how do you partner in bughouse?

i dont see any buttons to pic a partner in bughouse, which can be frustrating because you can be paired with someone who resigns every game... yet one time a person requested me to be a partner, but i dont see a button anywhere for how he did it... where do you select a permanent partner, so matchs go faster and better and no instant resigns or disconnects....

I don't think you can have permanent partners but I can show you how to set someone as your partner. While in play:

1. Click custom game.

2. Change the variant to "Doubles (Bughouse)"

3. Underneath the time control option, you will see your username and avatar and beside it an icon of a person and a question mark. Click on the icon.

4. You can invite someone to be your partner by typing in their username or clicking on them in your friend's list.

5. After choosing a partner, you will be taken back to the custom game menu. However, the play button will be replaced with a "partner" button. Click "Partner". 

6. Once your partner accepts you can send out a challenge to play a game.

so they made it a million times harder than it used to be. when in live chess there was a link in the chat bo and now i hae to copy user name and open new windows??

It’s a bit laggy at times, but you should get an invite to be their bughouse partner (like receiving a free game challenge). If it doesn’t work, I recommend resending the invite.

how do i give partner pieces

When you capture a piece on your board, your partner gets the piece. However, I think if it was a pawn that was promoted, it goes back to being a pawn when your partner receives it.

The pieces are given automatically when you capture your opponents pieces online. OTB you need to hand them over.