Engineers Ireland Bridge Club

Etiquette - Law 74

Conduct and Etiquette

This is the full text of Law 74, which you may have to draw to the attention of some players.

A. Proper Attitude

  1. A player should maintain a courteous attitude at all times.
  2. A player should carefully avoid any remark or action that might cause annoyance or embarrassment to another player or might interfere with the enjoyment of the game.
  3. Every player should follow uniform and correct procedure in calling and playing.

B. Etiquette

As a matter of courtesy a player should refrain from :

  1. paying insufficient attention to the game
  2. making gratuitous comments during the auction and play.
  3. detaching a card before it is their turn to play.
  4. prolonging play unnecessarily (as in playing on although he knows that all the tricks are surely his) for the purpose of disconcerting an opponent.
  5. summoning and addressing the Director in a manner discourteous to him or to other contestants.

C. Violations of Procedure

The following are examples of violations of procedure:

  1. using different designations for the same call.
  2. indicating approval or disapproval of a call or play.
  3. indicating the expectation or intention of winning or losing a trick that has not been  completed.
  4. commenting or acting during the auction or play so as to call attention to a significant occurrence, or to the number of tricks still required for success.
  5. looking intently at any other player during the auction and play, or at another player's hand as for the purpose of seeing his cards or observing the place from which he draws a card (but it is appropriate to act on information acquired by unintentionally seeing an opponent's card).
  6. Showing an obvious lack of further interest in a deal (as by folding one's cards).
  7. varying the normal tempo of bidding or play for the purpose of disconcerting an opponent.
  8. leaving the table needlessly before the round is called.​

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Comment - 

A Tournament Director is entitled to penalise players who breach Law 74 (under Law 90). This Law applies to many situations, most of which are obvious. One must be courteous to partner, opponents and the TD. You must not embarrass or annoy people nor interfere with their enjoyment of the game.

However, Law 74 also applies in situations which are less obvious - for example SLOW PLAY. Playing too slowly is against the Laws of Bridge. It is discourteous and stops other players enjoying the game. Carefully examine your own habits before reprimanding others for slow play. Is your table often the last to finish? Do people often ask you for boards while you are playing the last hand? If your are E/W is the next table always waiting for you?