While we all try to follow the rules laid down by the EBU when playing bridge, occasionally mishaps will occur.

When this happens please call the director to make a decision as to what should happen and adjust the scores if necessary. Please remember the director is your friend and do not feel offended if the opposition calls for a director decision.  

Arguing with the director will not be tolerated and any such happenings will be referred to the Committee and action will be taken if required.

Below are listed a few common problems which occur at the table.

Revokes  -  Laws 61 to 64

1) WHO CAN ASK WHOM ABOUT A POSSIBLE REVOKE?

ANYONE except dummy can ask ANYONE; dummy can only ask declarer.   Dummy and defenders are warned that asking could give UNAUTHORISED INFORMATION.

2) WHEN IS A REVOKE ESTABLISHED?

(a)   When the Offender or his Partner makes any play to the next trick OR

(b)   If the Offender or his Partner designates in any manner a card to be played to the next trick.

3) CORRECTION OF A REVOKE

A player must correct a revoke if in time to do so, that is before it becomes established. 

When correcting a revoke, the revoke card is withdrawn and a legal card substituted.   If that card is a Defender's card, it becomes a penalty card which is left face up and played at the first legal oppertunity.

4) WITHDRAWING A CARD PLAYED

Each member of the NON-OFFENDING side may withdraw a card he has played after the revoke and BEFORE attention was drawn to it.   The PARTNER of the OFFENDER is also entitled to withdraw his played card, BUT ONLY if his RHO does so.

5) PROCEDURE WHEN A REVOKE IS ESTABLISHED

How many tricks did the OFFENDING SIDE win from the revoke trick onwards (INCLUDING the revoke trick)?

  (a)   NONE  :  there is no Penalty

  (b)   ONE  :  PENALTY ONE TRICK is transferred.

  (c)   TWO or MORE: Did the revoke card win with the revoke trick?                                                                

           YES  :   PENALTY TWO TRICKS transferred.                                                                      

            NO  :   PENALTY ONE TRICK transferred.

Tricks are transferred as shown to the opponents at the end of the hand.   If the revoke penalty is insufficient compensation for the non-offenders the Director may RESTORE EQUITY.  

6) DECLARER OR DUMMY REVOKING

Declarer is liable to penalties for revoking in exactly the same way as the Defenders.   However, if Declarer revokes and Dummy wins the trick, Declarer is deemed NOT to have won the trick for the purposes of assessing a penalty.      

There is no penalty for a revoke by Dummy.   If this is insufficient compensation for the non-offenders, then the Director may RESTORE EQUITY. One of the silliest sayings in Bridge is "Dummy can't revoke".   Of course he can.   What they mean is that there is no automatic penalty.

7) A REVOKE CARD MAY NOT BE WITHDRAWN.

Once established, a revoke card cannot be withdrawn and the revoke trick stands as played.

RESTORING EQUITY

If, for any reason, the non-offending side loses out after the revoke penalties (if any) are applied, the Director can assign an adjusted score if he deems the non-offending side is compensated insufficiently for any damage done.  

Examples are:

a.)   The revoke was from dummy, OR attention was first drawn to the revoke AFTER the offending side had called on the next hand or after the end of the round and so no revoke penalty was applicable.   However, the Offenders gained a trick or tricks from the revoke.

b.)   Despite a penalty of one or two tricks, the Offenders have gained more than that because of the revoke.

The NON-OFFENDING SIDE should be AWARE of the fact, ALTHOUGH it can NEVER BE WORSE OFF after a REVOKE, it does not, in every case have to end up BETTER OFF.

HESITATIONS & UNAUTHORISED INFORMATION (Laws 16 & 73):

Examples of Partners' actions which may convey "unauthorised information" during the auction are:

• A remark or question.  
• An answer to a question.
• Special emphasis, or tone of voice.
• A gesture, movement or mannerism.
• An unmistakable hesitation (or undue haste) before calling.

Other actions which may convey "unauthorised information" are:

• Looking at the wrong hand.
• Overhearing calls, remarks or results from other tables.
• Seeing another player's cards.

When a players has unauthorised information from other sources, not Partner, he should let the Director know.   The Director may:

• Adjust positions (e.g. allowing the board to be played arrow-switched if East has seen some of North's cards).
• Allow the board to be played, cancelling the board later if he decides it necessary.
• Cancel the board immediately.

After unautherised information has been give the director may decide to cancel the board and give artificial adjusted scores.

DUMMY'S RIGHTS (Laws 42 & 43)

DUMMY is NOT allowed to:

• Ask a Defender about a possible revoke.
• Look at an opponets System Card during the play of a hand.
• Draw attention, before the hand is over, to any irregularity, once it has been committed.
• Point out how many tricks have been won or lost.
• Suggest the Director be called before another player draws attention to an irregularity.
• Take any part in the play of the hand except to play the cards as Declarer tells him.
• Look at Declarer's hand or curtain card.
• Look - at his own initiative - at any card in a Defender's hand, ask any question or make any comments on the hand.
• Leave his seat to watch Declarer's play. 

DUMMY is allowed to:

• Keep track of tricks won or lost.
• Warn one of the players he has put a quitted card in the wrong direction, but only until the next trick has started.
• Try to prevent Declarer from committing an irregularity.   e.g. saying "Are you not in Dummy" when he is about to take a card from his hand.   BUT it would be too late to warn him once he has 'played' the card.
• Try to prevent Declarer from establishing a revoke, e.g.saying 'Having no clubs?'
• Try to prevent an irregularity on the part of a DEFENDER.
• Call the Director if one of the other three players draws attention to an irrregularity.
• Give informmation as to fact or law when the Director is present BUT not to ask questions even if the Director is present.
• Draw attention to any irregularity once the hand is completed.

Card Played (Law 45):

A.   Play of card from Hand

Each Player except Dummy plays a card by detaching it from his hand and facing it on the Table immediately before him. The exception is for the opening lead which is first made face down. The Partner of the Leading Player should say: "No questions" before the card is exposed.

B.   Play of card from dummy

Declarer plays a card from Dummy by naming the card, after which Dummy picks up the card and faces it on the Table.

C.   Compulsory play of a card

A Defender's card held so that it is possible for his Partner to see its face must be played to the current trick.

Declarer must play a card from his hand if it is;

       (1)   held face up, touching or nearly touching the table, or

       (2)   maintained in such a position as to indicate that it has been played.

A card in the Dummy must be played if it has been deliberately touched by Declarer, except for the purpose of arranging Dummy's cards.

A card must be played if a player names or otherwise designates it as the card he proposes to play.

Until the next player has played a card a player may change an unintended designation if he does so without pause for thought.