automatic alerts

shugart24, on 2025-June-29, 07:04, said:

Is there a way for BBO to show descriptions /alerts automatically? eg I open 1C and it lets opponents now artificial 16+ HCP so I don't keep having to type it in each time. Can someone give me instructions ?

If you are using Chrome or another Chromium based browser just install the BBOalert extension :
https://chromewebsto...lkeemegdhehnlcf
For Firefox :
https://addons.mozil...addon/bboalert/

From this moment all explanations will be recorded by the program and if in the future the same bidding sequence occurs, the recorded explanation will be automatically retrieved. As simple as that.

Your 1NT opening is seat/vulnerability dependent which requires some simple coding. If you wish, I can help you setting up the initial data : stanmaz.git@gmail.com

shugart24, on 2025-June-29, 07:04, said:

I have submitted your question to GeminiAI. The answer :

You're hitting on a common frustration for BBO players, especially those playing more artificial or complex systems! While BBO's built-in alert system requires you to manually type in explanations each time, there are third-party tools that can automate this for you.

BBOalert (Recommended for Automatic Alerts)

The most popular and effective solution for automatic alerts on BBO is an browser extension called BBOalert by Stan Mazur. It works with both Firefox and Chrome (and Edge, which is Chrome-based).

How BBOalert Works:

Pre-defined Bidding Sequences: You create a text file (or use one provided) where you define bidding sequences and their corresponding alert explanations.

Automatic Filling: When you make a bid that is defined in your BBOalert file, the alert box on BBO is automatically filled with the correct explanation. You still need to click "OK" to send the alert, but it saves you a lot of typing.

Learning Feature: BBOalert can also learn from your manual alerts. If you type an explanation for a bid, it can record it for future use, making it even more efficient over time.

Customization: You can define keyboard shortcuts for common phrases or even for pre-alerts (messages sent to opponents before the hand starts to explain unusual system agreements).

Instructions for Setting up BBOalert:

Install the Extension:

For Chrome: Go to the Chrome Web Store and search for "BBOalert" or use this direct link: https://chromewebsto...lkeemegdhehnlcf

For Firefox: Go to the Firefox Add-ons page and search for "BBOalert" or use this direct link: https://addons.mozil...addon/bboalert/

Click "Add to Chrome" or "Add to Firefox" and confirm the installation.

Access BBOalert Settings:

Once installed, when you go to Bridge Base Online, you should see a new "BBOalert" tab or button on the right side of the screen. Click on it to open the BBOalert panel.

Import or Create Your Data File:

BBOalert uses a specific text file format to store your bidding definitions.

Start with a sample file: You might be able to find sample BBOalert files for common conventions (like SAYC or 2/1 GF) online or on the BBOalert GitHub page.

Create your own: The "Data" panel in BBOalert allows you to import and export data. You'll need to define your bids in a specific format. A simple example for your 1C opening might look something like this:

- 1C,artificial 16+ HCP,Strong Club,artificial,16+ HCP
(The format is context,call,explanation,keywords_for_learning)

context: This refers to the bidding sequence leading up to the bid. For an opening bid, it's often left blank or represented by a hyphen.

call: The bid you're defining (e.g., 1C).

explanation: The text you want to appear in the alert box (e.g., artificial 16+ HCP).

keywords_for_learning: Optional keywords that help BBOalert learn and suggest explanations.

Using BBO's Teaching Table to Generate Data: A clever way to populate your BBOalert file is to use BBO's "Teaching Table" feature. You can simulate bidding sequences and manually type the alerts, and BBOalert can then record these for future use.

Enable Features and Settings:

Within the BBOalert panel, explore the "Settings" and "Options" tabs. You can enable/disable features like "Deferred alerts" (automatic alert explanation only on demand by opponents) or "Automatic prealert."

It's generally recommended to enable "Confirm Bids" in your BBO Account settings (Account -> Settings -> Confirm Bids). This gives you a chance to review the automatically generated alert text before it's sent to your opponents.

Important Considerations:

Both Partners Need It: For automatic alerts to work for both you and your partner, both players need to have BBOalert installed and loaded with their respective convention card data. If only one person has it, only their bids will be automatically alerted.

Accuracy is Key: Ensure your BBOalert file accurately reflects your partnership's agreements. Incorrect alerts can lead to misunderstandings and director rulings.

Convention Card as Reference: Even with automatic alerts, it's still crucial to have a clear and comprehensive convention card for your partnership. Opponents may still refer to your convention card for more detailed information.

Manual Override: Even with BBOalert, you can always manually edit the alert text before sending it if you need to provide a more specific explanation for a particular situation.

By using BBOalert, you'll significantly streamline your alerting process on BBO, allowing you to focus more on the game and less on repetitive typing!

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