MalcolmsMemo

June 2010 when to replace cards

2010-06-03T03:33:00.000-07:00

BIDDING BOX REGULATIONS

WHEN TO REPLACE CARDS

At the end of the auction leave all the cards in place until the opening lead is faced and then return them to their boxes. This applies to Pass Cards as well as bidding cards.

ANNOUNCEMENTS – TWO OF A SUIT OPENINGS

2010-05-05T08:01:00.000-07:00

May 2010
ANNOUNCEMENTS – TWO OF A SUIT OPENINGS

All two of a suit openings are announced (if natural) or alerted (if artificial).

A natural opening bid of two of a suit is announced by stating the range into which it falls, from the following categories. Partner of the opener says the words shown.

(a) “Strong, forcing” (b) “Strong, not forcing” (c) “Intermediate” (d) “Weak”

2NT openings do not have to be announced.

March 2010 : TEMPO

2010-03-04T00:43:00.000-08:00

TEMPO

The Laws state that ‘It is desirable, though not always required, for players to maintain steady tempo and unvarying manner’. Consequently players who are consistently slow are complying with the letter of the Law. However, because everyone else wishes to finish the session in a reasonable time, they may not be complying with the spirit of the Club. We all know that some hands require more thought than others but I wish to ask those who are seen to be slow for more than one round to make a positive effort to speed up their play in subsequent rounds and enable everyone else to go home at a reasonable time.

In practice, some club members have complained about late finishing as they wish to be home at a reasonable time. Consequently TDs will be using the following procedure.

a) Slow players will be told that they are playing slowly and be asked to play more quickly.

b) If they do not speed up they will be told about item c).

c) If they remain slow the next board will be removed and their opponents given a score of 60% or their session average, whichever is the greater.

General Instructions: March 2010

2010-03-04T00:39:00.000-08:00

1NT OPENING BIDS

Partnerships agreeing to play a natural 1NT opening which may include hands with a singleton must prominently disclose this fact, and must be careful to provide full disclosure of all agreements as to the use of a 1NT opening, stating when a singleton may be expected. In addition, such 1NT openings must be announced by stating the range followed by ‘possible singleton’.

ANY QUESTIONS

I would like to remind everyone of the protocol of prompting questions at the end of the auction. The correct sequence is for the person on lead to place the lead facedown on the table. His or her partner may then either ask questions or indicate that there are none. The person on lead must not prompt by saying ‘Any questions partner?’ as this could give an impression that the person on lead is not sure that partner has fully understood the bidding. I am fully aware that in most cases the person on lead prompts because he wishes to get things moving but if he waits even the slowest partner will finally realise that some action is necessary. Partners who are frequently spoon fed are likely to assume that the action is normal which it should not be.

BOARD IN TABLE CENTRE

Law 7A states ‘When a board is to be played it is placed in the centre of the table until play is completed’. However it is often convenient, because of space considerations, to put it on one side. Before doing this you should check that no-one wishes to object.

CALLING THE DIRECTOR

One of the Director’s functions is to sort out or clarify any apparent anomalies or infringements that occur. However I am aware that some players are reticent about calling the Director because they assume that their action is tantamount to an accusation of cheating or deliberate malpractice. Others assume that an opponent, when calling, is about to make such an accusation. In practice it is a request to restore equity and should not be considered as anything stronger than that.

To avoid calling, some players attempt to sort out the problem themselves but they should consider the following points.

a) The Director’s ruling is unbiased.

b) It gives the Director experience and added confidence in his or her ability to deal with such situations.

c) If necessary he or she can consult other Directors to ensure that the decision is as fair as possible.

CARD POINTED WRONG WAY

Players are now allowed to point out that a quitted trick card is pointing the wrong way. Declarer can do it at any time; dummy or defenders can do it only until the lead is made to the following trick.
CARD RELACEMENT IN BIDDING BOX

A card, when taken out of a bidding box, is placed on the table facing one’s partner. At the end of the bidding the person on lead may ask questions then selects the lead card and places it face down on the table. When all further questions are completed that person turns the card over and then and only then should cards be replaced into their bidding boxes. This approach is used to ensure that players asking questions have full information about the bidding sequence. This action applies to ALL cards including pass cards.

