Guidance on the Laws of Duplicate Bridge and Play Etiquette
THE DIRECTOR
No rulings may be made at the table by anyone other than the Director. The Director is there to sort things out when something goes wrong and to make sure everything is fair for all players.
If you are not happy with the bidding, any aspect of the play of the cards at the table or the behaviour of your opponents, please call the Director immediately. This includes, but is not limited to, Calls out of Turn, Leads out of Turn, Insufficient Bids, Misinformation, Failures to Alert or Announce, Revokes, Hesitation and Claims. Do not try to make any corrections yourself as this will often lead to more problems.
It is important for everyone to note that calling the Director is not an accusation or criticism. It is done to ensure fairness to all concerned and to every player in the room.
THE PLAYERS
Please do not carry on discussing the last hand with your partner once your new opponents arrive at your table or when moving to another table.
North must check that the correct boards are on his table, that their orientation is correct, and the correct opponents are sitting east-west
When making a bid don't allow your hand to hover over the bidding box while you are making your decision; it is unsettling for other players and may inadvertently give your partner unauthorised information.
All conventional and artificial bids must be announced or alerted as appropriate. The rules concerning alerting and announcing can be seen on our website under ‘EBU Information’. Do not explain what your partner’s alert means unless asked.
Do not ask what a bid means until it is your turn to bid and then ONLY if the answer may affect your decision as to whether or not to make a bid. If you have no intention to bid, then wait until the auction is over before asking any questions.
The board in play must remain in the centre of the table, correctly oriented, until play is completed.
The STOP card must be used when you make a jump bid. It must be left on the table for 10 seconds. Your left-hand opponent should not bid until the Stop card is picked up.
THE PLAY
Do not put your bidding cards away until the initial lead has been made.
When you are making the opening lead, always do so before you write down the contract on your scorecard or make an entry in the BridgeMate. Dummy should also put their cards down as soon as the opening lead is made. Remember, three people are waiting!
The opening lead should be made face down on the table with the words 'Any questions partner?'
A player whose partner has given a mistaken explanation of a bid must not correct the error during the auction. The player must call the Director and inform his opponents that, in his opinion, his partner’s explanation was incorrect but only at his first legal opportunity. For a defender, this is at the end of the play of that hand and for declarer or dummy after the final pass of the auction and before the opening lead is made.
During play no player may ask to see the other players cards once he has turned his own card over.
Don’t pack up your cards until the number of tricks made has been agreed between the two sides.
ON COMPLETION OF PLAY
Don't hold post-mortems.
Don't discuss the play and result of a board loudly so that another table might hear.
Keep any conversation at a low level. Noise at the end of a round is always distracting for those at tables still in play. Speak very quietly or whisper if necessary.
Do not admonish your partner at the table if you feel they have bid or played badly even if play has finished. Keep your discussions for later in private. If this happens at your table, politely remind your opponents that this is not acceptable.
GENERAL
Be sympathetic to partner's errors - yours may be next!
Never tell your opponents what they should have done.
Do not discuss hands until the round is complete and then only if time allows.
Your Committee trusts that these few notes of guidance will give you and those around you more enjoyment when playing Bridge and provide you with a better understanding of the Laws of Duplicate Bridge.
Chairman,
Devizes Bridge Club,
July, 2017
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