Note to Duplicate bridge players
The main aim of Marlborough Afternoon Bridge Club is for all members to enjoy their experience of playing at the Club. We wish the laws of bridge and of etiquette to be observed by all.
SAVING TIME
Time can be saved with every hand; if the person on lead makes his/her lead before writing down the contract or entering it into the BridgeMate and if dummy puts his/her cards down before entering details on his/her scorecard or on the BridgeMate.
If you are slow to finish the last hand of the round, dummy should be aware that you have been slow and should pass on the completed boards.
NOISE LEVEL
At times our club is very noisy because players are chatting loudly or discussing hands when other tables are still playing. We ask you to be aware of others and keep noise levels to a minimum especially towards the end of each round.
TALKING ABOUT THE HANDS
Please do not discuss the hands during play – comments about a hand may be heard at adjacent tables and taken advantage of or make it impossible for another table to play that hand because of what has been heard.
Similarly, no comments should ever be made about opponents bidding and play, and advice should not be offered unless specifically requested. Procedural penalties may be incurred.
All procedural penalties are applied at the end of the playing session by the scorer.  Any discussion about the hands or criticisms of partner should be done away from the table and at the end of play. The hand records and contracts are available on the website.
CALLING THE DIRECTOR
The director is there to help with the smooth running of the event and to deal with any infringements. Please call for the director at any time when the laws of bridge or the etiquette of the game have been broken they are there to restore parity not to penalize – do not try to resolve the issue yourselves. It is much easier for the director to deal with infringements as they happen.(For example: an insufficient bid does not automatically have to be made good; it may be accepted by the next person to bid and other bids are available with consequences.) (We would ask you to accept the director’s decision at the time but ask to appeal at the end of play if you feel the director’s decision has been unjust or inaccurate. This speeds up proceedings and prevents undue delay).
CONVENTION CARDS
Convention cards should be available for your opponents to read and each member of a pair should have an identical convention card. Without a convention card being available it is presumed that you are playing basic Acol.
Announcing Alerting & Opening lead
Please announce your 1NT, 2NT Stayman, Transfers etc.
Put your opening lead face down on the table and wait for your partner to say “No questions partner” before turning it over.  Bidding cards must stay out until this point then be returned to the bidding boxes
MAKE EVERYONE HAPPY TO PLAY WITH OR AGAINST YOU
We all want to enjoy our bridge so please make EVERY opponent feel welcome at your table.  It is so important that ALL players are respected at all times.
Be polite to your opponents and to your partner.
Please be especially polite to new inexperienced players who may feel intimidated and nervous, thank you and enjoy your bridge.
JANUARY 2016