Tournament Directors and Directing

The Director is often also the Scorer, and may or may not be a member of the Committee. The TD will help set the tone at the club, so it is crucial that he or she has a friendly and welcoming manner while being firm when necessary. A good knowledge of the movements, laws and basics of scoring is also required. A TD is not expected to know all the laws by heart, but should be able to find the relevant pages in the Law Book.
 

Players are encouraged to always call the Director as soon as a problem arises at the table. The TD is there to help and ensure fair play. Problems tend to get worse if they are not dealt with by the TD immediately. Calling the TD should be routine and not seen as any kind of accusation, but simply as a way of making certain that the situation is resolved in the most equitable fashion.
 

Opening Lead - Out of Turn

Declarer has five options;

1. You can accept the lead and become dummy
2. You can accept the lead see the dummy and you play the hand 
3. You can require the lead of the suit led from the proper defender
4. You can prohibit the lead of the suit led from the proper defender (If you prohibit or require the offender will restore the incorrect lead to his hand; the prohibition applies as long as that specific defender retains the lead.)
5. You can allow the proper defender to lead whatever he wants, and the led card will become a penalty card

Leads Out of Turn During Play

If by declarer in leading from hand or from dummy, either defender may accept the lead.  If not, declarer may lead what he likes from the correct hand.

If by defender, when the lead is in hand or in dummy, declarer may:

• Accept the lead OR
• Allow the card to remain faced as a penalty card 

If by defender, when the other defender is on lead, declarer may:

• Accept the lead.
• Require the lead of that suit from the proper defender
• Prohibit the lead of that suit from the correct defender; such prohibition applies as long as that defender retains the lead (If the lead is prohibited or required the offender restores the incorrect lead to his hand.)
• Allow the proper defender to lead whatever he wants, and the incorrect lead will become a penalty card

Simultaneous play from one player: 

If only one card is visible, that one is a played card and the others are restored to the hand If multiple cards are visible, the player designates his intended card; the remaining exposed cards become penalty cards.

Simultaneous play from two players:

If one play is legal and the other is not, the illegal play is deemed to be subsequent to the legal play. 

Penalty Cards

Minor Penalty Card – the definition.

A minor penalty card is a single card with a rank of 9 or lower that is exposed by accident (as in playing two cards to a trick or dropping one accidentally).  A deliberately, even though erroneously, played card is not a minor penalty card.

The following facts are true about a minor penalty card:

• It must be left face up on the table.
• It does not have to be played at its first legal opportunity.
• It must be played before any other spot card, i.e., 9 or lower, of the same suit.
• It is permissible to lead or play an honor card, 10 or above, in the same suit before playing the minor penalty card.
• It is permissible to play another suit.
• The offender’s partner is not subject to lead penalties (but Law 16A, Unauthorized Information, may apply).

Disposition of a Major Penalty Card 

The player with the penalty card must play it at his first legal opportunity, whether in leading, following suit, discarding, or trumping.

If the partner of the player with the penalty card gains the lead while it is still on the table, declarer may:

• Require the lead of the suit of the penalty card
• Prohibit the lead of the suit of the penalty card
  • In which case, all penalty cards in that suit are picked up
  • The prohibition applies as long as he holds the lead
• Allow the lead of the defender’s choice– In which case the penalty card remains on the table
• If the partner cannot comply with the require or prohibit instruction, the penalty card is picked up nonetheless.

Insufficient Bids

LHO can accept (or condone) any insufficient bid. If he does so, the bidding continues normally and there is no penalty. If the bid is not accepted, the insufficient bid must be corrected by a legal call.

• (A) IF the insufficient bid defines a suit or suits or shows a balanced hand, THEN the player MAY correct the insufficient bid to the lowest sufficient bid that shows the same suit or suits or shows a balanced hand respectively AND there is NO penalty.

• (B) IF there is a Comparable Call, see page 6, THEN the player MAY correct the insufficient bid to that Comparable Call AND there is NO penalty.

• (C) OTHERWISE the player MUST replace the insufficient bid with any sufficient bid or pass (not a double or redouble):

PENALTY; the Offender’s PARTNER must pass throughout and there may be Lead Penalties, 

Examples:

• If the auction starts 2NT-P-2♦ intended as a transfer but insufficient then, if 2♦ is not condoned, it may be corrected to 3♦ (transfer) under (A) since both 2♦ and 3♦ show hearts and there is NO PENALTY.
• If the auction starts 2♣-2♠-2♦ intended as a negative response but insufficient then, if 2♦ is not condoned, it may be corrected to pass which is a Comparable Call under (B) since both 2♦ and pass have a similar meaning and there is NO PENALTY.

Notes:

• The player may NOT correct to a double or redouble EXCEPT as provided in (B) above. If he does so, unless LHO condones the insufficient bid, then (C) above applies.
• If the OFFENDER attempts to change his insufficient bid to another insufficient bid, unless LHO condones either one, then (C) above applies.
• If the OFFENDER changes his insufficient bid to a legal bid as above before the Director tells him his options, unless LHO condones the insufficient bid, then (A), (B) or (C) applies to the substituted legal bid.
• If the OFFENDING SIDE reaches a better contract because of the insufficient bid than they would without, in (A) or (B) above, the Director may award an adjusted score.