NEWSLETTER # 8
11/June/2008
Newsletters also available on the Website
https://www.bridge4money.com/A/newsletters/newsletter.asp
Dear Members,
Due to popular demand and the need to give players an opportunity to practice
in a real money environment with minimal risk, and to fill the gap between the $1.00 and $5 rooms, we are about to open 2 new stake
rooms and a series of new bidding tests.
STAKE ROOMS
We plan to open a $0.10c and a $2.00 stake room this week ( subject to final testing etc)
We believe the concept of the Practice Room is now past its sell by date and instead, we are removing it and providing a low level (kitchen bridge) stake room, primarily for this purpose. It will be open 24x7. Playing at $0.10 level allows anyone with as little as $5, to play several games with real money to get the feel of the system and interface as well as for practice without financial risk that might be outside their own limits or until they are familair with the system and user interface etc.
We have well over a 100 players whose funds are below the level necessary to play in the standard $0.25c room but who would like to play or practice in this new room. If this is you – then all your have to do is to revist us, your program will be updated automatically and then, you will see the opportunity to select the highest and the lowest stake you wish to play at. Our software will do the rest and place you in a game at the highest stake level you have chosen as a priority, but, at times, can also put you in a game at lower levels.
The $2.00 stake room fills the gap between the $1.00 and $5.00 rooms and is for the more experienced player who will probably only select these two upper stake rooms. So the choice is yours – if you wish to ONLY play at a low level, then simply tick the apprpriate levels- if you want to play at higher levels then again, make your selection to avoid these lower stake rooms.
As part of our strategy to create a high standard of play throughout the club we are changing the the way we require you to take the bidding tests. The system card is clearly described on our website and all players MUST adhere to it.
If you wish to check your understanding of it, then take our new BASIC TEST which can be taken as many times as you like until you feel comfortable. However, it will NOT count towards you Bidding Hat status. So, check your understanding here first and then take the OFFICIAL BASIC TEST when you are ready.
BASIC TEST (BASIC BIDDING HAT)
We now have a new BASIC Bidding Test which you MUST take and get at least 18 out of 20 to pass – and which, once passed , you will be shown with a bidding hat – indicating to your partner that you have this understanding. Once you take the test, you cannot take it again for another 7 days! This ensures that a hit and miss approach is no longer likely. All players should take this test by the end of June, 2006. Bidding hats will then be established on this test and not the current test which will be removed.
ADVANCE BIDDING TEST (ADVANCED BIDDING HAT)
This is an optional test, which if taken and passed will show a different hat so that you know your partner has an advanced understanding of the system. The same rules will apply in that you can only take this test once per week until you pass.
We have had many of you invite your friends using the link on our main members login page. Remember, your recommendation is far better than anyone else's – and for that we will reward you with a small token of $10 into your playing account, should your friend subsequently join up (free) and play at least 10 boards with us in any of the stake rooms (excluding the new $0.10c room) You can ask as many of your friends as you like. They will get an automatic email with your name on it, so they will know where the recommendation came from – and, we will give you a record of each invite.
The new rooms will also have traffic lights so you can see as soon as you login, an indication of the activity in each of the stake rooms but donít be shy if the lights are on blue or a low green - by logging in to the waiting room, you will speed up the whole process if you simply hang on in there for a few minutes at quiet times. Even when the $0.10c room is busy, many of those players will also have selected the $0.25c stake in anticipation of getting games at this higher level and maybe they are simply practicing a little while they wait! Sooner or later it will go GREEN and the "GAME ON" sound will trigger you into action!
Due to the low uptake and use of the Click2Pay E-Wallet system, we are removing this facility as of July 1st, 2008 as it is no longer cost effective. Those users with Click2Pay accounts wil probably wish to make sure their private accounts are cleared and can continue to use our other systems for funding and payout.
We are currently evaluating other systems that are universally accepted wordwide (ie do NOT exclude USA users) which can provide a better and more cost effective solution at a competative price. Remember, anyone can fund your playing account with Paypal or Credit Cards which are the most accepted, safe and secure solutions.
Our policy is such that we DO NOT charge any administration costs for payouts via PAYPAL and we recommend this method in the current economic climate.
Nick Justice
Managing Director
www.bridge4money.com