NEWSY BITS & ONLINE EVENTS

IN THE CLOUD Most online bridge clubs now use a browser-based interface for online play. This is great not only for people with Macs and other operating systems. It does not require users to download software. You can play at the library, or in an internet cafe. And at home you don't need to worry about updates and viruses. The new term for this kind of functionality is 'in the cloud'. You can now play bridge 'in the cloud'. Cloud computing is Internet-based ("cloud") development and use of computer technology ("computing"). The cloud is a metaphor for the Internet (based on how it is depicted in computer network diagrams) and is an abstraction for the complex infrastructure it conceals. It is a style of computing in which IT-related capabilities are provided “as a service”, allowing users to access technology-enabled services from the Internet ("in the cloud") without knowledge of, expertise with, or control over the technology infrastructure that supports them. According to a 2008 paper published by IEEE Internet Computing "Cloud Computing is a paradigm in which information is permanently stored in servers on the Internet and cached temporarily on clients that include desktops, entertainment centers, table computers, notebooks, wall computers, handhelds, sensors, monitors, etc." (Source: Wikipedia) Tips for online play. If you want to play other online card games, like online poker, there are many options. Check out the listings on PokerListings.coms.

NEW LINKS

November 2008 :: Women's Online Bridge Club Following the great success of the WBF/BBO Online Bridge Festival held in April 2008 this year, organizers have decided not only to repeat the Festival in April 2009, but also to create a Women’s Online Bridge Club. The purpose of the Club will be to have a special website where women can get information about Women’s Bridge – both on line and in clubs, tournaments, Festivals and Championships. info

The Bridge Doctor : Perfect Online Bridge Club for Beginners
Learn how to play bridge online with contract bridge lessons covering bidding and the rules of bridge. Play ACOL or Standard American. The perfect bridge for beginners website. Click Here fore more info ::>.

Sep 2007 :: www.GrizzBridge.com. Hi, this is Pete Rudie, I play and teach on BBO as "grizz" and have just launched a website. The lesson archives from my free defense lessons in the Beginner and Intermediate Lounge on BBO are on the website now, and I expect to have archives from my free defense lessons in Club2/1 up shortly, with more content to come.

Sep 2007 :: play bridge at Homo Ludens Online. A place where you can meet your bridge friends from across the globe. Invite them to a party and have fun like it used to be in the good old days. Free. No software to install, just use your browser. Play Chicago variant with Russian scoring.

December 2006 :: Free bridge game for windows. Came across your website while surfing for Bridge related info. Thought you might be interested in including my free Bridge game in your listings. Thanks [wes]Wesley Steiner

Bridge 4 Money, led by David Gold (Anchor member of England Bridge Team), gives you an all new experience of online bridge, where you can play bridge for money with no bots!  Using the practice room facility to get to know the interface is free, so come and give a go. February 2007

SURF THE ONLINE PLAY SITES : Bridge Forum International.

e-bridge :: We regret the closing of e-bridge, one of many playing sites online. According to their website, there has been a change in the direction of the business, and bridge will no longer be offered. It is our understanding that offers are being made to former members of e-bridge by other online playing sites.
OKbridge :: Okbridge has announced the departure of Tony Reus as club manager. We thank him for his years as GM of Okbridge! In Tony‚s place, OKbridge has announced that Lorne Russell has accepted the position. Lorne comes from Microsoft, where he was Club Manager for MSN‚s bridge club for seven years until its close in January of this year.
Swan :: Swan Bridge (www.swangames.com) now runs three ACBL masterpoint tournaments (see site for times) at $.50 a session or $10.95 a month. Membership to the site is not required. There are also five daily SWAN tournaments included in the site's membership. Upcoming Bridgecasts (Vugraph with live audio commentary) and special events are listed on the website.
BBO :: Bridge Base Online (www.bridgebase.com) now has two ways to play for money. In one, two human opponents, sitting South and West, each pair with a bridge robot, run by GIB. More can be found at online.bridgebase.com/mb/about.php. In the other, one human plays a
25-minute match with and against three robots. There is an entry fee, and prizes are given to top players.
BCL :: Bridge Club Live (www.bridgeclublive.com) is one of the sites offering special rates for former e-bridge members. By emailing
info@bridgeclublive.com, with your e-bridge membership number, you receive a 6-month free membership and full refund within 6 months if not satisfied. This offer is good until December 31st 2006. Bridge Club Live also hosts many tournaments hosted by both the ACBL and EBU.

BBO Friends : Gateway access to companion sites of Bridge Base Online. Clubs, tournaments, TD section and How To. www.bbofriends.com

Standard Bidding with SAYC : at last, the definitive book on the internet's most popular system. The most popular natural system for the hundreds of thousands of online players worldwide is the Standard American Yellow Card, or SAYC. In this book, for the first time, SAYC is fully described and explained. This will be an invaluable to aid to anyone wanting to learn and understand SAYC, or anyone who simply knows the basics and is eager to fill in the missing pieces in their repertoire. Written By Ned Downey and Ellen ‘Caitlin’ Pomer, Published by Masterpoint Press www.bridge-forum.com

February 2006 :: I Love Spades .com. Multiplayer spades card game with chat. No download, no install and no registration to play.

December, 2005 :: Bridge Online - I would like to introduce you to my online club where anyone can play for free without having to download software. There are not many visitors yet so you might want to bring your partners. You will find a new way to show bridge hands on the web The hand can be played by the visitors the way he like best or he can click on a play button to see the play as it is programmed. I can make links for any hand anyone have on their own site. The site is written in French but you can put your own writings Everything for free Sorry for my Franglish. rene odeide

StepBridge now in Australia. StepBridge Australia. The originaly Dutch based online bridgeclub can be found on www.stepbridge.com.au Playing in Australia is free of charge and more or less concentrated on Sunday, Tuesday and Thurday night (local times). StepBridge Australia is offered by Bridgeweb (www.bridgewebnl.com or www.bridgeweb.nl) who is also the distributor in the Pacific and Australia/New Zealand of the Bridgemate scoring system. The brand new website can be found on www.bridgemate.com.au Willem Willemse Bridgeweb Australia (August 2005)

Giovedœ Bridge (Bridge Thursday)
Free IE-Web Bridge online
In order to participate you need four players. You then request a table (virtual) from Giovedœ Bridge. You set a date with three other players and one player completes the play request form, indicating a name and an email for each one of the four players. The system immediately sends email to everyone containing the personal URL for your assigned table and when you arrive, the cards are already dealt and you start to play. A message system is available in order to communicate with the other players. The game works with MSIE 4 or higher. It does not work with Netscape. Give it a go! Sounds great for team practice ... http://web.tiscalinet.it/GioBridge/