Rules are important in the tabletop world.

In fact, I would go as far as to say that rules are part of what keeps tabletop players sane and ensures that friendships are in-tact by the end of board game night.

Every player should have at least a handful of books, handbooks, or apps that relate to the rules of what is being played.

When someone has a question (or just isn’t sure what the rules say), it’s there to check – and you can reassure everyone that the move is, in fact, legal or not.

But what about the things that are against the rules of Bridge Base Online?

Online bridge should be fair and fun for everyone at the table.

Here’s a look at some of the things that break the rules at BBO. Report it when you see it, and make sure that you aren’t the player crossing the line!

1. Creating simultaneous user accounts on Bridge Base Online.

Creating multiple user accounts on the same network is referred to in the online world as sockpuppeting.

Within online tabletop and card games, sockpuppeting can be used to cheat by kibitzing a game that you are actively involved in for a full view of the hands. Sometimes, sockpuppeting is also applied to harass or stalk other players once a primary account has been banned.

It’s completely against the rules (and depending on what’s done with it, might also be a legal issue at the same time).

2. Insulting another BBO user, whether opponent or bridge partner.

If you’re angry at another player or your bridge partner, find a practical way to vent – or invest your time in an angrier type of hobby, like shotgun target practice. Don’t let your anger out at the table (and especially not through the message function).

Insults aren’t okay, and BBO believes in fair and friendly competition at all times.

If you would really like to tell another bridge player to fly a kite, don’t use the best bridge platform in the world to do it. Send them a postcard instead.

3. Spam messages sent via BBO.

Spam is any message sent for advertising purposes, sales, or malware.

While it might seem obvious to most people, Bridge Base isn’t the place to send your spam.

Repetitive reports about spam messages can (and will) result in an account ban – and it’s encouraged that you click the report button for any obvious spam you’ve spotted.

Do you suspect a replication virus that automatically sends messages? It’s ALSO possible – and if it happens to your account when you didn’t send the spam yourself, run a virus-checker and speak to a BBO administrator for help.

4. Kibitzing any bridge game you’re involved in.

Kibitzing yourself is against the general rules of bridge – and it’s as bad at cheating at chess, the stock market, or on your partner. Argue if you like, but cheating does bridge a lot of harm every time it happens.

If you use BBO to cheat (or look the other way when you know that someone else has), you’re part of the problem instead of the game.

Don’t cheat bridge, and don’t ever cheat bridge on BBO. You will be caught out.

5. Foul language in the BBO chat window.

Everyone lets a colourful term or curse word slip from time to time, but when you can help it, tone down your language for the international bridge platform.

Foul language gets flagged by the BBO system automatically. Usually, it gets erased for the benefit of the players who read the comment. Too many reports about the same thing, and you might get an account ban for it.

Users have tried to come up with creative ways to fool the foul-language-filter from time to time, including running their spicy insults through a translator (or misspelling them) and hoping they’ll get past the filter.

Don’t.

6. Bots (other than GIB).

GIB is one of the world’s best bridge-playing bots, and its natural home is Bridge Base Online.

It’s also the only bot that’s allowed to be used.

If you are using any background bots to illegally improve your bridge game, it’s just another way to try and cheat. 

The use of calculating bots in the background almost ruined the game of online backgammon on a competitive level – and it would be a shame to see it happen to the world of bridge.