At FOBC we try to avoid having a long list of rules and regulations for our members to memorise. The club preference is to simply offer guidance & advice, then allow its members, guests and visitors alike, to apply the, common sense approach.

So we start with a simple message for all players to note, and that is - The 'F' in FOBC stands for Friendly. This is how the club expects everybody to conduct themselves at all times. 

It is worth noting that one of the main strengths of FOBC is in encouraging our beginners and our less experienced players to play the game. Therefore it is not unreasonable to expect a high standard of behavior from our most experienced players,so be kind, considerate & polite at all times to your opposition and your partner and you too will be setting the right example.

Please complete your BBO profile correctly, as players do read them. In the virtual world this is all we see, it represents you and it creates that vital 1st impression. Give your real name, location & skill standard, together with your outline preferred basic system/conventions. If unsure for starters, then at the very least, please include your real first name, there are far too many Mickey Mouse players already on BBO!! 

Before we go into our playing guidelines, FOBC respectfully asks every player to, NEVER VOLUNTEER ANY UN-REQUESTED ASSISTANCE or teaching, openly at the table. Wait to be asked. If you really insist that somebody would benefit from your advice, ask them first, (via private chat) if they would like your help before you start typing!!! But be careful and remember, they can neither hear nor see you, and the 'written word' can often be taken in a different context to the manner in which it was given or intended.

BBO, and the EBU now, do give a very good and precise outline of what is expected from all players at the online table. Please take time at some stage to look it up for yourselves.

Below are some simple guidance and advice that the FOBC Team have put together to help players enjoy their duplicate events:

1. Always welcome and greet your opponents at the start of every round in a similar manner as to how you would in a normal F2F game.
2. Then, without going into, over complicated jargon, give an accurate and concise overview of your partnership system/conventions, the leads you make and your carding methods
3. If you and your playing partner have completed a BBO convention card, inform your opponents, but still remember to give an overvierw
4. Always remember to 'self alert' and be as helpful as possible with your description and answer to questions
5. With regard to 'undo's' FOBC are aware that, jerky track pads, fat fingers, temperamental mouse and the cat jumped on my lap chasing the mouse!!! do unfortunately occur causing the occasional mistake. Sometimes these mistakes are obvious, sometimes they are not. Therefore TD's have been asked to allow the 'undo feature' in all FOBC events. 
6. If you are one of those players who prefers not to accept your opponentes undo's, then YOU MUST ANNOUNCE THIS AT THE START OF EVERY ROUND, if not and the TD is called, he will rule that it be allowed. For those who do declare that this is their intention, do not be surprised or offended therefore when an opponent rejects a request for an undo from you or your partner now, especially after an innocent and obvious 'misclick' on your part!!
7. FOBC encourages all players to understand & use all the different 'chat functions' that are available, but be careful when using 'lobby, tournament & table chats' particularily when it was intended as a 'private chat' message for your partner!!
8. By all means use the 'table chat function' during play where appropriate, but do avoid any idle chit-chat or partnership discussions. This can be very off putting ad annoying for your opponents. Wait until the last board of the round is complete, whereby 'private chat' automatically returns and you can discuss together without the opponents knowledge. This is the moment to explain to partner about that incorrect bid or inexcusable play which resulted in a poor score
9. As always, if you do have any query, question or need a ruling - ASK THE TD - that is why we have them.

How will we cope with the speed of play?

1. Each board we play is timed and initially FOBC will be allowing 8 minutes per board. We know from experience that this is ample for the vast majority of players on BBO. Then as we all become familiar with the format, this will eventually be reduced to 7 minutes per board
2. If all hands are completed by all tables prior to the alloted time per round, the programme has built in facility to make an automatic 'move for the next round
3. If on the other hand, a table is a few tricks behind in completing the round, our TD will notice this and will add on the odd minute or two
4. Please learn how to use the 'claim function' it is a great time saver 
5. If you do run out of time to complete a hand, do not worry, the system does cater for this eventually and will award an averages or appropriate hand result
6. With regard 'loss of connection' again the TD will notice and can make any necessary adjustment. Finding temporary or pemanent replacements is not an issue either, and when partner eventually regains connectivity the TD can reinstste them at the end of the hand

What about cheating? - The following is an extraction from the BBO site on this subject:

Thinking about cheating?

We consider cheating in any form a serious offense to all other members and will take stern action against confirmed cheaters. This includes barring of the member from future games on BBO, forfeit of any BB$/MB$ left in account and any masterpoints won, reporting the offender to relevant National Bridge Organizations (NBOs) and more.

What do you really gain by cheating? A few more IMPs or masterpoints? Do everyone a favor and play ethically.

The FOBC advise is:

1. If you are thinking of cheating or even just slightly bending the rules, our advice is, think again and again then..... DON'T DO IT!!
2. The EBU have now formed an 'Online Ethics and Investigation Group' and have suggested that any individual or partnership thought to be acting suspicsiously, has to be reported and investigated. So again we suggest DON'T DO IT
3. If indeed any player(s) are found gulity of cheating in any of the FOBC events, then without appeal the club will insist on a lifetime ban, so once again we reitereate....DONT DO IT

Finally - FOBC would like all players to enjoy the game; make it enjoyable for your partner; and make it enjoyable for your opponents......is that not the reason why we all took up the game initially????