a If the cards be not dealt into four packets, one at a time, and in regular rotation, beginning at the dealer's left.b If, during a deal, or during the play of a hand, the pack be proven incorrect or imperfect.c If any card be faced in the pack.d If any player have dealt to him a greater number of cards than thirteen.e If the dealer deal two cards at once and then deal a third before correcting the error.f If the dealer omit to have the pack cut and the adversaries call attention to the fact prior to the conclusion of the deal and before looking at their cards.g If the last card do not come in its regular order to the dealer.
a If the cards be not dealt into four packets, one at a time, and in regular rotation, beginning at the dealer's left.
b If, during a deal, or during the play of a hand, the pack be proven incorrect or imperfect.
c If any card be faced in the pack.
d If any player have dealt to him a greater number of cards than thirteen.
e If the dealer deal two cards at once and then deal a third before correcting the error.
f If the dealer omit to have the pack cut and the adversaries call attention to the fact prior to the conclusion of the deal and before looking at their cards.
g If the last card do not come in its regular order to the dealer.
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There may be a new deal—
a If the dealer or his partner expose a card. The eldest hand may claim a new deal.b If either adversary expose a card. The dealer or his partner may claim a new deal.c If, before fifty-one cards are dealt, the dealer should look at any card. His adversaries have the right to see it, and the eldest hand may exact a new deal.d If, in dealing, one of the last cards be exposed by the dealer or his partner, and the deal is completed before there is reasonable time for the eldest hand to decide as to a new deal.But in all other cases such penalties must be claimed prior to the completion of the deal.
a If the dealer or his partner expose a card. The eldest hand may claim a new deal.
b If either adversary expose a card. The dealer or his partner may claim a new deal.
c If, before fifty-one cards are dealt, the dealer should look at any card. His adversaries have the right to see it, and the eldest hand may exact a new deal.
d If, in dealing, one of the last cards be exposed by the dealer or his partner, and the deal is completed before there is reasonable time for the eldest hand to decide as to a new deal.But in all other cases such penalties must be claimed prior to the completion of the deal.
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The claim for a new deal by reason of a card exposed during the deal may not be made by a player who has looked at any of his cards. If a new deal does not take place, the card exposed during the deal cannot be called.
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Should three players have their right number of cards, and should the fourth, not being dummy, have less than thirteen and not discover such deficiency until he has played any of his cards, the deal stands good; should he have played, he is answerable for any revoke he may have made as if the missingcard or cards had been in his hand. The other pack may be searched for the missing card or cards.
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If during the play of a deal a pack be proven incorrect or imperfect, such proof renders only the current deal void, and does not affect any prior score. The dealer must deal again.
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Any one dealing with the adversaries' cards must be corrected before the play of the first card, otherwise the deal stands good. If any one deals when it is the turn of an adversary, such error must be corrected before the cards are dealt for the following deal.
A player can neither shuffle, cut, nor deal for his partner without the permission of his adversaries.
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DECLARING TRUMPS
The trump is declared. No card is turned.
a The dealer may either make the trump or pass the declaration to his partner.b If the declaration be passed to partner, he must make the trump.
a The dealer may either make the trump or pass the declaration to his partner.
b If the declaration be passed to partner, he must make the trump.
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Should the dealer's partner make the trump without receiving permission from the dealer, the eldest hand may demand,
1st. That the trump shall stand, or2d. That there shall be a new deal.
1st. That the trump shall stand, or
2d. That there shall be a new deal.
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But if any declaration as to doubling, or not doubling, shall havebeen made, or if a new deal be not claimed, the declaration wrongly made shall stand. The eldest hand is the player on the left of the dealer.
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Should the dealer's partner pass the declaration to the dealer, it shall be the right of the eldest hand to claim a new deal or to compel the offending player to declare the trump; provided, that no declaration as to doubling has been made.
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If either of the dealer's adversaries make or pass the declaration, the dealer may, after looking at his hand, either claim a new deal or proceed as if no declaration had been made.
A declaration once made cannot be altered.
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DOUBLING, RE-DOUBLING, ETC.
The effect of doubling, re-doubling, and so on, is that the value of each trick above six is doubled, quadrupled, and so on.
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After the trump declaration has been made by the dealer or his partner, their adversaries have the right to double. The eldest hand has the first right. If he does not wish to double, he may ask his partner, "May I lead?" His partner shall answer, "Yes," or "I double."
