At the start of each month Bernard releases a new ‘Big Seminar’ with x8 accompanying Set Hands. This is the ‘BMB Topic of the Month’ and stemming from the ‘Big Seminar’ Bernard discusses further the topic in each Monday Live throughout the month, where you have the opportunity to engage on the live chat with Bernard and fellow viewers.

Bernard has created over 50 ‘Big Seminars’ which take a deep dive into key bridge topics. Each ‘Big Seminar’ is around an hour in length and accompanied by x8 Set Hands to give you an opportunity to practise and review what you have learnt.

For the first 3 weeks of each month, we give you the opportunity to practice the x8 Set Hands (of the current month) in one of our weekly organised Set Hands Game sessions to reinforce what you have learnt.

These take place on BBO (Bridge Base Online). [See our BMB Calendar for the scheduled times]

Other options are also available for practicing these Set Hands and those from the library.

FOUR options to play or review the x8 Set Hands:

1. BMB organised Set Hand Games on BBO – this is for practicing the Set Hands accompanying the current month ‘Big Seminar’. These take place during the first 3 weeks of each month – see the BMB Calendar for the scheduled times.
2. Download a LIN file of the Set Hands – this can be used on BBO for you to practise the set hands privately on BBO, either with your friends or on your own with robots (BBO may apply charges to your games).
3. Download a PBN file of the Set Hands – This can be used on your own software e.g. Q-Plus.
4. Watch Bernard’s x8 Set Hand analysis videos – You will get the most value out of the set hands by playing them first, but if you prefer you can simply watch Bernard’s analysis to reinforce what you have learnt.

When Bernard runs live events, he gives a seminar first, and then after a tea break, the players then have a go at playing the set hands. So, it is a reasonable idea to try to watch the seminar just before you try the hands on BBO. Bernard has created a short video that explains how playing on BBO in one of these games works.

NOTE: The organised Set Hand Games are included in your BMB Membership. To play in one of our organised Set Hand games, you will need to register your BBO username with us in the Account section of this website.

On the last week of each month (on occasion last two weeks of each month) x8 Mixed Set Hand Games are available for you to play in organised Set Hand Game sessions. These are a mix of Set Hands from different ‘Big Seminars’.

These take place on BBO (Bridge Base Online). [See our BMB Calendar for the scheduled times]

There are also the same options as for the regular Set Hands to download the LIN and PBN files and watch Bernard’s analysis videos of each hand (see above).

This gives you a fantastic opportunity to revise a range of topics at the end of the month.

NOTE: The organised Mixed Set Hand Games are included in your BMB Membership. To play in one of our organised Mixed Set Hand games, you will need to register your BBO username with us in the Account section of this website.

LIN files are for use with BBO (Bridge Base Online).

On each ‘Big Seminar’ page you will see a LIN file that accompanies the Set Hands. You can download this file onto your computer or iPad. The LIN file is used to download and import (upload) the hands on to BBO.

Bernard has created two mini-videos to show you how to download and import (upload) the LIN files in order to play the Set Hands yourself or with a private group of friends on BBO.

If you want to play as a private foursome, you can, but you will need one of you to take charge of the technical side of things!

DOWNLOAD a LIN file from BMB website:

1. Under each ‘Big Seminar’ there is a button saying: Ready for the Set Hands? Click here
2. Click this button.
3. Next click the red button ‘Click here for the LIN file download’ and download / save the file on your laptop or iPad / tablet.
4. You have successfully downloaded the LIN files from the BMB website.

IMPORT (UPLOAD) a LIN file to BBO website:

1. Log in to BBO.
   [note: this is a 3rd party platform and as such you will need to register with BBO in order to get a username and password]
2. Go to ‘Account’.
3. Go to ‘Deal archive’.
4. Click the ‘+’ to add a new folder.
5. Click the pen icon to edit the name of the folder.
6. Delete the text saying ‘untitled folder’ and retype the relevant name for the set hands e.g. Responding to Doubles.
7. Click the tick icon to confirm the new name.
8. At the bottom of the screen there is a blue button saying ‘Import LIN file’ – click this.
9. A pop up box will show called ‘Import LIN file’.
10. Next click the ‘Choose file’ button in this box – then find and select your LIN file.
11. Next click the ‘Import’ button.
12. When these files have successfully imported then a message confirming this will appear and advise you where they have been uploaded to.
13. Now click the ‘X’ at the top corner of the ‘Import LIN file’ box – to close this.
14. You have successfully imported the LIN files to your account on BBO.

