Online bridge is meant to be simple, and the Bridge Base Online platform is able to run on the majority of smartphones and thinking-devices.

I suppose that it would be theoretically possible to play online bridge using a smart fridge, but I can’t find evidence that someone has tried it yet. If you own a smart fridge as a bridge player and have some knowledge of programming, please go ahead – and take pictures of the result!

Getting back to the point, I’ve owned many smartphones over several years: Some of them work great from the first second, and others become a nightmare to use within a couple of months. Some were terrible from the beginning.

What makes for a bad device for bridge?

I have owned several “bad devices” that were best replaced, or worked better once they were repaired.

If any of your own devices match up with the signs mentioned here, take some advice: repair or replace for more comfortable bridge playing.

Here are some of the telltale signs of a bad device for bridge.

1. Draining battery life

Reduced battery life is a sign that either (I) something is overusing resources, or (ii) the battery has seen much better days. I wouldn’t say that a total device replacement is necessary for this, but instead that the battery is worth changing for another.

If your battery just won’t last, how are you going to get through a bridge game from start to finish?

2. Signal problems

I’ve had multiple smartphones that had signal trouble from the very start.

Sometimes this can be blamed on the area or network provider: When it can’t, it might be a device-related malfunction instead. To establish this, I’ve learned to check coverage maps from various network providers first.

Does your smartphone keep dropping connection, or not connect at all?

Try connecting with another device. If it works better, the device was the problem.

3. A nonresponsive screen

A nonresponsive screen is a sure sign of a device that’s seen better days. If you can’t fix the problem by cleaning the screen or changing the settings, then it’s probably time to blame the device instead.

Have you ended up with a smartphone that wouldn’t respond to a tap with a sledgehammer?

Replacing or repairing the device is going to be your best chance at better online bridge.

4. Ads, ads, ads

Does your smartphone continuously display ads that you can’t get rid of? I’ve had several smartphones with this issue, usually whenever the device connects to the internet.

Ads would interrupt phone calls, hide important phone notifications, and just be a general irritation that made the device a nightmare to use.

After some research, I found out that it wasn’t quite what you’d call a virus.

It was the phone’s launcher app, and released with the phone.

Just Google the term “replace” and “phone launcher” for it. Thanks to the internet, stock software can be removed and changed for ones that don’t overload your device.

Have you had any devices that needed replacement or repairing before you could get online for a bridge game?