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If either of their adversaries elect to double, the dealer and hispartner have the right to re-double. The player who has declared the trump shall have the first right. He may say, "I re-double" or "Satisfied." Should he say the latter, his partner may re-double.
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If the dealer or his partner elect to re-double, their adversaries shall have the right to again double. The original doubler has the first right.
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If the right-hand adversary of the dealer double before his partner has asked "May I lead?" the declarer of the trump shall have the right to say whether or not the double shall stand. If he decide that the double shall stand, the process of re-doublingmay continue as described above.
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The process of re-doubling may be continued indefinitely.[A]The first right to continue the re-doubling on behalf of a partnership belongs to that player who has last re-doubled. Should he, however, express himself satisfied, the right to continue the re-doubling passes to his partner. Should any player re-double out of turn, the adversary who last doubled shall decide whether or not such double shall stand. If it is decided that the re-double shall stand, the process of re-doubling may continueas described in this and foregoing laws. If any double or re-double out of turn be not accepted, there shall be no further doubling in that hand. Any consultation between partners as to doubling or re-doubling will entitle the maker of the trump or the eldest hand, without consultation, to a new deal.
[A]In some clubs, doubling ceases whenever the value of the odd trick exceeds one hundred points; in other clubs the limit is placed at two hundred points.
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If the eldest hand lead before the doubling be completed, his partner may re-double only with the consent of the adversary who last doubled; but such lead shall not affect the right of either adversary to double.
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When the question, "May I lead?" has been answered in theaffirmative, or when the player who has the last right to continue the doubling expresses himself satisfied, the play shall begin.
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Should the eldest hand lead without asking permission, his partner may double, but only if the maker of the trump consent.
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Should the right-hand adversary of the dealer ask permission to lead, the eldest hand does not thereby lose his right to double. Should the right-hand adversary of the dealer double before his partner has asked "May I lead?" the maker of the trump shall have the right to say whether or not the double shall stand. If he decide that the doubleshall stand, the process of re-doubling may continue.
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If the right-hand adversary of the dealer lead out of turn, the maker of the trump may call a suit from the eldest hand, who may only double if the maker of the trump consent.
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A declaration as to doubling or re-doubling once made cannot be altered.
DUMMY
As soon as the eldest hand has led, the dealer's partner shall place his cards face upward on the table, and the duty of playing the cards from that hand shall devolve upon the dealer, unassisted by his partner.
Before exposing his cards, the dealer's partner has all the rights of a player, but after his cards have been shown the dealer's partner takes no part whatever in the play, except that he has the right——
a To ask the dealer whether he has none of the suit in which he may have renounced.b To ask the dealer when called upon to play his highest or lowest card whether he has conformed to the penalty.c To call the dealer's attention to the fact that a trick has not been completed.d To correct the claim of either adversary to a penalty to which the latter is not entitled.e To call attention to the fact that a trick has been erroneously taken by either side.f To participate in the discussion of any disputed question of fact which mayarise between the dealer and either adversary.g To correct an erroneous score.
a To ask the dealer whether he has none of the suit in which he may have renounced.
b To ask the dealer when called upon to play his highest or lowest card whether he has conformed to the penalty.
c To call the dealer's attention to the fact that a trick has not been completed.
d To correct the claim of either adversary to a penalty to which the latter is not entitled.
e To call attention to the fact that a trick has been erroneously taken by either side.
f To participate in the discussion of any disputed question of fact which mayarise between the dealer and either adversary.
g To correct an erroneous score.
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Should the dealer's partner call attention to any other incident of the play, in consequence of which any penalty might be exacted, the fact of his so doing precludes the dealer exacting such penalty.
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If the dealer's partner, by touching a card or otherwise, suggest the play of a card from dummy, either of the adversaries may, but without consultation, call upon the dealer to play or not to play the card suggested.
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Dummy is not liable to the penalty for a revoke; and if he shouldrevoke and the error be not discovered until the trick is turned and quitted, the trick stands good.
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A card from the dealer's hand is not played until actually quitted; but should the dealer name or touch a card from the dummy hand, such card is considered as played, unless the dealer in touching the card or cards says, "I arrange," or words to that effect.
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CARDS EXPOSED BEFORE PLAY
If, after the deal has been completed and before the trump declaration has been made, either the dealer or his partner expose a card from his hand, the eldest hand may, without consulting with his partner, claim a new deal.