PLAY a game using the LIN file on BBO website*:

1. In the main section on the left side of the page select ‘Practice’ from the ‘Play or Watch Bridge’ section.
2. Next select ‘Start a Teaching table’.
3. Select the ‘Invisible’ setting.
4. Click the ‘Start Table’ button at the bottom of the section.
5. There is a blue box with 3 horizontal lines in – click this and a pop up box shows.
6. Select ‘Deal Source’.
7. Select ‘Use Saved deals’.
8. This reveals your ‘My hand folders’ (which are the folders of LIN files that you have uploaded to your account).
9. Click on the relevant folder with the LIN file you want to play – e.g. Responding to Doubles – then click ‘Select’ (positioned to the right of the red text ‘My hand folders’) to lock this in.
10. Go back to the blue box with 3 horizontal lines in. You have various ‘Teaching options’ available including revealing cards to all players or just specific players.
11. Go back to the blue box and select ‘Table options’ in order to ‘Reserve seats’ for your friends to join in the game by clicking on North, East, South or West and typing the BBO username of your friend, or select ‘Robot’ in order to practise on your own.

*NOTE: Please note that any games you play on BBO are charged for by BBO, including games against Robots. If you are playing privately with friends then there may not be a charge by BBO. Bernard Magee Bridge is not involved in any payments you make to BBO and does not take any monies from BBO for any games that you play on their BBO website.

PBN files are for use with Q-plus and other bridge playing software.

On each ‘Big Seminar’ page you will see a PBN file that accompanies the Set Hands.

You can download this file onto your computer or iPad.

The PBN file is used to download and load the hands on to your own piece of software.

Bernard has created videos to show you how to download and use the PBN files in order to play the Set Hands using the Q-plus software. However, it should be just as easy to load the hands onto other pieces of bridge software.

NOTE: Q-Plus (download version) is currently only available on Windows PC, and there is a browser version for Mac.

DOWNLOAD a PBN file from BMB website:

1. Under each ‘Big Seminar’ there is a button saying: Ready for the Set Hands? Click here.
2. Click this button.
3. Next click the red button ‘Click here for the PBN file download’ and download / save the file on your laptop.
4. You have successfully downloaded the PBN files from the BMB website.

IMPORT (UPLOAD) a PBN file to Q-Plus software:

1. Install the Q-plus Bridge software on your computer
2. Open Q-plus (Bridge software).
3. Select ‘Own Deal’ from the menu.
4. Choose ‘Import and use deals of other authors…’
5. In the ‘local PC’ section click the ‘Search’ button.
6. Find the .pbn file that you want to import and double click it.
7. Next click ‘Play’.

Click here to open the IntoBridge website in a new browser tab and click on either of the Play Now buttons.

On your first visit you will need to register for IntoBridge access.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR BMB MEMBERS: We suggest you use your BBO Name as your Username (highlighted in yellow below) for IntoBridge.

Once you have clicked Register, look out for an email which will ask you to confirm your registered email address.

On your first visit you will need to register for IntoBridge access.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR BMB MEMBERS: You can search for BMB games. The game is called BMB Duplicate and the organiser is BMBhost.

On your first visit you will need to register for IntoBridge access.

If you DO HAVE a partner: Start typing their username and select it from the list. Then click the button to Invite.

If you DO NOT have a partner: Go to the Partnership Desk.

Once your registration is confirmed, simply wait until the game starts.

The director starts the game manually so don’t worry if nothing happens when the countdown clock runs out and you see the message “About to start” on screen. This simply means the director has not yet started the game.

Need help when you have logged in? Click on the BMBHost icon as shown below.

