I’m a social player – I play as much for the social contact as I do for the pleasure of playing the game.

When a return to F2F (Face to Face) bridge was suggested, I found myself preferring to stay in front of my computer screen.  Why?

Well for a start it’s more sociable!  When you’ve finished a round you can chat to the people at your table without worrying about bothering other people (“Shh some of us are still playing”).  Moreover you can discuss the hands.  Not just those at your current table previous hands too.  Everyone plays the same boards at the same time, so you won’t meet someone who hasn’t played the hand.  Plus the results are available in front of you – you can see who bid the grand slam, and who made it.

Speaking of which, if you like looking at the hands afterwards, you can do so immediately while it’s still fresh in your mind, rather than hours (or days) later when the results appear on the website.

On top of that, the bidding and play are available for you (unlike F2F).  So not only can you see who bid the grand slam, but how, and how they made it.

If there’s a sit out, you can chat to your partner instead of having to sit there quietly (or find somewhere else to go).  Again you can look at the hands you’ve already played.

Your performance so far is a true assessment.  No waiting for 8 other pairs to play the hand before you find out how well you did.

And there’s yet more.  No embarrassing yourself (and letting down partner) by revoking and getting a bad score.  No delays while waiting for the director to deal with an insufficient bid or a lead out of turn.

And more… no having to go out when it’s cold and dark and wet, no getting stuck in traffic, no searching for somewhere to park.  No lukewarm, overpriced coffee.  Exactly the biscuits you like.  Alcohol if you're so inclined, and if you smoke... (I don't!)

And for those like me who are terrible with names: no embarrasing faux-pas, or awkwardly having to use the compass direction instead of a name.

If I’m directing it’s better too.  I can see exactly where each table is so I can see who’s running behind.  I can even tell who’s at fault if a table is running late.  Hardly any calls too – no leads out of turn, revokes – hang on we’ve been here before!  And if I do have to go to a table, everyone's name is already shown for me, so the conversation is much more personal as well as more efficient.  OK so there are occasionally connection issues, but rarely do they cause major problems.

In some ways it’s better for the clubs too.  No-one has to deal the boards, or cart them to wherever play is taking place.  No premises are needed.  You have to pay for using Realbridge, but it’s a lot less than the cost of a room.  No tables and chairs to put out…

Update March 3rd 2022

I've just played my first Face 2 Face session (not willingly - I was the only director avaiable.)  It made me think of more advantages to RB!

Chairs - you get to sit in your own nice comfy chair

Being Dummy - in F2F this is SOOOO boring - not being able to follow declarer's play.

Plus I missed all the things that made me like RB in the first place - immediate comparison, immediate review, availability of bidding and play records...