> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.dubs.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# 🤝 How to Join a Game

> Join a friend's game and pick your team

<video autoPlay muted loop playsInline controls style={{ borderRadius: '0.5rem', width: '100%', marginBottom: '1.5rem' }}>
  <source src="https://mintcdn.com/dubs/3V6s3PMyUmeXKvLN/images/dubs-join-game.mp4?fit=max&auto=format&n=3V6s3PMyUmeXKvLN&q=85&s=8aa3f4c9024e7e100cb8d6972347c21e" type="video/mp4" data-path="images/dubs-join-game.mp4" />
</video>

Joining a game on Dubs is quick and easy. You can join via invite link, notification, or by browsing available games.

## Ways to Join

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Invite Link" icon="link">
    Click a link shared by a friend
  </Card>

  <Card title="Notification" icon="bell">
    Tap a game invite in your notifications
  </Card>

  <Card title="Browse Games" icon="magnifying-glass">
    Find games in the Sports tab
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Join via Invite

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Invite">
    When a friend shares a game link or sends you an invite, tap on it to open the game details.

    You'll see:

    * The matchup (teams playing)
    * Current pot size
    * Who has already joined
    * Available teams to pick
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review the Game">
    Check the game details before joining:

    | Info          | Description           |
    | ------------- | --------------------- |
    | **Buy-in**    | How much SOL to enter |
    | **Lock Time** | When betting closes   |
    | **Players**   | Who's already in      |
    | **Pot Size**  | Total SOL in the game |
  </Step>

  <Step title="Pick Your Team">
    Choose the outcome you want to bet on:

    * **Home** - The home team wins
    * **Away** - The away team wins
    * **Draw** - Tie (when applicable)

    <Info>
      You can pick the same team as the creator or bet against them - it's your call!
    </Info>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm Your Wager">
    The buy-in amount is set by the game creator. Make sure you have enough SOL in your wallet.

    <Tip>
      You need a tiny bit extra (\~0.001 SOL) to cover the Solana transaction fee.
    </Tip>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Sign the Transaction">
    Tap **Join Game** and approve the transaction in your wallet. Your SOL will be transferred to the game's escrow account on the blockchain.
  </Step>

  <Step title="You're In!">
    You'll see a confirmation screen. You can:

    * Share the game with more friends
    * Chat with other players
    * Track the game in your active games list
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Finding Games to Join

### From Notifications

Check your notifications for pending game invites. Tap on any invite to review and join.

### From the Sports Tab

1. Go to the **Sports** tab
2. Browse upcoming games
3. Tap a game to see if friends have created bets
4. Join any open games that interest you

### From Chat

Friends can share game invites directly in chat. Look for game cards in your conversations and tap to join.

## After Joining

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Track Your Games" icon="list-check">
    Find all your active games in your profile
  </Card>

  <Card title="Invite More Friends" icon="share">
    Share the game to grow the pot
  </Card>

  <Card title="Watch Live" icon="tv">
    Follow game scores in real-time
  </Card>

  <Card title="Claim Your Payout" icon="trophy">
    Collect your payout when your team wins
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Important Rules

<Warning>
  **Before you join, know these rules:**

  * **No cancellations** - Once you join, you can't withdraw your bet
  * **Betting locks** - You can't join after the lock time (1 min before game start)
  * **One team per game** - You can only bet on one outcome per game
</Warning>

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Can't find the game">
    * Check that the invite link is correct
    * Make sure the game hasn't already started
    * Ask your friend to resend the invite
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Not enough SOL">
    * The buy-in is set by the game creator
    * Add more SOL to your wallet before joining
    * Transaction fees require \~0.001 SOL extra
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Transaction failed">
    * Check your internet connection
    * Make sure betting hasn't locked yet
    * Try again - Solana sometimes has brief congestion
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Claim Your Prize" icon="gift" href="/guides/claim-prize">
    Learn how to collect your payout
  </Card>

  <Card title="Create Your Own Game" icon="plus" href="/guides/create-game">
    Start a game and invite friends
  </Card>
</CardGroup>