If, after the deal has been completed and before a card is led, any player shall expose a card, his partner shall forfeit any right to double or re-double which he otherwise would have been entitled to exercise; and in case of a card being so exposed by the leader's partner, the dealer may either call the card or require the leader not to lead the suit of the exposed card.
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CARDS EXPOSED DURING PLAY
All cards exposed by the dealer's adversaries are liable to be called, and such cards must be left face upward on the table.
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The following are exposed cards:
1st. Two or more cards played at once.2d. Any card dropped with its face upward, or in any way exposed on or above the table, even though snatched up so quickly that no one can name it.3d. Every card so held by a player that his partner can see any portion of its face.
1st. Two or more cards played at once.
2d. Any card dropped with its face upward, or in any way exposed on or above the table, even though snatched up so quickly that no one can name it.
3d. Every card so held by a player that his partner can see any portion of its face.
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A card dropped on the floor or elsewhere below the table is not an exposed card.
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If two or more cards be played at once, by either of the dealer's adversaries, the dealer shall have the right to call which one he pleases to the current trick, and the other card or cards shall remain face upward on the table and may be called at any time.
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If, without waiting for his partnerto play, either of the dealer's adversaries should play on the table the best card, or lead one which is a winning card, as against the dealer and dummy, or should continue (without waiting for his partner to play) to lead several such cards, the dealer may demand that the partner of the player in fault win, if he can, the first, or any other of these tricks, and the other cards thus improperly played are exposed cards.
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If either or both of the dealer's adversaries throw his or their cards on the table face upwards, such cards are exposed and are liable to be called; but if either adversary retain his hand he cannot be forced to abandon it. If, however, thedealer should say, "I have the rest," or any other words indicating that the remaining tricks are his, the adversaries of the dealer are not liable to have any of their cards called should they expose them, believing the dealer's claim to be true, should it subsequently prove false.
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If a player who has rendered himself liable to have the highest or lowest of a suit called fail to play as directed, or if, when called on to lead one suit, lead another, having in his hand one or more cards of the suit demanded, or, if called upon to win or lose a trick, fail to do so when he can, he is liable to the penalty for revoke, unlesssuch play be corrected before the trick is turned and quitted.
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LEADS OUT OF TURN
If either of the dealer's adversaries lead out of turn, the dealer may call the card erroneously led, or may call a suit when it is the turn of either adversary to lead.
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If the dealer lead out of turn, either from his own hand or dummy, he incurs no penalty; but he may not rectify the error after the second hand has played.
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If any player lead out of turn and the other three follow him, the trick is complete and the error cannot be rectified; but if only thesecond, or second and third, play to the false lead, their cards may be taken back; there is no penalty against anyone except the original offender, who, if he be one of the dealer's adversaries, may be penalised as provided above.
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In no case can a player be compelled to play a card which would oblige him to revoke.
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The call of an exposed card may be repeated at every trick until such card has been played.
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If a player called on to lead a suit have none of it, the penalty is paid.
CARDS PLAYED IN ERROR
Should the third hand not have played and the fourth play before his partner, the latter (not being dummy or dealer) may be called upon to play his highest or lowest card of the suit played, or to win or lose the trick.
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If anyone, not being dummy, omit playing to a former trick and such error be not corrected until he has played to the next, the adversaries may claim a new deal; should they decide that the deal stands good, the surplus card at the end of the hand is considered to have been played to the imperfect trick, but does not constitute a revoke therein.
If anyone (except dummy) play two cards to the same trick, or mix a card with a trick to which it does not belong, and the mistake be not discovered until the hand is played out, he is answerable for any consequent revokes he may have made. If during the play of the hand the error be detected, the tricks may be counted face downward, in order to ascertain whether there be among them a card too many; should this be the case, the trick which contains a surplus card may be examined and the card restored to its original holder, who (not being dummy) shall be liable for any revoke he may meanwhile have made.
THE REVOKE
A revoke occurs when a player (other than dummy), holding one or more cards of the suit led, plays a card of a different suit. The penalty for a revoke takes precedence of all other counts.
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A revoke is established if the trick in which it occurs be turned and quitted,i.e., the hand removed from the trick after it has been gathered and placed face downward on the table; or if either the revoking player or his partner, whether in his right turn or otherwise, have led or played to the following trick.
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The penalty for a revoke is three tricks taken from the revokingplayer and added to those of the adversaries.
