4) $120 a year for premium isn't terrible, but it's not cheap. Pretending it's half the price isn't going to convince anyone when the price goes up after the first year. For what I do on BBO, this is not something I'm willing to pay.
5) With this policy, I don't personally think BBO is going to survive as anything other than a premium service. Thus, even the free quota isn't going to be helpful - you won't have anyone to play with. The paying players aren't going to bother partnering with someone limited to six hands a day, and the free players aren't going to be there at all.

I've been around BBO for well over 20 years (my join date on the forums says it's been over 22 at the very least, but I'm fairly certain it's been a fair bit longer). I completely respect the business decision. This is not a complaint. I am just sharing my sadness at what appears to be the end of an era.

Well said.

Of course, we cannot demand that there be a free service, but BBO has been around for decades and it did create a community. The owners probably made a bit of money, not a whole lot. Now, the startegy (under different ownership) the desire seems to be to maximize profit. That is their prerogative but I can mourn the passing of a community.

[pescetom]

a4_sen, on 2026-August-27, 15:29, said:

Well said.

Of course, we cannot demand that there be a free service, but BBO has been around for decades and it did create a community. The owners probably made a bit of money, not a whole lot. Now, the startegy (under different ownership) the desire seems to be to maximize profit. That is their prerogative but I can mourn the passing of a community.

The community has not wholly passed yet - there is residual life and value in this discussion forum and the passionate few who manage to organize meaningful free tournaments.
But that too is already at risk, this poorly thought out chase of further profit without investment could kill the forum and reduce BBO to Funbridge without the graphics.

[Rfulrabbit]

The price is still competitive at $10 per month,when I consider the educational opportunities. Especially bridge master.

Back in the day I bought the whole series.

So I will pay if it continues to be affordable, and, after all we all enjoyed free things for a long time.

The play per game situation does not work for me because I always got bad hands playing acbl.souch prefer the subscriotion

[barmar]

Rfulrabbit, on 2026-August-30, 09:52, said:

The price is still competitive at $10 per month,when I consider the educational opportunities. Especially bridge master.

You don't need to pay for a membership plan to use Bridge Master.

[Rfulrabbit]

Thanks barmar, but I love the just declare solitaire too.

[tironis]

Sorry..this is question as to payment. Is payment using BBO $.....or credit card...or both. I do have some BBO$ and wondering if can be used for this purpose.

[barmar]

You can only pay for membership plans with credit cards, not BB$.

[tironis]

If I do NOT remain a Premium member...stay 'basic' which has the 6 hand limit....can I enter paid tournaments, pay using BBO $ and play out the entire tournament of 8-12 hands or even more (not get booted out after 6 hands)?

[Rfulrabbit]

tironis, on 2026-September-10, 18:48, said:

If I do NOT remain a Premium member...stay 'basic' which has the 6 hand limit....can I enter paid tournaments, pay using BBO $ and play out the entire tournament of 8-12 hands or even more (not get booted out after 6 hands)?

I THINK SO. IF YOU BUY PLENTY BBO DOLLARS YOU GET COMP MEMBERSHIP

[barmar]

tironis, on 2026-September-10, 18:48, said:

If I do NOT remain a Premium member...stay 'basic' which has the 6 hand limit....can I enter paid tournaments, pay using BBO $ and play out the entire tournament of 8-12 hands or even more (not get booted out after 6 hands)?

Yes. Membership plans have no effect on features that you pay extra for. Only some of the free features are impacted.