Courtesy goes far at a bridge game.

It’s true at your local face-to-face club game, but it’s just as true when you’re a player entering an online table game anywhere else.

There’s a difference between common courtesy and what might be set as the rules of bridge, but you should always keep basic etiquette in mind first if you want to continue enjoying the game.

What counts as etiquette at online bridge?

Not these things…

Here are 5 sure ways to annoy an online bridge table.

1. Typing In ALL CAPS

Avoiding ALL CAPS when typing in forums, chat windows, or messages is an almost universal law of the internet.

When you’re typing in caps, users assume that you’re SCREAMING AT THEM.

That’s not good manners at a bridge game, even if you can blame a keyboard problem for the mistake. Avoid typing in capital letters, even if your bridge partner has just made the most atrocious move of the decade.

Simply, it’s not polite.

2. Bidding At Random

If you aren’t sure what bidding is yet, there are plenty of platforms where players can go to learn.

The average ongoing game isn’t always the best place to do it – and if you’re clicking on random bids, players will surely see it (and you probably won’t last through a rubber).

Take the time, step back from a live game, and test your game against robots. Random bidding will only annoy the table.

3. Dropping The Connection

Dropped connections are okay – and yes, they’re going to happen by accident. But don’t leave games hanging on a regular basis!

If you develop a reputation as a table deserter, you’ll be last on the list when anyone is looking for an online bridge partner (or for that matter, opponent).

A reliable internet connection is best for any live, online game. It’s no surprise that this is the same when it comes to contract bridge.

4. Sharing Links Where Links Don’t Go

Leave appropriate bridge links for elsewhere. An active bridge game isn’t the best place to post site links – even if they might be relevant to bridge, they’re rarely relevant to the game being played.

Share too many links in the chat section during the game and you could very well be banned.

Would you throw people at your local bridge club with advertising pamphlets while they were playing a game?

It’s kind of the same thing.

Don’t.

Repeated violations becomes spam, and that might get users banned.

5. Trash Talking The Table

Trash talking is okay at certain sports, and even expected at certain types of games – but let’s just say that bridge isn’t one of them.

If you become known as a player who lets their anger out at the rest of the table, it’s just not nice. Repeated violations could also get users hit with a permanent ban from the online game. If you’re a bridge lover (but bad loser), keep your fury controlled at the game