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The penalty is applicable only to the score of the game in which it occurs.
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Under no circumstances can the revoking side score game, in that hand. Whatever their previous score may have been, the side revoking cannot attain a higher score toward game than twenty-eight.
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A player may ask his partner whether he has not a card of the suit which he has renounced; should the question be asked before the trick is turned and quitted, subsequent turning and quittingdoes not establish a revoke, and the error may be corrected unless the question be answered in the negative or unless the revoking player or his partner has led or played to the following trick.
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If a player correct his mistake in time to save a revoke, any player or players who have followed him may withdraw their cards and substitute others, and the cards so withdrawn are not exposed cards. If the player in fault be one of the dealer's adversaries, the card played in error is an exposed card, and the dealer can call it whenever he pleases; or he may require the offender to play his highest or lowest card of the suit to the trick in which he has renounced.
If the player in fault be the dealer, the eldest hand may require him to play the highest or lowest card of the suit in which he has renounced, provided both adversaries of the dealer have played to the current trick; but this penalty cannot be exacted against the dealer when he is fourth in hand, nor can it be enforced at all from dummy.
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At the end of a hand the claimants of a revoke may search all the tricks. If the cards have been mixed the claim may be urged and proved if possible; but no proof is necessary, and the revoke is established if, after it has been claimed, the accused player or his partner mix the cards before theyhave been sufficiently examined by the adversaries.
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A revoke must be claimed before the cards have been cut for the following deal.
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Should the players on both sides subject themselves to the revoke penalty neither can win the game by that hand.
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The revoke penalty may be claimed for as many revokes as occur during a hand; but the accumulated penalty shall in no event exceed thirteen tricks.
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GENERAL RULES
There should not be any consultation between partners as tothe enforcement of penalties. If they do so consult, the penalty is paid.
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Once a trick is complete, turned, and quitted, it must not be looked at until the end of the hand.
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Any player during the play of a trick, or after the four cards are played and before they are touched for the purpose of gathering them together, may demand that the cards be placed before their respective players.
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If either of the dealer's adversaries, prior to his partner's playing, should call attention to the trick, either by saying it is his, or,without being requested so to do, by naming his card or drawing it toward him, the dealer may require that opponent's partner to play his highest or lowest card of the suit led, or to win or lose the trick.
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Either of the dealer's adversaries may call his partner's attention to the fact that he is about to lead out of turn, but if he make any unauthorised reference to any incident of the play the dealer may call a suit from the adversary whose turn it is next to lead.
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In all cases where a penalty has been incurred, the offender is bound to give reasonable time for the decision of his adversaries; butif a wrong penalty be demanded none can be enforced.
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The partner of the eldest hand may inform him that their adversaries have incurred a penalty, but may not give any further information. Should he suggest the penalty, or demand the enforcement of it, such action shall be deemed a consultation, and no penalty can be enforced.
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NEW CARDS
Unless a pack be imperfect, no player shall have the right to call for one new pack. If fresh cards are demanded, two packs must be furnished and paid for by the player who has demanded them. If they are furnished during arubber, the adversaries shall have their choice of new cards. If it is the beginning of a new rubber, the dealer, whether he or one of his adversaries be the party calling for the new cards, shall have the choice. New cards must be called for before the pack is cut for a new deal.
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A card or cards torn or marked must be replaced by agreement or new cards furnished.
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BYSTANDERS
While a bystander, by agreement among the players, may decide any question, yet he must on no account say anything unless appealed to; and if he make any remark which calls attention to an oversightaffecting the score, or to the exaction of a penalty, he is liable to be called on by the players to pay the stakes on that rubber.
SPADE CONVENTION
I.—Where players agree "not to play spades" the rule is, that if the spade make is not doubled, the hand shall be played where either side is 20 or over.
II.—If the third hand player ask, "Shall I play?" or should he lead out of turn, or should the eldest hand lead without asking permission to play, the spade maker may take two on the score or may call a lead and require the hand to be played out.
III.—Should the third hand player double before his partner asks permission to play, the spade maker may decide whether the double shall stand or not; but the hand must be played out.
ETIQUETTE
It has been truthfully said that there is no game in which slight intimations can convey so much information as that of Bridge. In justice to those who, by their manner, give information, it may be stated that most of the apparent unfairness at the Bridge table is unintentional. Hesitation and mannerisms, however, cannot be too carefully avoided; such a breach of etiquette is an offence for which the adversaries have no redress except perhaps a refusal to continue the play.