This is information about systems and conventions. To start with we are including a file that has two systems:

• a basic Acol system
• and a slightly more advanced Bernard Acol system

By having them here, I hope it might make singles more able to agree a system which suits their needs. It also sets the framework of the ‘natural bidding’ of the site. As we discuss conventions on the site, I might add some more files to deal with them.

12-14 1NT
Four-card majors
Stayman, Red suit Transfers (2S for a weak minor)
Negative Doubles
Fourth suit forcing
Bids of opponents’ suit = strong
BLACKWOOD: either normal or Basic Key-Card
Normal overcalls
CARDING: 4th highest from an honour; 2nd highest from a bad suit Natural signalling HI – Yes; LO – No

12-14 1NT
Four-card majors
Stayman, Red suit Transfers (2S for a weak minor)
BENJI style WEAK TWOS in HEARTS & SPADES (Ogust responses) 2C = 8 playing tricks in a suit (17-22)
2D = 23+ or Game-forcing
2H/S = 6-10 six card suit
2NT = 20-22 balanced or semi-balanced
Negative Doubles
Fourth suit forcing
Unassuming cuebids
BLACKWOOD: Key-Card
Weak jump overcalls
Splinters, cuebids
Landy defence to 1NT (2C shows majors)
Two-suited overcalls (Michaels, Unusual) [EXCLUDING artificial 3C] CARDING: 4th highest from an honour; 2nd highest from a bad suit Natural signalling HI – Yes; LO – No (with McKenney overtones) Standard Count: Hi-lo for even number
OPTIONAL: Jacoby 2NT (response to 1-of-a-major); inverted minors

This is a method of showing strong support for an opening major bid. I gave a set of Friday seminars on the system called Supporting Majors (parts 1-5). These can be found in the Friday Live Archive (060-064).

When the auction starts 1♥︎ – PASS – ? (or 1♠︎ – PASS – ?)

Note: if you play splinters, then you still use these to show your singletons & voids, so most often the 2NT bidder is balanced or semi-balanced.

The traditional method was to use a 2NT response to show 11pts balanced, but any hand that wants to bid this can usually respond with 2-of-a-minor allowing the auction to progress naturally. This frees up the 2NT response to be used as a convention to show support for the major.

After 1♥︎ – PASS –

2NT shows 4+ hearts and enough strength for game (12+)

The idea of the bid is to allow the partnership to investigate a slam with plenty of bidding space. After the 2NT response the opener describes his hand.

The standard responses to the Jacoby 2NT are:

3-level bids = SHORTAGES

4-level bids = STRONG second suit

3-trump suit, 3NT & 4-trump suit = balanced or semi-balanced – the Stronger the hand the lower the bid (of the three choices)

Hearts	Spades
1♥︎ – PASS – 2NT* – PASS	1♠︎ – PASS – 2NT* – PASS
?	?
3♣︎ singleton (or void) club	3♣︎ singleton (or void) club
3♦︎ singleton (or void) diamond	3♦︎ singleton (or void) diamond
3♥︎ strong balanced hand 17-19	3♥︎ singleton (or void) heart
3♠︎ singleton (or void) spade	3♠︎ strong balanced hand 17-19
3NT semi-strong & balanced 15-17	3NT semi-strong & balanced 15-17
4♣︎ strong club suit	4♣︎ strong club suit
4♦︎ strong diamond suit	4♦︎ strong diamond suit
4♥︎ weak balanced hands	4♥︎ strong heart suit
4♠︎ strong spade suit*	4♠︎ weak balanced hands

The BMB Team is Here!
If you’re ever stuck working your way around BMB or need help with downloading or importing LIN or PBN files, we’re here to help.

Simply send the team an email at: info@bernardmageebridge.com and we’ll get straight back to you.

  The BMB Hands Submission Portal
We will soon be launching our dedicated Hands Submission Portal. This will allow you to create a hand and send it directly to Bernard with your question.

Bernard loves receiving hands but it can be quite a process typing them out to send, so the new portal will make this process simple for everyone!