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Acol at BBO: Acol Players’ Bridge Club

Acol is one of the most widely used bridge conventions in the world – and for many bridge players and partnerships, it’s the one they prefer. Bridge Base Online hosts many online bridge clubs and lovers of Acol have found a unique home at the Acol Players’ Bridge Club.

We caught up with the founder and manager of the club, London-based BBO user Lawrence (Aacol) about Acol at BBO to find out what the club is all about.

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How to Navigate to the Acol Club

Acol at BBO

We hear from Lawrence via e-mail; he introduces his club as a wonderful story of togetherness, mutual support, enjoyment and good old-fashioned British games playing.

“I have been playing the game of bridge for all of my adult life. About 20 years ago, I started playing on Bridge Base Online. Shortly after, I started my own little bridge club on BBO which I called the Acol Players’ Bridge Club.”

The club had small beginnings. At its start, Lawrence says the club was lucky to have 10 tables. From there, the club grew in strength. “Players came from all over the world – and all corners of the Union – to play with us.”

“Once we were more established, we created special events.” Lawrence says the best of these events was an evening of online bridge hosted by Andrew Robson.

The Acol Players’ Bridge Club is free-to-join. Lawrence says this is how it’s going to remain; he has never thought of monetizing the club, and says he doesn’t plan to. “I have steadfastly kept the club public and open to all players of all abilities at no charge.”

Members think of the club as an indispensable lifeline and an integral part of their lives. “So many have told me that without the Acol Players’ Bridge Club, their lives would be much the poorer.”

An Exponential Boom

Lockdown has hit many households hard, and there’s an increase in the need for support networks and distanced, online activities that still allow for social interaction. Many have turned to online bridge tables.

“In the last three months, our growth has been sudden, dramatic, massive and exponential.” notes Lawrence.

“We noticed that the number of tables was increasing every day.” This growth increased from 25 tables to 30; from 50 to 100 and finally what Lawrence refers to as an “unprecedented” 200 tables at the club. He points out that this equates to 800 people playing the same game at one moment in time.

“I believe this makes us one of the most popular bridge clubs in the world.” says Lawrence. “There is no club in the world which has 800 people playing bridge together in one place, night after night – and draws its players from all over the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and beyond.”

Lawrence says that he would like to thank BBO for agreeing to create The Acol Players’ Bridge Club all those years ago. “It is thanks to BBO and everyone who plays in the club that it has become a much loved part of so many people’s lives.”


Comments

10 responses to “Acol at BBO: Acol Players’ Bridge Club”

  1. brockben

    A credit to all involved, even before Covid.

  2. Thinz

    I have enjoyed many a game at the club when i am in London. A really friendly environment, with great food, thanks to Noor.
    Charlene fitzpatrick

    1. No_legs

      It’s an online club, not sure how you managed to have a meal 🙂

  3. BUD JAMAL

    I AM REGULAR BRIDGE PLAYER SINCE 1956 THOSE DAYS THERE WAS NO SUCH THING AS CLUBS
    MOVED TO CANADA 50 YRS AGO WAS PLAYING WITH LOCAL CLUBS UNTIL BECAME MEMBER OF BBO FOR PAST 25 YEARS AND MOSTLY PLAY ON-LINE EVERY DAY
    TO DAY I LEARNED ABOUT ACOL BEING BIGGER THAN BBO AND I WISH TO JOIN ACOL
    PLEASE EMAIL budjamal@shaw.ca HOW TO ENROLL
    I KNOW ACOL OPEN WITH 4CRD MAJOR WITH 13 HCP WHERE AS BBO MUST HAVE 5 MAJOR TO OPEN COLOR BID
    I CAN ADJUST EASILY

  4. Ge0ff

    The article refers to Acol as a convention but Acol isn’t a convention it’s a bidding system! The Acol Bridge club in West Hamstead, London was on the Acol Road leading to the Kent village of Acol. In the 1930’s Marx and Simon, frequent players at the club, developed a bidding system which they called Acol after the road name. The Acol Bridge Club club has nothing to do with the Acol Players Bridge Club on BBO, however, other than it is where the bidding system was developed.

  5. Sequinlady21@yahoo.com

    How do I join

  6. Pipin

    I started to learn bridge in the acol club where people generously gave me of their time and expertise. We meet up twice a year with with people coming from all continents over the years. We are a very sociable, friendly and welcoming place to play weak no trump and 4 card majors. Thank you BBo and Lawrence.

  7. Hildegard Grenda

    An excellent post, congratulations !!

  8. Caiti1

    Thank you for the above information. I have always played in the Acol Bridge club but since the lockdown I have had considerable trouble getting into it. I am advised that what I require is not available to me. When I check the number of full tables the site doesn’t show me anything so I assumed that the site wasn’t available during this time. I am really missing this club and would love to get back to it. Would love some advice please.

  9. 301035

    whenever I look at Acol players bridge club their are no tables playing ???