Basingstoke bridge club has kindly supplied this guide to supervising at a table on an online platform
GUIDANCE FOR TABLE SUPERVISORS
What is my role?
Do you let players make their own mistakes, or do you keep correcting them? It’s a tough one. Players want to think they are playing the hand, not just being told what to do. So they should be allowed to make some mistakes, but with the safety net that you will step in and prevent any major blunders, using undos when needed.
How can I help?
Often there are one or two particular points to the deal that will be clear from the commentary. So do step in if these look like becoming lost, for example playing in the wrong suit or making an unexpected lead.
We aim to get through 8 deals in about an hour and a half. This may mean curtailing the discussion of some deals in order to move on, and leaving some things unsaid. This is preferable to leaving some boards unplayed due to running out of time.
How can I involve all the players?
Do allow dummy to help declarer, indeed any player to help another. We all help each other at this stage and we’re not fiercely competitive.
Sometimes it’s helpful, when someone has made a bid that is perhaps the subject of the lesson, to ask generally what we think that bid is showing. This reinforces the lesson and checks that nobody is unaware of what the bid means. This may be the prelude to the player in question realising that the meaning doesn’t match the hand, it’s the wrong bid, and correcting it.
How can I help the declarer?
Do use questions to help the declarer plan the play. We don’t want to turn it into a laborious counting exercise at this stage though. A typical question might be whether declarer should draw trumps, or whether there is something else to do first. If declarer looks like getting it wrong, maybe ask what about your diamond losers or would it be better to start leading trumps from dummy.
How can I help once the hand has been played?
Some comments are perhaps better left to the end, while others, such as dummy’s bidding, can be tackled once dummy is revealed. Because you can see all four hands, try to be aware that the players can see only their own hand and dummy.
Remember
Finally, as supervisors, you are partly responsible for setting the tone for the table. If you look like you’re happy and enjoying what you’re doing, chances are the players will do so too.