[FrancesHinden]

I've just received an email telling me about the new membership model.
I only use BBO for (i) watching vugraph and (ii) playing 'official' team matches i.e. in events run by the EBU or my county

I can see I cannot set up a team match unless I pay $6.99 per month (which I am not going to do)
But can I not play in team matches either apart from the first 6 deals?
Can I watch vugraph?

[kthorpe]

You beat me to the same questions!

Katie Thorpe (kthorpe)

[fmjssy]

FrancesHinden, on 2026-August-04, 11:05, said:

I've just received an email telling me about the new membership model.
I only use BBO for (i) watching vugraph and (ii) playing 'official' team matches i.e. in events run by the EBU or my county

I can see I cannot set up a team match unless I pay $6.99 per month (which I am not going to do)
But can I not play in team matches either apart from the first 6 deals?
Can I watch vugraph?

Good questions, Frances. Watching vugraph stays completely free, no membership needed, that's not changing. If you're invited into a team match rather than setting it up yourself, that's also free and doesn't touch your daily deals. Setting up and organizing a match yourself will need a Premium membership. If you host often and would rather not track the balance, Premium removes that cost by making play unlimited: US$5.99/month for your first year, then US$9.99.

[WBCsnap170]

My county organisation in the UK use BBO for their league matches. So as I read it only Premium members can set up a team of 4 match, but do the players still get a free game? There is a lack of detail in the email received. So much to find out before the start of season in only a few weeks.
Also ,some players have been offered free Premium membership for been regular users. Wonder what the criteria is for that? I would welcome advice from anyone who knows the details. Meanwhile a few busy days ahead for me. Not welcome

[WBCsnap170]

Also,in the UK my own account and the club account were quoted $5.99 for Premium membership,Where are those Of you quoting $6.99?

[DaveRolyat]

The email was aimed at casual players - it's totally unclear, and obviously not thought through, for any tournament or league play

[Vampyr]

WBCsnap170, on 2026-August-05, 00:41, said:

My county organisation in the UK use BBO for their league matches. So as I read it only Premium members can set up a team of 4 match, but do the players still get a free game? There is a lack of detail in the email received. So much to find out before the start of season in only a few weeks.
Also ,some players have been offered free Premium membership for been regular users. Wonder what the criteria is for that? I would welcome advice from anyone who knows the details. Meanwhile a few busy days ahead for me. Not welcome

Probably set up a new account, where everyone involved can chip in. Then this new account can set up matches, and if it is a requirement to play, one player could assume that username.

[pescetom]

fmjssy, on 2026-August-04, 21:05, said:

Good questions, Frances. Watching vugraph stays completely free, no membership needed, that's not changing. If you're invited into a team match rather than setting it up yourself, that's also free and doesn't touch your daily deals. Setting up and organizing a match yourself will need a Premium membership. If you host often and would rather not track the balance, Premium removes that cost by making play unlimited: US$5.99/month for your first year, then US$9.99.

I'm not sure why you are smiling, unless it is apologetically ironic.
Nor why you feel bridge players (notoriously bright) should be conned $5.99 next year $9.99 rather than a straight $10.
I do think you have a right to charge for anything, including being invited into a team match or viewing vugraph or teaching or simulating number or tricks (which you suppressed on cost grounds even without giving us the choice to pay).
The "free platform" mask dropped many years ago, even if the software has not improved much since.
But please be more rational and honest.

[DaveRolyat]

Seems if you've spent around $100 a year on BBO in the past, you get this free, according to two players in know that have been offered it.
So they just carry on paying for the games they play.

If you haven't, then you pay the subscription - but you then also have to pay extra to play the same game as them.

How is that fair?

[barmar]

DaveRolyat, on 2026-August-06, 05:43, said:

Seems if you've spent around $100 a year on BBO in the past, you get this free, according to two players in know that have been offered it.
So they just carry on paying for the games they play.

If you haven't, then you pay the subscription - but you then also have to pay extra to play the same game as them.

How is that fair?

Each year we'll look at your recent history. If you purchased enough tournament play, you'll get the free premium membership.

[FrankerZ]

 DaveRolyat, on 2026-August-06, 05:43, said:

Seems if you've spent around $100 a year on BBO in the past, you get this free, according to two players in know that have been offered it.
So they just carry on paying for the games they play.

If you haven't, then you pay the subscription - but you then also have to pay extra to play the same game as them.

How is that fair?

I did the maths on my deposits and I've dropped just shy of $700 from early 2020 to mid 2025 when their continual raises of tourney entry fees and rake tipped the balance as to whether I'd continue to play any of their paid for games or not. Naturally I have received nothing

[fmjssy]

Hi everyone, sharing this here since it answers a lot of what's been asked in this thread. You could find the breakdown of what's included in Basic, Basic No Ads, and Premium.

https://doc.bridgeba...elp_Center.html

Hope this helps!

[Rfulrabbit]

Hi friends.
At my level of play , yes, I will become a member.
I have a question: I can setup tourneys with 40 entries at this time. Will that continue to be possible?

Also, I td for another group under another name, only to avoid invites when I am directing. If another person sets the tourneys and adds a non paying member as director, will he be able to direct?