Hello BBO Community,

We are excited to announce that we are preparing to add a new backup server to our production infrastructure. To ensure its reliability, we need your help to test it with “real players” like yourselves before it goes live. Your participation is crucial in making sure everything runs smoothly.

How to Access the Test Server

Use your usual BBO username and password to log in to the test server at this link.

What You’ll See on the Test Server

• The test server contains games similar to those on the “real BBO”.
• Prices might differ from those on the “real BBO”.
• Add your BBO username to the Feedback thread [here] and we’ll credit your account with BB$ to try any game.
• Some features, like the Prime section, are not included in this test.

Suggested Testing Hours

To ensure we have enough players online to start tournaments and matches, please try to log in and play during the following hours:

• Daily Testing Hours: 2 PM – 4 PM and 8 PM – 10 PM (UTC)
• Weekend Testing Blitz: Saturday and Sunday, 10 AM – 12 PM and 6 PM – 8 PM (UTC)

We encourage everyone to join during these times to maximize the number of players and facilitate a smooth testing process. While you’re welcome to explore the server at any time, having more people online simultaneously will make the testing more effective and enjoyable.

What We Need Your Help to Test

1. Start a table and play a few hands.
   • Play a few hands with people, see if all seems ok. Try to claim, undo, redeal.
   • Use robots at your table to see if they start playing (Note: The quality of their play is outside the scope of this test 🙂 ).
2. Play a team match and check if everything looks fine.
3. Play a free tournament. We’ll post some free test tournaments during the testing hours.
4. Play a paid tournament with people (ACBL, Express).
5. Play a pair tournament and register with a robot. Is the robot playing?
6. Play an instant tournament (free/paid).
7. Play a robot tournament from Robot World (Robot Duplicate, Robot Rebate, Robot Reward).
8. For TDs: Create a tournament and see if all works as expected.
9. For teachers: Start a teaching table and do what you normally do — see if it works as expected.
10. Other things you like to do on BBO and we didnt think about 🙂

Daylongs and challenges are less dependent on the BBOserver, but it would help if you try one or two. Just don’t over-focus on them.

How to Give Feedback

A small guide on how to give feedback and post your findings is available in the dedicated BBO Server 2 Feedback thread, in the BBO Forums.

Important Notes

• The BB$ balance on the test server is not your real balance. Spending money on the test server won’t charge your real account.
• Points or prizes won on the test server are not real and won’t be reported to the ACBL or counted in your award rankings (sorry!).
• Scores in games you play won’t be reported in your stats and hand records. Feel free to abandon games and hop around without affecting your real account.

Compensation for Your Effort

As a token of our appreciation, we will credit your real BBO account with BB$ for your participation in the test. Please post your BBO username and details of your testing activities in the Feedback thread here to receive your compensation.

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Lorand (lorserker on BBO) and Diana (diana_eva) will be monitoring the Feedback thread closely and helping organize the tests. We look forward to working with you!

Your feedback is invaluable to us. Thank you for helping us make BBO better!