1A. TOUR REGISTRATION ( Remember all Event Times are EST or EDT )

• On Front Page Scroll down to Tournament Events, or
• Click on the Tournament Tab and Scroll down to Tournament Calendar.
• Select the Tour you want to participate in,  the Tournament Main Page Opens, then
• Select Register and the Registration Page Opens, or

1B. ALTERNATELY (Calendar can be Bookmarked for easy access)

• Go to Tournament Calendar
  http://www3.igl.net/cgi-bin/tourney/gencalendar.cgi?path=gtp
• Select the Tour you want to participate in and register

IF YOU HAVE NO PARTNER:

• Select Auto-Team Locator ( A Team PW is NOT necessary )
• Ladder Name: Enter your League User Name
• Your Password: Enter your User PW
• Check the Box >>> I have read the rules ........
• Click Register ( A new dialog opens saying you successfully registered or to try again )

IF YOU HAVE A PARTNER:

• Select  Start New Team and Enter a Team Name ( Can be Any Name, Keep it Clean Please )
• Team Password: Enter a PW ( Can be Any PW, but your partner needs to know in order to join )
• Ladder Name: Enter your League User Name
• Your Password: Enter your User PW
• Check the Box >>> I have read the rules ........
• Click Register ( A new dialog opens saying you successfully registered or to try again )

IF YOU ARE JOINING A TEAM:

• Select  Join Team then Select Team you are Joining ( Get Info from Person who Made the Team )
• Team Password: Enter the PW ( Get Info from Person who Made the Team )
• Ladder Name: Enter your League User Name
• Your Password: Enter your User PW
• Check the Box >>> I have read the rules ........
• Click Register ( A new dialog opens saying you successfully registered or to try again ) 

Once Registration process is complete you can return to the Tournament Main Page and click on Teams / Check-In to check your registration, or if tour has started you can Track the standings as the tour progresses through it stages.

 

2. DOWNLOADING / REGISTERING FOR SAFE HARBOR:

 

NOTE: WHILE MOST OF THE COMMON BROWSERS ARE COMPATIBLE WITH SAFE HARBOR, DOWNLOAD OF THEIR SOFTWARE SHOULD BE DONE WITH THE BROWSER YOU PLAN ON USING. IF YOU CHOOSE TO INSTALL USING THE CHROME BROWSER YOU MAY NEED TO APPLY A FIX FOR THAT BROWSER, SEE HELP SECTION OF SAFE HARBOR.

• Go to site .....  https://www.safeharborgames.net/
• You can Register now or after installation of their software.
• Install Software: Click on Register and SELECT > NEW USER? Click here.
• CLICK > Click here now to download our software.
• Choose the option that describes your Computers Operating System and install software.
• An ICON for Safe Harbor should appear on your desktop if installation was successful.
• If you haven't registered you should do so now.

3. A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO SAFE HARBOR FRIENDS CHAT SYSTEM (SHF):

 

The SHF works in sync using the LOBBY LIST that shows all people present in the pinochle room and a messenger, SAFE HARBOR FRIENDS. The messenger only works within the DOMAIN of SAFE HARBOR. It is enabled when you enter the game room and is identified as a BOAT WITH RED SAILS in the PC task bar. It remains enabled after leaving the game room so that you can receive information on tournaments or simply to chat with people on your FRIENS LIST. It can be disabled, RIGHT CLICK on the icon in the PC task bar and select EXIT. Once disabled you need to return to a SAFE HARBOR game room to enable the SHF. You can also set your status in the SHF.

 

In the LOBBY LIST (at the Right Margin of the Window of the game room), there are 3 Groups; FRIENDS, HARBOR CREW, and PLAYERS. Think of this list as the POGO FRIENDS LIST, very similar but with added benefits. These Lobby Groups cannot be modified.

 

In the SHF (messenger in PC task bar) the default groups are SAFE HARBOR FRIENDS, BLOCKED PLAYERS, and IGNORE IN LOBBY. Groups can be added to this tool, directly or indirectly when adding FRIENDS to your LOBBY LIST. When adding FRIENDS in the LOBBY LIST it will also be added to the SHF. If you want to add to a GROUP then provide the GROUP NAME in the CHAT BAR before executing the command. The player will be added to FRIENDS in the LOBBY LIST and will be added to the GROUP you named in the SHF.

 

To see the full list of options available with SHF, click on ABOUT SHG and slelect SITE FEATURES. Also, click on HELP and select SITE HELP.

4. SOME NOTED DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SAFE HARBOR & POGO:

 

a. When we play at POGO and both teams reach the end score on the same hand, then the high score is awarded the game. At Safe Harbor and anywhere not named POGO if both sides reach the end score on the same hand, then the bidding side wins the game. Traditioal Pinochle, opponents hand is not counted if bidders count plus current score reaches the end score.

 

b. Basically, all games are CYOM, BUT there is an option available to peek at your meld. If you peek the only meld count you see is the smallest amount of meld in your hand. It omits any meld for a potential trump suit (eg Royal Marriage, Run, Dbl Run). Obviously, if you have a Dbl Run, Win the Bid, and call that suit trump you will get the 150 meld plus any other meld in your hand. IT CAN BE CONFUSING, I IGNORE THIS FEATURE.

 

c. If the first three players all pass, the dealer is forced to bid 50. If the bidding partners know that they cannot make the bid before play begins, they may call trump and throw in their hand. In this case they score nothing for their meld and their bid is subtracted from their score. The non-bidding partners add their meld points to their score if meld count is 20 or more. This allows the bidding partners to avoid losing the trick points to their opponents.

 

d. Automatic Throw-in Rule, if the team who takes the bid has a bid that is more than 50 greater than their combined meld, it's an automatic throw in. If the team who takes the bid, cannot meet at least 20 meld, it's an automatic throw in. In both cases, their opponent's get their meld if 20 or greater.