To all members of Grange Bridge Club
Many members are participating on line in GBC competitions and really enjoying the experience. The committee is aware however that there are many who have not taken up the option. In some cases it may very well be a lack of knowledge on how to join up and participate. The committee would love to see as many as possible participating especially during the current lockdown period. On this basis, Niall Barry and I have documented how to get involved. The procedures below might look complex but in fact are very straight forward and you should be able to register and login relatively easily. A number of short videos explaining various ways of using Bridge Base Online (BBO), including initial registration, are available at https://berwickbridgeclub.co.uk/bbo
1.Using your computer or laptop
Click into a browser that you normally use on your computer, for example Google Chrome, Microsoft Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Safari etc. In the search box at the top of the page, type in the website name bridgebase.com and click return on this. The BridegBase website will come up on your screen
Click on Login/Register at the top right hand side of the screen.
Click Become a member (free!) and you will see the Registration screen.
Where it says User name enter a name that you want to be known by (the word Required will change to Searching as you type your username as BBO check to see if the name you are entering is not in use – if it is, you can try adding a couple of numbers at the end until Searching changes to Available). Next make up a Password (that you will be able to remember), enter it and then confirm it. Next give BBO an email address (so it can send a confirming message to you). We recommend that you put in at least your firstname on the Real Name line. You can ignore the ACBL Number. Then click on what you think your skill level is and country you live in. Then tick “I agree to the Terms of Service”. Then click Register.
The log in screen will appear (you can save this as a ‘shortcut’ if you wish). Enter your username and password and you are in, and free to play.
When you log out and want to play again, type in bridgebase.com again on your browser. Click Register/login. Enter your username and password and you are up and running again.
2.Using your mobile phone or iPad
We recommend that, if you have an iPad, you should follow the previous instructions with Safari.
If you’re using an iPhone, click on App Store
Click on search (bottom right)
Enter BBO (all capitals) in the search box and click search.
Various applications will come up on your screen. Choose the one that looks like 
To download the application to your device, click get, click install, enter your Apple sign-in password and then click open. The application will download to your device.
If you’re using an Android (Samsung, etc.) phone, you can find an Android version in the Play Store.
Open the app when downloaded by clicking on the icon and follow the register instructions as above in 1. from become a member free.
You are up and running and ready to play.
3. Playing
After you log in, you see the BBO ‘Home Screen’
A To play casual bridge by yourself, click Solitaire. On next page click Just Play Bridge (free). Your hand will come up and a bidding box. On your turn, say you want to bid 1 spade, click 1. The 4 suits and NT will then appear. Click spades and just continue the bidding against your opponents. After 3 passes the game will automatically start and you play in the normal manner. When the game finishes, click on the yellow box in the middle of the screen to begin the next game.
B To practice, click Practice. Click on Bridge Master on second page. Click on the level you want to practice at, for example, Intermediate. Click on a deal ( RHS). The hand will come up automatically. Play the hand. If you fail to make your contract and want to find out what you should have done, click on Show solution. Then click on Next deal to continue your practice.
C To be invited to play casual bridge by another pair :-
1.Give your username and the username of your partner to one of the players of the pair you wish to play against, i.e. the player who is setting up the game.
2Log in at the appointed time for the game
3.On the home screen, click Casual (important)
4. Wait until you receive on your screen an automatic invitation from the other partnership. Click yes to the invitation. Your partner will receive the same invitation and also has to click yes to the invitation. Once this is done the game will start automatically. Following the steps re bidding and playing is straight-forward and will come naturally after playing one or two games.
D. To be the instigator/controller and invite a partner and another pair to play casual bridge:-
1.Ensure you have the usernames of all 4 players.
2.Click Casual on the Home screen
3.On the next screen, under the heading Find your own game, click Start a table
4. Under privacy options, ensure you click on Permission required to play (this causes ‘locks’ to appear and stops strangers clicking in to your game).
5. Click on Start Table – Relaxed Game - at bottom of page
6. Click on South – Sit! and click Sit - your username will appear in the South seat.
7. Click North. Enter North’s username and click OK
8. Click East. Enter East’s username and click OK
9. Click West. Enter West’s username and click OK
10. Automatic invitations will be sent to North, East and West. Once these 3 players have clicked yes to the invitation, the game will start automatically and the playing procedure will be obvious.
However, do ask questions of more experienced playing partners with regard to the use of various icons such as the chat icon etc.
E. To participate in a Grange Bridge Competition
1. Send your BBO username to Niall Barry at niall@ailfionn.ie (or send him a text/WhatsApp message) to say that you wish to play in competitions – Niall will confirm when he has added you to the club list.
2. Playing in Grange bridge competitions currently costs 1 BB$ so you have to have money in your BBO account.
This can be done in 2 ways:-
- On your computer or laptop, using a web browser such as Chrome, Safari, Edge.
- On your Apple iPad or iPhone using the BBO application. Android devices can also be used with the BBO application.
It is cheaper to buy BB$ on your computer/laptop because Apple and Google charge commission on purchases from apps.
To purchase using a browser, log in to BBO. On the Home Screen at the top on the RHS there is a small icon in blue named BB$.
Click on this. Click on Purchase BB$ in the new BB$ window that pops up on LHS of screen. You can then go ahead and buy 10 or more BB$ using your credit card or PayPal.
To purchase on an Apple or Android device, log in to BBO. Click Shop at bottom RHS of page. Click to purchase 10 BB$ and follow the routine of entering your bank card details etc.
When the transaction is completed, credit will show up in your account (and will briefly appear when you log in). This will be debited every time you play in a competition.
3. Identify the Grange Bridge Club member you wish to play with
4. Playing in a competition is a two stage process – you have to register with the partner you’re playing with and then you have to be logged-in before the competition starts.
a)Registering to play in a tournament – tournaments are available for registration from 2 hours before they are due to begin and both you and your partner must be logged-in at time of registration.
Click on Virtual Clubs (under the Featured Areas section on the Home screen), then click on Other clubs – other countries. A list of ‘Pending’ tournaments will then be loaded and the Grange one will say CBAI125475 (the organiser) and something like ‘Pairs GrangeGC’, which is the bit you click on. The next screen you will see is the ‘Lobby’ where you can register
You can decide whether to pay for your partner or not and then press the Invite button. An invitation will then go to your partner who must accept it. BBO will then tell you that you are registered (and, if you click on Entries, you will be able to see this). You don’t have to stay logged in unless the tournament is due to start.
b) Playing – you should log in at least 5 minutes before the tournament is due to start and your partner must also be logged in. Do not click on Casual when you log in. If you are not both logged in and/or the ‘payers’ don’t have enough BB$ to cover the entry fee, you will not be allowed to play. You will automatically be taken into the tournament when it starts.
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