We all missed Columbus and Montreal NABCs, but right now Silver Linings Week is the closest proxy. The turnout has been so successful, even the virtual club operators are surprised. Almost every club has augmented their daily schedule to squeeze in up to 3 sessions per day, possibly 4 if you time things exactly right.
It feels like NABC – you can wake up to begin playing nearly nonstop sessions of bridge for about 8 hours straight. Then rinse and repeat the next day. After a while, you forget which day of the week it is – what does it matter anyway? The only thing missing is the post-bridge hanging out at the hotel bar – but you can replicate the drinking at home if you choose.
How To Chain Your Sessions
It turns out, you need to do some planning to make 8+ hours of bridge work. Being a member of multiple Virtual Private Clubs provides more options, but it’s up to you to work out a consolidated road map and schedule. Yesterday, I tried:
12:30pm Pink Section with All For One (24 board game)
3:45pm Yellow Section: officially 18 boards lasting 126 minutes.
5:45pm Green Section with Sagamore (Amazingly, BBO allowed me to register)
Thankfully, the 3:45pm game JUST in time – had the directors allowed some rounds to drag out to the full time, we likely would have been kicked out of the 5:45pm.
The Most Unpopular Game?
For club operators, note that the 5pm starting time games have turned out to be the least popular. For anyone playing the afternoon 12:30 and 1pm sessions, they are looking for a 2nd session right away – making 3:45pm perfect. That can chain into evening games, but 5pm is too early for most.
Late Night Games?
For people waiting for evening sessions, 5:45pm is the earliest it gets, tapering off by 7:15pm for All For One. For those who want the midnight KO experience, the Alliance late night speed ball was the closest proxy – 12 fast boards at 9:15pm, only Mon – Thu.
Anyone Tried Four In A Day?
In theory, it is possible to sneak in 4 sessions, even with no speed balling. Perhaps even 5 if you start with a 10am, followed by an evening 7:30pm.
During the real NABCs, 4 sessions is no longer possible unless you count Midnight Zip Knockouts. You can do the Daylight Schedule (10am + 3pm), then an evening side swiss or side series at 7:30pm. Alternatively, you can opt for a morning side series, while doing the 1pm and 7pm schedule (most Platinum NABC+ events are on the afternoon cycle).
There is no way to sneak in a session during the gap in your 2-session event. Perhaps someday they will invent a half-session side series? Some seasoned veterans tell me there USED to be, long ago, a schedule that allowed 4 legitimate sessions plus midnight knockouts. Can anyone confirm?