Steps to Set Up a Team Match

Step 3: From the BBO home screen, click on 'Team Matches' (listed under the 'Play or Watch Bridge' group). 

Step 4:  Click on 'Create Team Match' button

Step 5:  You will see the 'Create Team Match' dialog box with three tabs (Identification, Options, and Reserve seats). You need to fill these in with the appropriate values.

DO NOT CLICK the 'Create Team Match' button until you have finished all the remaining steps. If you click it prematurely, the match will be created incorrectly, and you may find it difficult to correct without destroying the match (see Step 18) and creating a new one.

Step 6:  Click on the 'Identification' Tab

Fill in Details (Identification Tab):

o   Title: GBL<date (mmdd)> P1 or P2 <Team1> vs <Team2>

(e.g., GBL 0218P1 ATLANTA+ vs THE BRIDGE)

o   Description: +private+ +slow+

o   Team 1 & Team 2: Names of the two playing teams.

Step 7:  Click on the 'Options' Tab

Fill in Details (Options Tab):

• Scoring: Select IMPs

• Boards: 6 boards (8 for Play-off games)

• Deal Source: Random deals

• Options:

1.     Allow kibitzers

2.     Not Allowed: Kibitzers to chat

3.     Not Allowed: Undos

4.     Not Allowed: Voice

5.     Barometer Scoring: OFF

Step 8:  Click on 'Reserve seats' Tab

Ensure all players are logged in; they should appear in your 'People' list as online (green). Type the BBO IDs into the corresponding boxes according to the pairings provided by the teams. The top four boxes are for Team 1 and the bottom four are for Team 2, respectively, as listed in the 'Identification' tab.

Step 9:  Final Check

Double-check all three tabs (Identification, Options, and Reserve seats) again for accuracy. Finally, click on 'Create Team Match' to finalize the setup.

Step 10:  Sending Invitations

•  After you click 'Create Team Match,' all other players will receive an invitation, and every one of them must click 'Accept.'

•  Sometimes, a player may accidentally click 'Refuse' instead of 'Accept,' or they may be away from their computer, causing the invitation to time out as a refusal. In these cases, you will see a yellow notification stating, 'Player [username] has refused the invitation.' Simply click the 'Create Team Match' button again to resend the invites. Repeat this process until all eight players have accepted.

• Players must not be active in another game on BBO while the match is being set up. If any player is busy in another game, BBO will be unable to send invitations to them.

• Once everyone accepts, you will see a yellow notification saying: 'All players have accepted; the Team Match is starting.'

Step 11:  Get Ready for Part 2 (P2)

• Your first six boards will start (for Playoff games, it will be eight boards).

• If you are using a laptop or computer, keep the 'Create Team Match' dialog box open. This allows you to easily set up the second round (the next 6 or 8 boards) by switching partners.

• If you are using a mobile phone, the 'Create Team Match' dialog may be in your way, and you might need to close it. In that case, you will have to repeat all the steps to create the second round (Part 2).

Step12: Now you need to modify the Identification, Options, and Reserve seats for Part 2. You do not need to worry about sending the results, because TD (Vashkar) can easily retrieve them from the BBO hand records.

Step13: Identification for Part 2

• Change the Title by replacing 'P1' with 'P2'.

(e.g., GBL 0218P2 ATLANTA+ v THE BRIDGE)

• Description: +private+ +slow+

• Team 1 & Team 2: Names of the two playing teams.

Step14: Options for Part 2

Fill in Details (Options Tab):

• Scoring: Select IMPs

• Boards: 6 boards (8 for Play-off games)

• Deal Source: Random deals

• Options:

1.     Allow kibitzers

2.     Not Allowed: Kibitzers to chat

3.     Not Allowed: Undos

4.     Not Allowed: Voice

5.     Barometer Scoring: OFF

Step15: Reserve seats for Part 2 (Switch Pairs)

• If you closed the dialog box previously, you would need to re-type all the BBO IDs, ensuring you swap the opponent's or your own team's positions.

• If the dialog box is still open, simply pick one team (NOT both) and swap the positions of those two players. The previous N/S pair will now sit E/W, and vice versa.

Step 16:  Final Check for Part 2

• Double-check all three tabs (Identification, Options, and Reserve seats) once more for accuracy.

• Make sure the pair switching is done correctly (switching only for one team).

• Ensure that all eight players are still logged in.

• Click the 'Create Team Match' button.

Step 17:  Send Invitations for Part 2

After you click the 'Create Team Match' button, all other players will receive invitations, and everyone needs to click 'Accept.' If someone accidentally clicks 'Refuse,' you will receive a yellow notification; simply click 'Create Team Match' again to resend the invitations. 

Step 18: Steps to Cancel a Team Match
(If necessary to correct mistakes that cannot be fixed without recreating the match)

• Locate the Director Tab: This tab only appears for the host and is typically found on the right-hand side menu, below 'People,' 'History,' and 'Account.'

• Select the Match: In the Director tab, look under 'Running Tournaments' (or 'Pending' if it hasn't started yet) and click on your match entry.

• Open the Menu: From the drop-down menu, select 'Destroy Tournament.'

• Confirm the Action: A pop-up box will appear asking for confirmation.

Step 19: How to add another TD

Once you have set up a team match, a Director tab will appear at the bottom right of your screen. When you select it, you will see the match you just created. Click on the match, and then select 'Edit Team Match.'

An 'Edit Team Match' dialog box will appear. You will see yourself listed as the director. Click on the '+' sign and add Vashkar (BBO ID: vashkar) as an additional TD (he is usually available); this allows him to join your table if necessary. You can also change other permitted settings at this time. Finally, click 'Modify' to save your changes. It is always a good idea to have a backup TD, so feel free to add other setup volunteers if Vashkar is unavailable.

Congratulations! You are now an expert Setup Volunteer!