Start the OKwin program by clicking on the
OKwin icon on your desktop. (Or on the Start Menu, choose the OKwin program.)

Once you have opened the software, you will see a login window.

Enter your login name and password and click on the button that says "Log me into my account"

If you click the small checkmark box at the bottom to enable login without being asked for your password, the Login window will NOT pop up the next time you start OKwin. You will automatically be logged in once you start the OKwin program.

When you first log in you are a LURKER in the LOBBY.

Within the lower area of the main OKbridge window, you will see a window named Tables and Players.

In the left pane of the Tables and Players window, you'll see the first entry is the Lobby, followed by a long list of all the tables currently being served.

Since the Lobby is highlighted when you first log in, the right pane of this window shows the names of the players who are currently in the Lobby.

(If you don't see the Tables and Players window, click on the toolbar to open it.)

TABLES are set up by individuals who want to HOST (or SERVE) the table. These people are the table SERVERS, who get to control the scoring and seating. The TABLE NAME bears the server's name.

A window named Tables and Players is in the lower area of the main OKbridge window.

In the left pane of the Tables and Players window, each line on the Tables list denotes one table, showing information about the table in four columns:

Tables
The table name, which is the login name of the table's server.

Scoring
Specified by the server — the type of scoring to be used at the table.

#Players
The number of people who have joined the table.

Level and Note
Specified by the server — the level of play for the table along with any comments.

The right pane of the Tables and Players window shows all the people at the table highlighted in the left pane.

If you click on a table name once, it will be highlighted and the people who have already joined the table will appear in the right pane of the Tables and Players window.

You can join a table in three ways:

• Double-click on the table name

• Or click on the entry
"[observer] [click here to join table]"
that you see in the right pane).

• Or click on the Join button beside a comment in the area above the Tables and Players window.

There are three types of people at a table - OBSERVERS, PLAYERS and SPECTATORS.

When you first join a table, you are an OBSERVER. As an observer, you can talk to the players and see dummy, but you are not seated.

As a PLAYER, you are seated at the table and are actually playing cards.

As a SPECTATOR, you are looking at all four hands as they are being played, but you can only talk to other spectators (otherwise you could tell the players what everyone holds).

Start typing the message you want to send - it will automatically appear in a Chat Bar on your screen.

To send it, press the Enter key on your keyboard (or click the Send button). Sent messages appear in a Talk window located beneath the Chat Bar.

First ask for a seat

If you want to play bridge at a table being served by someone else, after you join and become an observer, it is polite to ask if a seat is vacant before taking it.

If there are two or more empty seats, it is best to try to arrange a partnership before jumping into one of the empty seats.

Take a seat using one of three ways

• Double-click on the compass position where you would like to sit

• Or go to the Location menu and click on your seat.

• Or, using only the keyboard, type the command for the seat where you wish to sit. For example, you would type the command "/east" to sit in the east chair.

When there are four people seated at a table, the computer automatically deals hands.

Cards are dealt when four players are seated.

When it is your turn to bid, your name displays with a green background, and a bidding box (as shown below) pops up on the screen — vulnerability is shown on the duplicate tray.

To bid, click in the Bidding Box on the call you want to make. OKwin will not allow you to make an insufficient bid or to bid out of turn. Click on the OK button to transmit the bid (or if an explanation is required, click the OK+Alert button after typing the explanation).

To explain your bid, enter an explanation for your opponents. For example, if your bid is a transfer, then you could enter the word "transfer" in the explain area. Your partner will not see your explanation.

To alert your bid, press the OK+Alert button instead of the OK button to transmit your bid. (If you want to type an explanation, do so before pressing this button.) Your opponents are then notified that an alerted bid has been made, but your partner does not see this information. If your opponents have questions about the meaning of the bid, they can ask you privately.

One of the guiding principles in bridge bidding is full disclosure. Your opponents are entitled to complete information about any bidding agreements that you and your partner may have. Alerts are used to facilitate this process. Use alerts to notify your opponents whenever a bid has occurred whose meaning might vary from its most commonly accepted meaning.

The bidding history shows how the bidding progresses.

When it's time to play the hand, double-click on the card you want to play.

Declarer plays the dummy cards. If you are the dummy and would like to see all the hands, click on the toolbar (or go to the Location menu and click Show All Hands). When the hand is over, you will be returned to your seat.

Cards will continue to be dealt after each hand is played until someone leaves their seat.

At the end of each hand, a Results Browser pops up on your screen. You can use it to see the results of the last hand, and also to look at the results of the same hand played at other tables. You may need to close it to begin playing the next hand.

You can find detailed information in the online Help in OKwin.

Always remember that we are here to help you enjoy OKbridge.

Please do not hesitate to call or e-mail us if you have any more questions.

Send an email to
help@okbridge.com

or call us at 1-888-652-7434
(858-490-6770 for international callers).

Our Member Services Representatives are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

You can refer back to these tutorials at any time from the Help section of our website.