Click on https://www.bridgebase.com/v3/ to go to BBO in your computer's favourite browser OR download and open the Bridge Base Online app for your smartphone/tablet
Click on the Become a member (free) button at the bottom of the screen and fill out the form - I suggest you use a username that will allow your PBC friends to easily identify you (unlike what I did) and complete the rest but don't enter any ACBL number - and then click the Register button to the right of the Terms and Conditions checkbox - and then look for the email from BBO and confirm your registration (and that your email address was accurate)
There are many great options on the main menu that you see after you login - check this BBO Help item.
I suggest that from the BBO Home / main menu, you click on Solitaire | Just Play Bridge (free) for a good place to start if you are exploring by yourself - here you will always be playing against 3 robots - this is a good way to get accustomed to the BBO layout and buttons.
Alternately if you want a learning challenge you might try Solitaire | Bridge Master - these 500 declarer play problems are graded, and assume IMPs or teams scoring where making your contract is far more important than overtricks. If you find a problem too hard there is a Show Solution option that walks you through, step by step, the way to bring the contract home.
How to plan to play socially on BBO with your PBC friends:
Go to the PBC Online Usernames list to check the PBC players who have shared theirs - you might want to bookmark this link so you can refer to the list as it grows. If your PBC friends have not yet registered there, give them a call and ask them to register their online bridge usernames.
You simply need to arrange a time with your friends to play.
Note - one of the four players needs to volunteer to host the table - this means setting the table up five minutes before the starting time and reserving the positions for each of the four booked players - see the How to host a BBO table instructions below.
Be on time so you can click Join when invited to join the table.
Have your mobile handy when you play to help contact with the host or other players should there be a technical issue.
How to host a BBO table for your PBC friends (only if you have volunteered for this role!):
From the BBO Home/main menu go to Casual | Find your own game | Start a table
Choose the Scoring type in the top left dropdown and select Matchpoints if you want the %s you might be used to
Toggle on the Invisible setting - this means only those who you reserve seats for will be able to see it - so you won't be asked by strangers to join or kibitz (ie spectate) the table
Click on the Start Table - Relaxed Game to bring up an empty table
Reserve the four different table directions for the players you have arranged to play with by clicking on each of the positions and entering the usernames (be accurate!)
Wait for the players to accept their invitations and arrive at the table - when all the seats are taken the deal will automatically begin - chat to the table while waiting and use BBO chat or phone if you need to follow up on a late player (Note - if they miss accepting the invitation you will need to clear their position and re-reserve it for them - sending out another invitation.)
As the host you also have some extra functionality during the game such as re-reserving a position for a player if they get disconnected.
If this seems intimidating then remember only one of the four players needs to be comfortable hosting the table - bit like using the BridgeMate in face-to-face bridge!
It is against BBO rules to leave the table in the middle of bidding or play, except due to connection issues, or to communicate privately with your partner by any means.
There is a text chat space at the bottom of the playing area - note that the blue button at the left of the message field can be toggled to switch from messaging to the table, to kibitzers, or to an individual player. Avoid messaging the Lobby unless you really want to do this. Some people say hello to the table when they arrive. Among PBC players this could be used for all sorts of chat.
Artificial or conventional bids are shaded an olive yellow colour and when you click on the bid the meaning is displayed.
When you make an artificial bid, you (not your partner) should click on the Alert button as part of making the bid and type in a brief explanation - this is visible to your opponents but not your partner.
Unlike a face to face movement you do not, as East-West, normally change tables, but play with the same North-South pair for the entire game - you are playing boards played by 15 other tables so there is no need to change tables. Of course this makes it even better to get together as a group of four friends on the same table.
You can claim or concede by clicking on the Claim button at the bottom of the screen when it is your turn - you will be asked how many tricks you are claiming or conceding - and then the opponents will be able to see all the remaining cards and choose whether to accept the claim or not. If they reject the claim you need to continue play - but can claim again if it becomes more obvious.
If you are concerned with accuracy you need to wait after you finish your last board for your match score to stabilise (capturing the impact of other tables still playing the boards you played) - as an example I finished one 21 board matchpoint event down 45% to 55%, two minutes later it was 44.6% to 55.4%, but ten minutes after we finished playing it was 46.1% to 53.9% (with only minor movements after that).
You can see your traveller type results/history in the History tab (on the right or bottom edge of your screen) - this will either show the boards you have played in your current match or the last 50 boards you have played on BBO with the latest at the top. When looking at a board you can use the Other Tables option to check how the board was bid and played elsewhere and the Next Trick option to replay the hand trick by trick. Using the "hamburger" menu (three short horizontal lines) above the History's hand diagram you can choose to show the double dummy analysis (the number of tricks that can be made by playing each card!
