Hervor wrote: ↑02 February 2026, 12:58
It is unfortunately very common in cooperative games and a huge reason why I usually don't play them here anymore. I just don't understand why players, who value winning at any price, don't restrict their tables in such a way that they no longer play with beginners.
How much would that help?
When I play Spades, I set the table to > 200 Elo, and I still see all sorts of beginner moves. There are only 44 players on the sit rated above 300, so, restricting the game to above 200 is fairly restrictive.
I would occasionally set the filter to 300 and above, which would take a very long time for the table to fill, and, although the level of play was generally good, the level of vitriol was also high. In one game, my partner tore into me and would not stop berating me over some sort of perceived mistake. I was the 9th highest rated player on the site at the time. My partner was, I think, 7th. Or something like that.
One of the opponents even observed and commented on how this partner of mine was, as usual, berating a teammate almost immediately after the game started. This was a long time ago, but I still have a top 20 ranking, and the player who has been berating me is barely in the top 100. For whatever that's worth.
I generally avoid such games because of the frustration factor. I'm not perfect either. I was penalized one time in a game of spades for rudeness to a partner. Upon reviewing the in-game chat after being penalized, I realized the penalty was strict but not unreasonable - I could have phrased my statement more politely and avoided the penalty.
As others have noted though, sometimes people are a bit overly sensitive. On one occasion, I made a bit that created a 13-bid, also known as "locking it up". Meaning, there are no bags possible unless a team gets set on their bid. a 13-bid is rare, and means "take as many tricks as we can and set them". Usually making a 12-bid would suffice to drive that point home, but a 13-bid leaves no doubt. My partner missed this somehow, and made a passive play, allowing the opponents to take a trick they had no business taking. I politely pointed out the problem with that play and explained what my bid meant. Nobody was moderated, no cursing occurred, but nevertheless, my partner didn't seem to take kindly to the advice.
Was my advice "bullying"? At this point, I no longer know where the line is, so I just avoid it altogether.