<p>Playing with random partners on BBO is pretty frustrating. You will find a lot of "advanced" players playing "SAYC" who:</p>

<ol>
<li>make minimal offshape takeout doubles</li>
<li>make minimal (off or on)-shape takeout doubles, then freebid</li>
<li>interpret your jumps in competitive auctions as strong</li>
<li>"weak 2 bid" = "I have a six card suit and a bad hand"</li>
<li>"penalty double" = "I am sad that the other side won the auction"</li>
<li>"five hearts" = "I am in denial that the other side won the auction"</li>
<li>2C = "I have 17 high card points and a singleton"</li>
<li>4NT = universal language of love.</li>
</ol>

<p>These bad habits aside, there's still the problem of unfamiliarity with each other's conventions, etc. My advice is: use minimal gadgetry, pass a lot, when you know that someone at the table is lying, don't automatically assume it isn't your partner, and, eventually, when you find a partner who, if not necessarily good, doesn't violate (1)-(8) above, add them as "friend" and then you can play with them the next time you are both on BBO instead of going fishing in the void.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-25T23:21:51.320Z
How true. Sounds like bad players abound on the internet as well as in physical clubs everywhere.
Forget I was ever here
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-25T17:28:36.997Z
2014-02-25T17:28:36.997Z
hunter
<p>Simple answer- No system- its an open community. If high level players like JEC don't need to specify a system why would anyone else. 
Partial answer- Most English speaking bridge players are American so can assume they play some sort of Standard American- they assume you are psychic so you know what they play.  </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-09T23:22:34.273Z
2013-11-09T23:22:34.273Z
user2617804
<p>Which bidding system is assumed by default at <a href="http://www.bridgebase.com/" rel="noreferrer">Bridge Base Online</a> (for humans)?</p>

<p>I asked in chat several times in different games (ten times I think) and nobody answered.</p>

<p>Is it <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_Base_Basic" rel="noreferrer">Bridge base basic</a>? Or maybe <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_American_Yellow_Card" rel="noreferrer">YACL</a>?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-10T02:02:32.953Z
**Gittelman** is the founder of Bridge Base Online.
Forget I was ever here
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-06T18:28:29.677Z
That you need to ask this question simply cements my resolve that bidding systems are table talk.
Sparr
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-22T00:08:07.187Z
Gittelman was keen to propagate his bidding theories, so I would assume Bridge Base Basic.
Forget I was ever here
<bridge><duplicate-bridge>
Which bidding system is assumed by default at BBO?
qble
# Which bidding system is assumed by default at BBO?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-05-21)

Which bidding system is assumed by default at [Bridge Base Online](http://www.bridgebase.com/) (for humans)?

I asked in chat several times in different games (ten times I think) and nobody answered.

Is it [Bridge base basic](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_Base_Basic)? Or maybe [YACL](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_American_Yellow_Card)?

**Tags:** bridge, duplicate-bridge

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Gittelman was keen to propagate his bidding theories, so I would assume Bridge Base Basic.  
> **username_1**: **Gittelman** is the founder of Bridge Base Online.  
> **username_2**: That you need to ask this question simply cements my resolve that bidding systems are table talk.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2014-02-25. Score: 4

Playing with random partners on BBO is pretty frustrating. You will find a lot of "advanced" players playing "SAYC" who:

1. make minimal offshape takeout doubles
2. make minimal (off or on)-shape takeout doubles, then freebid
3. interpret your jumps in competitive auctions as strong
4. "weak 2 bid" = "I have a six card suit and a bad hand"
5. "penalty double" = "I am sad that the other side won the auction"
6. "five hearts" = "I am in denial that the other side won the auction"
7. 2C = "I have 17 high card points and a singleton"
8. 4NT = universal language of love.

These bad habits aside, there's still the problem of unfamiliarity with each other's conventions, etc. My advice is: use minimal gadgetry, pass a lot, when you know that someone at the table is lying, don't automatically assume it isn't your partner, and, eventually, when you find a partner who, if not necessarily good, doesn't violate (1)-(8) above, add them as "friend" and then you can play with them the next time you are both on BBO instead of going fishing in the void.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: How true. Sounds like bad players abound on the internet as well as in physical clubs everywhere.  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2013-11-09. Score: 3

Simple answer- No system- its an open community. If high level players like JEC don't need to specify a system why would anyone else.
Partial answer- Most English speaking bridge players are American so can assume they play some sort of Standard American- they assume you are psychic so you know what they play.


---

