
Bridge Etiquette: Bidding Do's and Don'ts
Fair play
In bridge, bidding is an exchange of information. During bidding, you're trying to telegraph details about your cards to your partner. Your first impulse may be to develop some special bidding conventions that only you and your partner know. According to the rules of the game, however, you can't have any bidding secrets with your partner; the same goes for your opponents. So even though the opponents may be bidding their heads off, you at least will know what their bids mean.
Here are some tips to help you keep your bidding on the straight and narrow:
- Once you’ve decided on your bid take the appropriate bidding card out of little box and place on table in front of you. No fumbling required.
- Don’t be tempted to “huff and puff” because yet again you’ve little or no points. Treat it all like poker and let your bidding cards give information.
- Don't use body language. If partner makes a bid you don't like, don't throw any looks across the table. If partner makes a bid that you do like, you must refrain from any signs of glee, high 5’s etc.
- Don't give in to emotional reactions or breakdowns, no matter what happens during the bidding. Keep an even keel. It’s just a game that we all love!
Bridge Etiquette: Dummy
Fair play
If you are fortunate to be dummy (you get a little rest), AND remember you are not playing the cards. Sit back and enjoy the game.
On no account should Dummy point to any card on the table unless instructed by the person playing.
Let your partner playing the cards know if “on the table” or “in your hand” as appropriate. Or you may say “not holding” if your partner doesn’t follow suit.
Do not start counting out loud the tricks as they are being drawn from the opposition.
Trust your partner.
Your only job as Dummy is to place your cards on the table for all to view and sit back and let your partner play. No comments required, until the end “Well Done”.
ALWAYS REMEMBR WHILE BIDDING YOU CANNOT EXPLAIN YOUR BID TO YOUR PARTNER!!
ALSO WHEN THE FIRST CARD IS PLAYED THERE SHOULD BE NO COMMENT.
IF YOU PASS AND THEN FIND YOU HAVE AN OPENING BID ONCE BIDDING BEGINS YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BID AGAIN UNTIL THE BIDDING COMES AROUND TO YOU.
PLEASE KEEP CONVERSATION TO A MINIMUM WHILE PLAY IS IN PROGRESS.
FAIR PLAY AT BRIDGE
REMINDER: As you win or lose a trick the card must be placed face down in front of each player.
These tricks must be left face down untiil the game ends.
You cannot look back at these tricks while playing.
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Please wait your turn to play a card - holding a card mid air prematurely while waiting your turn is not fair play.
Law 74 in the Rule book covers Conduct and Etiquette, CBAI regulationshttp://cbai.ie/education/tournament-direction/ must be observed.
Law 74 B 3 forbids a player to detach a card from his hand until it is his turn to play.
This action is viewed as giving partner information to cards held as in expecting a finesse
which would have been beaten and a subsequent change giving partner unauthorised information. (Law 16 B 1).
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