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It is obviously a greater fault to take advantage of information thusgiven. A play in your judgment may be perfectly sound, but you leave yourself open to criticism if it is in any way contingent on information obtained from your partner's manner.
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Cultivate uniformity in your style of play; let there be no remarkable haste or hesitation in making or passing; try always to use the same formula of words, and do not call attention to the score after the cards have been dealt.
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Remember that any undue hesitancy in regard to doubling will deprive a fair-minded partner of the privilege of so doing. Such delays are too frequent at spade declarations.
Emphasise no play of your own and show no pleasure or displeasure at any other play.
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Do not ask to have the cards placed unless it is solely for your own information.
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It is an offence either to revoke purposely or to make a second revoke in order to conceal the first.
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The dealer's partner should not call attention to the score nor to any card or cards that he or the other players hold, and neither should he leave his seat for the purpose of watching his partner's play.
THE DECLARATION
Avoid a weak diamond make at a love score or when behind on the game.
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Declare clubs at a score of 18 or more when reasonably assured of the game.
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Declare spades at a score of 24 or more when reasonably assured of the game.
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PASSED MAKES
Be cautious about declaring no-trumps when weak in the red suits.
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Avoid all weak red makes on partner's pass.
Declare clubs instead of spades when you hold but one or two spades and a club suit of four or more cards including two honours.
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Declare your best suit at a score of 24 all on the rubber game.
ORIGINAL LEADS AGAINST A DECLARED TRUMP
X indicates others.
THE ORIGINAL LEAD AT NO-TRUMP
UNBLOCKING AT NO-TRUMP
THE CHANGE THE SUITCALL
"What is new in the game of Bridge?" is a reiterated question of the day, and the invariable answer is "Nothing, nor does the lack of innovation tend to simplify the play."
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All Bridge players have experienced the agony of being forced to discard a great suit, thoroughly established, on the dealer's lead, owing to the fact that the partner has made two efforts to establish the suit he originally opened.
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Many times this continuation is sound: the leader holds a re-entrycard, and he has secured no information as to his partner's strength from the early development of the game.
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It is essential to good play that the dealer's adversaries should each gain definite knowledge of the others' holding. Any information that a play can convey is of inestimable help to them and of little or no benefit to the dealer, who is the master of his own two hands.
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We all sympathise with that constantly uttered regret, "Oh, partner, if I had only known that you had that suit," and Bridge players the world over have felt the need of some conventional play thatwould indicate to the original leader an adequate reason for a change of suit.
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The Change the Suit Call is a new convention designed to overcome this difficulty, one that will save countless tricks and rubbers, and one that will tend to minimise the dealer's acknowledged advantage in playing the two hands.
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The convention is as follows:When the original leader's partner has a great suit, one that is established or one that may be established by a single lead through the dummy hand, an echo should be made in the suit led by the dealer.In other words, an echo in the adversary's suit is a command to theoriginal leader to abandon his own unestablished suit and to switch to his partner's declared strength.
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The idea is of course based on the call for trumps in Whist, in which game an echo in any plain suit is a command to the partner to lead trumps. In Bridge it is used principally at no-trump and its application is limited to an echo on thedealer'slead.
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The reader will naturally ask, "How, when but two suits have been led, can I determine which of the two remaining to choose?" The cards in the leader's hand combined with those in the dummy will usually simplify the selection. Should the leader hold a re-entryin one of the remaining suits it is obvious that he has been asked to lead the other. When it happens that both the leader and the dummy are weak in both suits, the preference should usually be given to the one in which the combined hands contain the fewer number of cards.
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This convention may, moreover, be used to great advantage by the original leader. How frequently he finds his suit hopelessly against him. Perhaps he holds no re-entry and the dealer in winning the first trick false cards. It is then that the original leader can use this echo to effect, to suggest that his suit should not be returned.
"The Change the Suit Call" may also be employed to some advantage on the dealer's trump or plain suit lead, to show great strength in one of the remaining suits, or by the original leader to indicate that the suit first led is not to be returned; but its main importance is in the no-trump application.
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"The Change the Suit Call" is an absolutely sound trick-gaining proposition, and the successful results obtained from its use must rapidly establish it as a recognised convention of the game.
Image of the book's back cover