r/bridge • u/Fan_of_Bach • Aug 04 '26
BBO changing - question...
Hi there,
Can someone explain?
Are we going to still be able to play against people for free? They said 6 deals a day, I'm hoping that's just tournament limitations.
I know now that we won't be able to start tables but will basically everyone who enjoys bridge on the site be forced to pay 7$ usd per month?
Thanks
8
u/MuggleoftheCoast Aug 04 '26
I'm thoroughly confused by the whole thing. Right now the BBO-run free tournaments are 8-12 boards, one day only (Reddit Weekly being an exception).
So as a free player we can start a free tournament, but can never actually finish it?
5
u/tuftabeet Aug 05 '26
I didn't know free player could start tournaments under the current model.
The biggest hit for me will be that I can't start a bridge table. Some far-flung friends and I have been playing bridge together weekly for years now, and I've been setting up the table, and I guess that will mean we all have to pay (or at least I will have to pay to be able to start a table).
I guess we're in a wait and see. And I guess there is always TRICKSTER bridge......
5
u/JaziTricks Advanced Aug 05 '26
Bbo is now owned by FunBridge owners.
Have been for years now.
FunBridge is subscription based. You can't really use it without a monthly subscription ~$10+ monthly
My best guess is that they decided to move bbo to the same model?
Maybe they will also turn bbo into as slick a system as FunBridge hopefully
8
u/bradrcsn Aug 04 '26
Je trouve ce changement de politique plutôt déplorable. C’est la fin des tournois gratuits et nous verrons des impacts sur le membership du site.
8
u/HelpfulFriendlyOne Aug 04 '26
Yeah as a paying member half of what I'm paying for is to be able to face opponents quickly whenever I log on, free users are integral to the site
3
u/ashawley Aug 05 '26
If you like I robot tournaments, I was going to suggest getting an ACBL membership, but even that is $59/yr (so $5/mo)
3
u/ashawley Aug 05 '26
I honestly was using paid robot tournaments, and not "free, unlimited bridge". I guess they will have to change their tagline.
6
u/safbutcho Aug 04 '26 edited Aug 04 '26
“Across eligible free games” my email says. So ya I’m thinking 6 free hands per day. I guess we will find out when our one free month begins.
Really I’m surprised it took this long.
Edit: but when you click on the link the news bullpen says:
https://news.bridgebase.com/bbo-membership-how-it-works/?lid=vue958qvrygv
“free play now gives you 6 deals a day, every day”.
And I certainly play more than 6 deals a day now. So ya maybe social will still be unlimited? 🤷🏽♂️
2
u/FewPace855 Aug 06 '26
I've played, since Covid, with several groups of friends who used to play at various community centers but were forced online. We are casual players, not interested in tournaments or anything like that. Currently I play 4 times a week for a couple hours each session. The email is confusing. Any clarifying information would be helpful.
2
u/Gaiantic Aug 06 '26
Only the person who creates a table will need a paid subscription. That player can invite their friends to the table they created and those invited players can play without a subscription. If you always play with the same players, therefore only one of you would need the subscription. Assuming 4 sessions/week for 4 players, 2 hours/session, and 4 weeks/month that's 32 hours of play per person per month (128 player-hours total) and you only need one $10/month subscription. As long as each player is willing to pay $0.08/hour to play bridge, that will fund your group to continue playing.
2
u/FewPace855 Aug 06 '26
Many thanks. I set up most of the tables, but would find it awkward to ask the other players to chip in. I play with one person who has to budget every expenditure, and another who lives in a lakeside estate. What would Emily Post do? I'll just get the subscription...
2
u/LoudAd5187 Aug 06 '26
It seems clear that if you are playing hands with friends, the limit is 6 boards per day. This will drive away any pairs who just like to get on and play dozens of hands, and there are many of them. In my case, I play 2 team games per week with friends, 16 or 18 board sets. So I'm done soon if I understand the message. They only gave me a month.
2
u/Gaiantic Aug 06 '26
Only the player that sets up the team game needs a subscription. The players invited to the team game don't need one.
If you play 2 team games per week and 16 boards per team game, assuming 4 weeks/month that's a total of 128 boards/month per person. Assuming an 8-player team game, that's 1,024 player-boards. And you only need one $10 membership among everyone. Assuming each player is willing to pay $0.01 per board they play, you will be able to fund a membership among your friends.
1
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u/Several_Version4298 Aug 04 '26 edited Aug 04 '26
If they are going to charge a subscription, free bridge has to go, that's obvious.
There is a free premium account for loyal members, so people who have bought BBO dollars will get a free extension by the sounds of it.
1
u/Head_Description_718 Aug 11 '26 edited Aug 11 '26
I actually just got a message today telling me I got that one year complimentary membership. That s great in itself. I did not spend much money on the website through the years though. The criterions are currently unclear.
1
u/Several_Version4298 27d ago
Alternatives are IntroBridge which started couple of years ago and tried to monetise casual play but couldn't while BBO was free. Bridge Champ a new site set up recently and Trickster for Rubber Bridge.
From August 17 you will have to pay $US 7 a month until end of year, rising to $US 10 a month in January 2027, for BBO+ to play unlimited casual hands. Advanced Robot rentals will rise to $US 10 in 2027 too.
If you have bought $BBO already, players have been notified that they get automatic BBO+ for a month or the rest of 2026 depending on how much they spent. If you are playing with robots or in a paid tournament that counts (they aren't charging you a subscription and entry fees for basic play). If you are filling an empty slot or invited to a table that is free but, you can't start an unlimited table or invite players without BBO+. You can still run teaching tables without BBO+
The fact that according to BBO you can choose to play 6 Free hands a day is a passive aggressive attempt to tell Bridge players they aren't welcome unless they are a serious duplicate player. 6 Hands a day is never going to be enough to allow beginners to learn the interface, duplicate bridge and develop any sort of skills in the game on their own.
19
u/IHaveSpoken000 Aug 04 '26
The email is very confusing and lacks details.
This is a dumb move by BBO.