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Last Updated November 30, 2021
BBO Instructions
Familiarization
To play on Bridge Base Online, Click here
This is a very useful link to show you how to use BBO. Click here
Click here to self alert.
Registration
You cannot register for a virtual game until two hours prior to its start. You and your partner both have to be on BBO at the time of registration.
To register for a virtual club, log on to BBO. Below the green bar that says Featured Areas, click Virtual Club, then click ACBL Virtual Clubs. This brings up a list of games. Look for the club game with a number and the name of the club. Click on the game and it will prompt you to enter your partner's ID and then send an invitation to him or her.
The Game
You and your partner should be online just before the time of the game. You must be in the lobby. You are no longer pulled from a causual game because they are on different servers. There are no late entries, and the entry is cancelled and money refunded if both players are not online at game time. Most ACBL games are 18 boards with three boards per round. It is barometer scoring, so everyone plays the same boards each round. There will be 6 minutes a board (4.5 if speedball), but the round ends if everybody has finished.
Being Disconnected
I recommend a hardwire internet connection but WIFI is still okay. If a player gets booted from the game (usually because of a bad connection), they must logoff of BBO and login, The system will reseat them as soon as the current board is finished.
Convention Card
It is important to have a Convention Card filled out on BBO. You should do this with your partner. You can and should have cards for different partners. Once you have made a convention card once and used it in a game or in the bridge room, it is automatically pulled up when you play again with that partner.
Click on Account, Convention Cards. You will see a number of 'Stock' cards. Any of these can be chosen then modified, or you can start with a blank convention card and fill in the information.
If you do not have a Convention Card on file, it is assumed you are playing SAYC - Standard American Yellow Card. This includes 15-17NT, Jacoby Transfers, 5 card majors, Jacoby 2NT, weak jump overcalls, Gerber, Blackwood and 4th suit forcing. For many of you, this will be fine. You can select this and change the title to your name or partnership. Save any changes.
We all have convention cards in Live games and should have them in Virtual Games as well. It is still important to Self-Alert.
Stratification
The local director has no control over this. BBO sets it automatically and there are only strats if there are six tables.
Misclicks
Hopefully misclicks do not happen. If a bid is made or card played, BBO does not allow undos in tourneys. Players who have misclick problems should do the following:
Click on the Account tab along the right hand side of the screen.
Click on settings and move the Confirm Bid button to the right - it turns brighter green. All bids must now be confirmed by clicking OK which appears in the bidding box. It is also possible to Confirm Cards but I do not recommend this as it is too time consuming.
Half Tables
The local director will try to fill half tables locally. However, the BBO substitute pool will be used in case a half table cannot be found.
Convention Card
It is a good idea to have a convention card filled out on BBO. If you do not, BBO has a convention card editor you can use. Go to the account tab, and click on convention cards. BBO allows you to save a convention card for each partner you play with. These are recalled automatically after a card has been saved with your partner's id.
During the game: Click on the blue box with three horizontal lines at the top left of your screen. It gives a few options such as calling the director, viewing convention cards et cetera. Check it out.
ACBL Number
Do not forget to add your ACBL number, if you have one, to your profile. Masterpoints will automatically be credited to you.
Go to ACBL World and click on "Update your ACBL number."
Self Alerts
Do not forget to self alert all alertable or announceable bids. Your partner cannot see them.
You can always click on a bid to ask the opponents what their bid means.
Be careful when talking to the table. Chat to just the opponents in case it creates unauthorized information.
Claiming
Claim when you can. BBO allows you to claim any number of the remaining tricks. This includes the defenders who can concede or claim themselves. If a mistake has been made, the director must be called, and the claim will be adjusted. It is illagal to give away tricks that rightfully belong to yourself or another player.
Slow Play
BBO does let a board start if there are around four minutes or less left in the round. Boards not played will get averages. Boards that are not finished will be finished by the director. If the director cannot finish the board because the declarer play or the defense is not obvious, he will also give averages.
Good Luck, Have Fun and Be Healthy and Safe.