We will continue to play relaxed Duplicate sessions where I recommend you look at the following guidelines. It is not compulsory but serves as an aide memoire for players who want to adopt good bridge table etiquette. I also give more details on how the BriAn app works.

Sitting North and Scoring

• North scores and before play checks that the right people are sitting at the table and the correct boards are on the table and orientated correctly.
• Only North should score using the BriAn app
• For all players as you take the cards out of the board count them to check you have 13. Rarely the players on a previous round may misplace cards in error and you may count 12 or 14 cards!
• When the play is over the contract is entered by North.
• Before the score is entered it is essential that all players leave the 13 played cards in front of them undisturbed. Sometimes a player may query the number of tricks made and then all players can check tricks won and lost.
• Only put the cards back into the board when the score has been agreed and entered.
• Before you put the cards back in the board for the next round give your 13 cards a little shuffle.
• From the 2nd round North can show % comparable score for that board and players can discuss the comparable results.

Viewing the BriAn app

• Other players can view their device only if they wish to see how things are going. To do so press the refresh icon (a circle with two arrows in it) The refresh button appears at the bottom of an iPhone and for Android press the three dots and then all the icons appear.
• No ranking score appears until the second round.
• Other players should not enter scores, only North.
• To view press the three-line person silhouette icon, and then the rankings appear. Remember to refresh to get up to date results.

Score Adjustment

• If the score is not correctly entered before the next board is played it is possible for North to clear the score and re-enter it.
• Sometimes a table may realise the score was not entered properly after more boards are played. Call Andrew over where he can adjust the score.
• After the session if a score needs adjustment Andrew can be contacted with the query before the results are uploaded to our Bridgewebs site.

Sitting East

• East has an important role to play where they check the score and agree it. East must check the board number and that the score is entered correctly. Norths do occasionally make a mistake so it's East’s job to ensure the correct entry!
• When I sit East, I check the board number and the right contract is entered.
• A tick box appears to agree or decline the result

Bidding

• When the bidding is complete players should keep the bidding cards on the table before the lead is made. This assists the person on lead to choose their lead card.
• In the bidding process if you jump the bidding, e.g. calling 3 spades over partners 1 spade opening bid you should put out the red stop card that alerts the table that a jump bid has been made. Leave it down for a few seconds and then place the stop card back.
• I recommend the stop card and the alert card is put in the small slot at the back of the bidding box.
• The person on lead selects a card and places it face down on the table and says “any questions partner?” Sometimes a player may ask a question about the bidding before the play and that is the time to do so.
• On occasion a player on defence may make a lead out of place so by placing the card face down avoids any issue and the card can be safely put back.
• The lead is then made and only then the bidding cards can then get put away.

Final Results

• When the session is over players can access their app. Make sure you have the correct slot name; U3AFarnham.
• Enter your pair number
• It should then say Game Over and a blue box under saying View rankings
• Then you get a ranking list. If you put in the correct pair number your pair will highlight in dark blue. Don’t worry if you forgot your pair number just enter 1 and then you will see the complete list and find your pair.
• Click on your pair and it will give you a scorecard and boards showing your result per board.
• When you view the boards played you will see N/S and E/W high card points with available tricks that each side can make. Sometimes, due to algorithms, the maximum makeable tricks are almost impossible to play.
• Scores will be uploaded to www.bridgewebs.com/u3afarnham
• Previous sessions will be available to view

Bidding Conventions

• Before the session starts you need to agree with partner what you are playing. Do you play Stayman, Transfers, Weak NT or Weak Twos? All these are artificial or convention bids and the table need to be told.
• This can only be done by the partner of the person making the bid. If you bid 2 clubs Stayman for example you must not say what it is otherwise you are giving inappropriate information to partner.
• Your partner therefore has a duty to recognise the bidding convention and then announce it to the table.
  • Over 1NT opened 2 Clubs – Announce “Stayman”
  • Over 1NT opened 2 Diamonds or 2 Hearts- Announce “transfer to Hearts or Spades”
  • Opening 2 Diamonds, 2 Hearts or 2 Spades – Announce “weak”
  • Open 1NT – Announce “12-14”
• In the bidding you may make an overcall. If you jump the bidding say 3 spades over oppositions 1 diamond, remember, put out your red stop card. Nothing needs to be said unless opposition asks. If asked it is up to your partner to say what the overcall means. Partnerships pre agree if their jump overcalls are either “weak jump overcalls or strong jump overcalls. Partner just needs to say “weak or “strong”.
• The Alert card does not need to be used unless you and partner are playing more sophisticated “artificial” bids. The same principle applies the person who makes the artificial bid says nothing. It is the duty of the partner to place the blue alert card on the table.
• Nothing needs to be said unless the opposition pair asks the alerting player what it means.

3rd January 2025