There are some key differences in online play of which players should be aware:

• The GCBA Regulations on UNDOs apply in bidding and in play, and are (EBU and others allow fewer cases): 
  • Please only request an UNDO for a genuine mis-click and not for a change of mind or because you were not paying attention.
  • Be generous in trusting your opponents to be honest and accept as often as you can. Call the TD if you have any difficulty accepting.
• THE GCBA and EBU Regulation on Convention Cards & Notes:
  • You are allowed, during an online game, to consult your own CC or notes during the bidding.

There are some key differences in online play of which players should be aware:

• The GCBA Regulations on UNDOs apply in bidding and in play, and are (EBU and others allow fewer cases): 
  • Please only request an UNDO for a genuine mis-click and not for a change of mind or because you were not paying attention.
  • Be generous in trusting your opponents to be honest and accept as often as you can. ..........

This is a great way to keep your brain active, and to keep in touch with your friends. There are three primary options available, and these are well described on the EBU pages - Click here to read.  

The key attributes of the options are

>>    BRIDGEBASEONLINE (BBO) : there are tens of thousands playing BBO each day, and the first EBU games on 17th March had 26 tables and 21 tables and ran smoothly. The cost is $2 per 12 boards which is good value and EBU Masterpoints are assigned.  There is a great variety of bridge on BBO, but in the EBU competitions (NEW fast game at 1200, 1400, 1530, 1930 and 2100 hrs daily) the majority are playing Acol and are regular players at clubs in England.  You can turn up as a pair, and singletons can visit the partnership desk or play with a robot. Details on how to play an EBU game are HERE. There is lots of guidance on using BBO available from the EBU - Click here - and at the Berwick Bridge Club - Click here to view.  If ever you have to upload prepared hands to BBO for play - here's how.

>>    BRIDGE CLUB LIVE : you will need a BCL login but there is a free guest facility and a more complete service available for an annual fee. There are very attractive special offers at this moment - read here.  BCL is a friendly club and is based in England, so system familairy will be high. There is also the facility for Bridge Clubs to run their own sections within BCL, and this might be attractive to allow a club's players to keep in touch with each other.

>>   REALBRIDGE : offers you an audio/video interface to a Duplicate Bridge game (and to a casual room too) which has been set up by a bridge organisation.  It is a little demanding of your system/bandwidth but offers a much improved experience over other sysetms.

>>    FUNBRIDGE : offers great facilities for playing bridge with robots, and you get an initial allocation of hands when you sign up, but have to pay a small amount per hundred hands thereafter. Robots are sometimes more predictable than humans, but sometimes less so; they bid and play fast.

There are apps available for BBO and FUNBRIDGE on mobile devices, and BCL is also available on phones through a browser.

Provided you are not playing competitively, the pleasure of online bridge can be serious enhanced by running alongside a video conference of the style supported by Zoom or Skype or Google Hangouts. Do try it.

If you have useful advice or experiences to relate, please email to online@gcba.org.uk and we can share this.

This is a great way to keep your brain active, and to keep in touch with your friends. There are three primary options available, and these are well described on the EBU pages - Click here to read.  

The key attributes of the options are

>>    BRIDGEBASEONLINE (BBO) : there are tens of thousands playing BBO each day, and the first EBU games on 17th March had 26 tables and 21 tables and ran smoothly. ..........