On Arrival

If you are sitting north you will need a pen to fill in the travellers and table plan.

Have your table money ready for collection.

Please Help with the dealing prior to commencement of play

General

•Turn off your mobile phone. (If it is absolutely vital you have it on, leave it on ‘vibrate’.)

•It is necessary to play quite quickly. The aim is to be able to play at least 21-24 boards in a session.

•Make sure you have filled in the table plan correctly as it comes round

•Please memorize your pair numbers.

•If there is a sit out feel free to make yourselves a drink in the kitchen and there are Bridge Magazines available to read whilst you wait.

•Do not be afraid to call the Director  to adjudicate on any irregularities during play 

Each New Round

•Greet your new opponents as they arrive at your table.

•Players Must Count Your Cards face down Before the Bidding commences if you do not have 13 cards call the director

•If asked, explain your system clearly and simply, and Answer any questions clearly.

•Sort and count your cards quickly, so that you can bid promptly when it is your turn.

•Do not sort through your cards again when it is your turn to bid.

•Do not ask what a bid means unless you are intending to bid.

The Play

•Do not put your bidding cards away until the initial lead has been made.

•Lead, Place the lead card face down on the table first, ask if anyone has any questions about the auction. If there has been any misunderstood bid at this point it should be announced what the misunderstanding is if it could mislead the player on lead, so he/she can decide to change the lead card (only if the lead card is still face down on the table)

•As dummy, lay out the cards before you write down the contract. And lay out the cards as quickly as possible. (Three people are waiting!)

•As declarer, plan your campaign before you select a card from dummy.

•As dummy, do not play the first card (even if it is a singleton) until declarer has worked out his plan and called for it.

•As declarer, always call for the card you wish dummy to play (unless dummy is away from the table).

•As declarer, when you lead to a trick, wait for the left hand opponent to play his/her card before calling a card from dummy.

•When making a claim, explain your intended line of play clearly.

On Completion of the Play

•After each hand north needs to complete the traveler including the opening lead card

•East needs to check the traveler is filled in correctly before playing the next board.

•Do not hold long post-mortems unless you are clearly well ahead of the other tables.

•Do not touch other players’ cards — ask them to show you at the end of the round.

•North handles new boards.

•Thank your opponents at the end of the round and move quickly to your new table.

Prior to Departure

Please help clear away all the tables and playing equipment before you go home