LALITHA SCOTT ON GETTING TO GRIPS WITH THE ACRONYMS USED IN ONLINE BRIDGE
THIS time last year most of us had never played bridge online before. So, so different to playing face-to-face in a club, the change in etiquette being striking. That quintessential first question in face-to-face play – “Any questions partner?” – now seems a distant memory and I marvel how comparatively easily I have adapted to the faceless electronic play.
Initially, however, online play appeared somewhat surreal including the greetings of “Hi”, “ops”, “Wc ops”, etc, every time there was a change over, when the cards had already been dealt, and were staring me in the face.
For months I was fearful of miscalculating my cards if I engaged in the trivia of greeting, and must have seemed rude. But, over time, I have come to understand the importance of welcoming the opponents, and now immediately greet or acknowledge, accepting it as the new etiquette.
English not being my mother tongue, I have always had some difficulty in understanding non-standard expressions, and I certainly never anticipated the use of acronyms in the chat would be so challenging, more even than the game itself! Initially I was baffled by “TY”, “SY”, “NP”, “WP”, and also “LOL” frequently used by one of the players when anything seemed remotely funny to him.
Some acronyms took me a good while to get used to, such as “GLP” by an opponent. I remember when first coming across it, I had nervously doubled the opponent’s bid, and was about to make my opening lead. The message was to the table, but I took it personally to mean “Gallop” or “Gulp” and saw it as an insult, as if I am a horse! Then, one day the penny dropped – this remark was directed at the sender’s partner, wishing her luck! I was similarly perplexed when one player typed “TFG” at the end of a round. Eventually I picked up courage to ask him the meaning, and received the answer “Thank you For the Games”. Very gentlemanly, indeed! I like to think I’ve got the hang of it now. But, recently I was still flummoxed when someone typed “GTG” on the last board. Can anyone please explain? (ed. - Got to Go?)
In the meantime, “TDO” (Thanks Directors and Organisers)! “ILYA” (I Love You All).