IBEScore dealing feature in practice: from hand-dealt boards to a PBN file

IBEScore is built for scoring, but it is also a quick way to turn hands you have dealt into a PBN file. You do not need a dealing machine, and you do not need to run a real game.

A worked example

This example shows how the feature works in practice. It does not describe a particular club or class.

The situation. A teacher has hand dealt 6 boards for a lesson and wants a PBN file of them, to print hand diagrams and to use in other bridge programs. The deals are on the table in the boards. They are not on a computer anywhere.

What they do. They create a 6-board game in IBEScore with Auction required set to Yes. As each table finishes a board, a player at the table enters the deal into the app and any result to complete the board. Nobody has to key in all 6 boards, because the work is spread around the room. When the last board is in, the teacher finalises the game.

What they end up with. In the Companion, under Hand records, they download the current deal file as a .pbn file, with all 6 hands in it. The results were only there to complete the boards, so the teacher ignores them. Before the next set of boards, they clear the current deal in the Companion so the two sets are not mixed up.

Who this is for

This works when you hand deal the cards first, then create the PBN file from what you dealt. It does not work the other way round: IBEScore will not generate deals for you to then deal out by hand. For that, you need a hand-generating program.

What you get

A PBN deal file of your own hands, ready for your club, your lessons, or other bridge programs. You do not need a dealing machine to create a PBN file. Deal the cards by hand, enter them in IBEScore, and the PBN file is made for you.

How to do it yourself

  1. Hand deal your boards as usual, and keep the hands to hand.
  2. Create a new game in IBEScore with the number of boards you dealt, for example 6.
  3. Set Auction required to Yes.
  4. For each board, enter the deal. IBEScore also asks for a result, so enter any result. It is only there to complete the board. (How to enter a deal)
  5. When all your boards are in, finalise the game.
  6. Open the IBEScore Companion, go to Hand records, and choose Download the current deal file as .pbn.

Let the players do the keying

You do not have to enter every hand yourself. Players can enter the deal into IBEScore themselves after they have dealt and played each board. The work is shared around the room, and nobody has to sit down and key in a whole set.

Good to know

  • Clear the previous deal before you create the next set. In the Companion, under Hand records, delete the current deal, so the two sets do not get mixed up.
  • The results you enter are throwaway. The deals are what you are keeping.
  • Make as many sets as you like, with a new game each time.
  • Questions? Email admin@ibescore.com.