Bidding

• You may not ask for information unless it is your turn to call or play.
• Do not ask for information during the auction unless you are intending to bid – to do so otherwise may be construed as passing unauthorized information to one’s partner.
• When it is your turn, you may ask questions of the opponents after the auction has concluded. You may ask for an explanation of a bid throughout the play (at your turn), but may not review the auction after you have played to first trick.
• Wait at least 10 seconds after your RHO makes a jump bid before making a call.

Card Handling

• Do not detach a card from your hand until it is your turn to play nor should you pull up a card, push it back and then play another card.
• Any player has the right to inspect a quitted trick (trick turned face over) until you have turned your card face down (in other words, as long as your card is still face up, you have the right to ask to see any cards played on that trick).
• You may not touch or handle your opponent’s cards
• Do not mix up your cards at the end of a hand until the result is agreed with the opponents.
• When there is a question involving whether a card is “considered played” or not, Call the Director. Refer to Law 45 & 46, it is complicated. (It is, however, considered bad manners to detach and replace a card and then play another card.)
• Opening lead. Make your opening lead before writing down the contract on your convention card, and make it face down and then ask partner if he/she has any questions. Lead may NOT be changed.
• Card turned incorrectly. Dummy or either defender may draw attention to a card pointed incorrectly, but only before a lead is made to the following trick.

Dummy’s responsibilities and rights

• There is no set ‘rule’ in what suit order dummy should place his cards, although the trump suit should be laid out on dummy’s right (some also find it useful to alternate colors).
• Dummy may not touch a card until called for by declarer.
• If declarer designates a suit but not the rank, he is calling for the lowest card of that suit.
• If declarer designates a rank but not the suit, he is calling for continuing the suit in which dummy won the last trick
• Dummy may alert declarer if he is about to lead from the wrong hand.
• Dummy may ask declarer if he is out of a suit played.
• Dummy may not call the director until after a hand has been played.

Making a claim

• You may make a claim by facing your cards on the table and giving a full explanation of how you intend to play the hand. You must leave your cards on the table until the opponents are satisfied.
• Once a claim has been made, play stops; the defenders may not say, “Play it out.” If there is a disagreement, the director must be called

Gentle Bridge is geared specifically for newcomers to duplicate bridge with under 20 masterpoints.  The game is considered a newcomer game by ACBL and the volunteers and directors are able to answer and suggest when asked about how to bid a hand.  These newcomers know only beginning tactics and rules. Blackwood, Stayman and transfers are the extent of most of these players.  Some also use Barbara Seagram’s bidding and defense charts while they bid and play (which is allowed).  The group normally plays about 12 boards (2 boards per round), against 6 different pairs.  Players get about 10 minutes to play each board.  

Step 2 --The Limited Game is for players in the range of 0-399 master points.  They play 18-24 boards. These are pre-dealt hands and include  Hand records are available after the game for the players to review and compare their results.  Players are expected to keep score and fill out a convention card for your partnership, so the opponents know what your bids mean.  The director will be there for infractions of the rules, generally improper bidding, leads or play.   Our goal is to be patient and support all players.  

We hope you will join us.  

Best Behaviour