These guidelines are intended for new members and those new to duplicate bridge; but they will serve as a reminder for all our members - and they are intended to make the session as enjoyable as possible for everyone.  Some items relate to how the club is run and some relate directly to the rules of the game.

General

• Please ensure that you arrive at the club by 18.45 at the latest.  On paying your table money please go and sit at the table that you have been allocated.  This will allow the evening to get started on time and save any confusion regarding the movement that is to be played.
• Unless otherwise informed by the Director, the boards will already have been pre-dealt by our Duplimate machine - please do not redeal any of the hands
  • On the odd occassion when you are asked to manually deal the hands by the Director. you should shuffle the cards well, and then deal them singularly - no 'goulash' or similar dealing styles are permitted.
• Do remember that the Director is there to help and should be called immediately if an irregularity is suspected or obvious.  The Director will ascertain the facts and inform everyone of how to proceed.  If you try to sort things yourselves, you may even make things worse.
• North is responsible for moving the boards to the correct table at the end of each round.
• Windermere allow the following time for boards to be played
• 2 board rounds - 14 minutes
• 3 board rounds - 20 minutes
• When the Director is using the Timer on the computer these times will be set at the start of play.  A buzzer will sound to indicate that there are 2 minutes left for the round.  If the opening lead to the board you are playing has not been made when the buzzer sounds, please return the cards to the board and enter the score as "NP" (not played) on the BridgePad.  No further play of any boards in that round will be allowed.
• If you keep a personal score card please ensure the following
• Do keep it closed at all times when it is on the table
• Do ensure you make the opening lead or put the dummy down first before recording the contract on your card
• Do ensure that any scores on your card can not be seen by any of your opponenents
• Windermere tries to ensure that the rules of the Bridge are applied.  In addition our sessions are played under the regulations as laid out in the EBU Orange Book and played at Level 4.

Play

• ALL players should ensure they have 13 cards at the start of each hand by counting them face down before looking at them.  If a hand can not be played because a player does not do this, then that player will be penalised.
• North should ensure that the board is kept in the centre of the table during the round.  After the Auction Period, North should still ensure that the board remains in the correct orientation on the table between dummy and declarer's cards.  One of the reasons for doing this correctly is to greatly reduce the possibility of the cards being mis-boarded at the end of play.
• At the end of play of each board, all players shoiuld agree the number of tricks taken before returning the cards to the board.  Once this has been agreed, each hand should be shuffled and only then should they be returned to the board.
• To ensure that the enjoyment of other players is not spoilt, please ensure that you do not discuss the hands in a manner that allows players at other tables to overhear.  Please remember that all 4 players at the table have seen all the cards played, so everyone is aware of any unusual occurances - there is nothing much worse than being at the next table knowing that you've yet to play the board overhearing, "you could've dropped my singleton King"!!
• If your partner is asked a question relating to a bid (during the bidding), do not signify agreement or otherwise to their reply in anyway - this may end up resulting in unauthorised information.  At the end of the Auction, if any incorrect information has been given to your opponents, you must proceed in the following way
• If you are declarer or dummy, you must inform your opponents before they make their opening lead and where necessary the Director should be called.
• If you are defending - you must not say anything until the end of play, at which point you should inform your opponents.  Again, call the Director if necessary.
• When you make a jump bid you must use the Stop card and leave it on the table for approximately 10 seconds before removing it.  Only after the Stop card has been removed may the next player call or bid.  If the player before you makes a jump bid without using the Stop card, you must still wait the prescribed time before calling.

Scoring

If you are unsure about using the Bridgepads, please refer to the Bridgepad instructions page.

• North is responsible for entering the score into the Bridgepad at the end of the board and this should be verified by East.  If the travellers are turned on, please ensure that no contracts, scores are read out, but instead, if players are interested, the Bridgepad is passed around for individual players to view.
• If a scoring error is detected, it is possible to correct it at any point before you complete the round.  If you have any problems please call the director.
• Normally, the results are available immediately at the end of the session and can be viewed by all competitors before leaving.  The results will normally be uploaded to www.bridgewebs,com/windermere on the night or the following morning.

Convention Cards

• Strictly you and your partner are required to have identically completed convention cards.  However, it isn't always practical at the club as new partnerships are formed or you are playing with the host etc, and some allowances will be made.
• If you have regular partnerships then we strongly recommend that you do indeed bring completed cards with you.  They do not have to be put on the table but may be kept in your bag etc until they are needed
• If you have completed cards it may make it much easier for the Director to make a ruling.
• Completing a card always helps with making sure you have both agreed what conventions you play and can be very enlightening.
• If not playing simple systems then the Director may well rule against you if you have a misunderstanding and there isn't a card to refer to
• You need to have a completed Convention Card to play in Westmorland County Events (unless you are playing simple systems).
• Completing a Convention Card for the first time may seem daunting, but in reality it isn't at all.  It is just a way of recording what you and your partner have agreed to play.
• If you require help completing a card or what any help\advice please speak to any Committee member who will only be too happy to help.

Finally, please remember that we are all at the club to enjoy our bridge.  It is a game that is fascinating and can be as exhilarating as it can be exasperating - but it can never be fully mastered.