BBO has an "Alerting System". There are two main components to this which are both in the "bidding box" which pops up when it is your turn to bid.
- The Alert button. If this is pressed, the bid is shown with a red outline in the auction display.
- The Explain box. This is where you type the explanation for your call. Explanations appear in a popup for both opponents, but not your partner.
Whether you press the Alert button seems to be largely irrelevant (as long as you type an explanation), since the explanation is what people normally want to know. Therefore I am describing the action as explaining calls rather than alerting them.
If you cannot get an adequate explanation, you can call the Director who will do his best to help.
Remember that you are describing your agreed system, not telling them what is actually in your hand.
| Suit Symbols |
On BBO, both for explanations and for chat messages if you type !c, !d, !h or !s it will come out as as ♣, ♦, ♥ or ♠ .
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| What should I explain on BBO? |
The regulations for explaining calls on BBO are different from face to face bridge.
On BBO you explain your own calls, not those of your partner.
- All calls which are Alertable or Announceable in face to face bridge (see the EBU Blue Book) should be explained on BBO.
- The Blue Book (section 2A2) also says that if in doubt you should disclose to the opponents anything which may be helpful or may be not what they expect. The same applies on BBO.
- Any bid or pass above 3NT which is artificial or has an unexpected meaning must also be explained (see SkyBlue Book section 1.2.1). Therefore any type of Blackwood should be explained as should the replies.
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| Trust Your Partner |
You must always trust your partner to be correctly explaining their calls.
If your partner transferred to hearts, your response normally does not need an explanation (even though it is not natural, it is understood from his explanation), so you do nothing. If the opponents ask about it, you can add an explanation of "completing the transfer".
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| But I gave my system as "Acol with a weak NT and 3 weak 2s" or "I have uploaded a system card" |
It does not matter. If a call needs an explanation, then it must be explained every time. When playing face to face, for example you announce a Stayman bid every time it is made. Online it is the same - every time.
Your opponents should not have to go looking for the information, tell them each time.
Your opponents may play a different range for their "weak NT" from your system, so it needs to be explained.
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| How do I explain my calls? |
When it is your turn to call, the BBO bidding box appears. You type the explanation in the "Explain" field before you click on the bid. This ensures that the explanation appears at the same time as your bid and the next player cannot call before they know what you call is not natural.
BBO never shows your explanations to your partner, only to your opponents, so it is unlikely that you will give unauthorised information by explaining more than may be necessary.
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| I forgot to enter my explanation! |
If you forgot to enter an explanation or you realise you have mis-typed it (e.g. your 1NT explanation appears as "2-14"), you can click on your own bid in the auction and enter or change the explanation.
When you save it the revised explation is shown to your opponents.
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| I want to know what the opponent's bid means |
If you want to know about an opponent's bid, you click on it. You are entitled to know all about their agreements.
If there was not an explanation, this asks the bidder to enter an explanation.
If there is already an explanation, you can click on the "Explain" button, which asks the bidder for more information.
So, if one of your bids which you have already explained comes back asking for an explanation, then your opponents want more information. Try to add more helpful information.
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| The cards are hidden behind the explanation box. |
To close the explanation box, just click on it, anywhere except the "Explain" button, and it will close.
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| I want to ask a specific question |
If you have a specific question which cannot be asked through the BBO alerting system, you should ask by private chat. NEVER discuss agreements in table chat. You can send chat messages to either of your opponents or to both at once.
If you are asked a question by chat, you should add the required information to the explanation for the call. If it is too long to fit into the "Explain" box, reply by private chat or chat to the opponents, never use table chat.
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