[slamster]

I would like to be able to configure my club's games such that people in the partnership desk may not select "Partner must pay for me".
I am incensed that mercenaries prey on clubs to get free games. I don't care who they are; they are probably terrible players.

In any case, if it's a pro or some prior arrangement to pay for a partner, the "buyer" can simply do that when they invite their partner to the game.

Who's with me!

[JJ_]

So you prefer not to pocket entry fees instead of giving a free play to someone in your club?

[slamster]

JJ_, on 2026-January-24, 10:05, said:

So you prefer not to pocket entry fees instead of giving a free play to someone in your club?

The gymnastics you're employing to purposely misinterpret my comment are impressive. Hope you stretched out before that little exercise.
Your actual "question" isn't really worth a response, but:
sadly, there are trolls, like you, everywhere-even on BBO. I prefer not to have them play in my club; I don't want or need their BBO $. A bunch of randos making a living off showing up in the partnership desk hoping to score a cheap bridge game is a bad look for the club and for BBO (BBO are you listening?). When people need a partner for my club's games, I want them to feel that the person they pick up is as interested in fair play, the game, and integrity as they themselves are.

[mycroft]

If someone asks for a free play, and can justify it to me, I'll give them one. This ain't it.

If someone helps my game, on my terms, (usually to fill in a table or play with someone who they would never choose to play with so I can play with the other one), then they play for free (in clubs I get to decide the rules for). Ain't this neither.

This is "I'll put my name down for 15 games; if someone is willing to pay 2 entries, I'll enjoy my 'free game' and my monsterpoints. Surely someone is dumb enough to do that (or desperate enough, or won't notice)."

Now, many of them do think they're good enough to carry a random to a high finish, and believe that skill is worth USD6. And many of them *are*.

But specifically for a "local virtual club", how many of my regulars want to have "the people I came to play against, and also two or three tables of 'good enough to come third-or-better in a club game with a random' taking 'my' masterpoints away from me"? Conversely, how many of them are happier to play in a 9 table game (9x2 Mitchell, 8 top) with a bunch of Buschwackers than a 6 table game (either 6x3 Mitchell, 5 top or 9x2 "Howell", also 5 top) of "just us"?

I'm not worried about the "pro-lite" players or the players who pay for them (as long as they aren't suckered into it). I won't be either. I don't mind playing against them; if they beat me through good play, well done them; if I beat them (even by "they can carry someone, but not against a weak NT") well done me. I do find signing up for my game and seeing three of these in the partnership desk icky, personally, but that's "just my own opinion, man". I am worried about the games and the club owners who don't like it not being able to discourage/disallow it in their games. I think OP is going too far with eir characterization of the "mercenaries", but I absolutely think that BBO should allow the club owner the option.

[JJ_]

Wow – being cocky, miserable and calling names won’t help your case – you are trying to insult a group of players without knowing anything about them. Regardless of their abilities you cant discriminate. Just put something in the description - after all you are lucky to do a job that anybody can do. Eventually you will mellow or disappear.

[mycroft]

Hmm. I said that the people doing this likely think they're good enough that people would be willing to pay for them to carry them. And that most of them are. And compared them to top-tier NASCAR drivers who ran in the lower tier events as well to show off or make some money or to have fun - and had a mixed reaction from the audience for it. I guess that's "calling names".

I wonder what "if you don't know how to show a void in response to Blackwood, you're not advanced" is?

"cocky"?

"miserable" I will absolutely cop to. It's crap out there, It's (relatively) crap around my local, and I'm still stressed from my last tournament, more than I think I am, I guess. Sorry about that.

That still doesn't mean "So you prefer not to pocket entry fees instead of giving a free play to someone in your club?" is an accurate description of "I'll haunt the doors of 10 or so clubs to see if someone I don't know will pay my entry".

Because, you are correct, exactly I have no idea who they are. And neither do the other people at the partnership desk, the ones they want to pay their way into "their" game. Who are (by and large) my locals, who I absolutely care about and want to come back - and who won't if the only option is "come with a partner or pay $12 for a $6 game with 'not us'". Especially if they hit the (rare, I'm sure, and not you) ones who are happy to spend the evening "giving lessons" or griping about their partner's (lack of) ability. Most of these games, though not all by any means, are still "the small local community we've played bridge with for 30 years, and their friends and partners from where they've moved/retired to."

It's not "a free play". It's preying on my community, asking them to pay double for a crapshoot.

Frankly, I can literally not understand the POV of someone who would do this, or of someone who would accept. Clearly You Are Not Me, and there are enough players who are also Not Me that it works. That's fine, YKINMK and all that.

30 years directing FtF clubs and I've never seen someone show up to a game looking for a partner who would pay his entry too. Tournaments, sure (but I've never *seen it*, I just know it happens).

So why is this so common online? I would guess two reasons - these people can "show up" to 10 or 15 games at the same time; and they won't get a reputation they have to deal with when they show up with a real partner (not that they're ever going to show up with a real partner). I mean, I know the last few times I've played VABC, I've looked at the desk "to gauge interest", and there have always been ~three of these. Do I remember any of their names, or their nicks, or even what country they're from? No. Do I recognize them from week to week? No. Does anybody else? Probably not.

I did say that I thought the OP was over the top in their description, and I still think so. I also am pretty certain that by and large, they can in fact play. But I don't think the option to "only allow players at the partnership desk who will pay their own way" (as opposed to an outside agreement, or a pro date, or whatever - "after all, the 'buyer' can just do that when they invite their partner") is over the top, at all.

[mycroft]

Looked you, specifically, up; that bridge resume is strong. Clearly in the "capable of carrying a random to a high finish in a club game" territory (which I will never be). I wasn't denigrating your bridge skills blind, and I certainly wouldn't with that resume.

I don't remember what I've seen in the three VABC clubs I frequent, but if I had seen anyone at that level, I would have remembered. They might have *been* at that level, but again, if they don't say so, how would a punter know?