CHANGE OF CALL

Law 25 states that ‘Until his partner makes a call, a player may substitute his intended call for an unintended call but only if he does so, or attempts to do so, without pause for thought.’ Current interpretation of ‘pause for thought’ is not that it is instantaneous but that it is from the moment of realisation and should be interpreted generously. Consequently, if a player puts down a bidding card looks around the room and then notices that card, possibly because of a question or an alert, he is allowed to change it if he does so immediately from the moment of realisation so long as the call was inadvertent and his partner has not made a call. I bring this to your attention because it is a change of interpretation.

CHANGE OF CALL

I draw your attention to a change in interpretation about a change of call. It is now assumed that ‘pause for thought’ is from the moment of realisation and, when in doubt, is to be interpreted generously. So if a player puts down a bidding card, looks around the room and then notices that card, possibly because of a question or an alert, he is allowed to change it if he does so immediately from that moment of realisation so long as the call was inadvertent. However he still cannot change it if his partner has called.

COMPLETION OF TRANSFER

A weak takeout response to a 1NT opening bid is not alertable but a response requesting a transfer is alertable. However the completion of that transfer is not alertable unless it contains extra meanings. Consequently when there is no alert to the response opponents are justified in assuming that the responder’s hand is weak. When there is a transfer without an alert to the completion opponents are justified in assuming that no extra specific information has been given.

DEALING

Cards, after shuffling, are dealt and the Laws state:-

‘The cards must be dealt face down, one card at a time, into four hands of 13 cards each; each hand is then placed face down in one of the four pockets of he board. The recommended procedure is that the cards be dealt in rotation, clockwise.’

Consequently a Director finding anyone dealing incorrectly must insist that they redeal properly to comply with the Laws. It is quite acceptable to put cards in a haphazard order or goulash form as part of the shuffling function but they must then be dealt properly.

EXPLANATION OF AN ALERT

The Laws indicate that a player must either ask to have all previous calls restated or say nothing about them when it is his turn to call. They also state ‘During the auction and play any player except dummy may refer to his opponents’ convention card at his turn to call or play’. If there is no convention card as is normal in our club players sometimes specifically ask for an explanation of an alert and no other call. Although it is understandable it contravenes the Laws and so should not be done. Everyone should also be aware that specifically asking about an alert and then not bidding puts partner in an invidious position because although he can justifiably assume that your hand has reasonable strength he must make no use of that information. His invidious position is even greater if your hand does not have reasonable strength. Consequently, if you have no intention of bidding, say nothing during the auction.

FILLING IN TRAVELLERS

It is important to fill in travellers clearly and correctly and to invite opponents to check. It is also their responsibility to do so. Do NOT put a question mark on a traveller but immediately draw Tournament Director’s attention to any anomalies during the session so that he can then obtain clarification. Otherwise he will have to take a decision while scoring and not in possession of all relevant facts. When a board is passed out, write the score as zero in both columns but, when sitting out, do not write any score. Do not write in match point columns.

HOVERING OVER BIDDING BOX

There are occasions when a player needs time to think before making a call and, consequently, both partner and opponents are aware that he or she has a problem but they do not, nor should they, know whether the problem concerns a choice of bids or a choice between bidding and passing. However, if the player’s hand hovers over the bidding box and moves between two cards in that box his or her problem becomes obvious. This gives unauthorised information which must not be used by his partner and, unfortunately for his partner, gives authorised information to his opponents which they can use. Consequently this annoying habit should not be used especially as it gives an impression that the hand rather than the brain is doing the thinking.

INSUFFICIENT BID

This is both complicated to explain and understand and may be difficult to apply. There is a significant change to the insufficient bid law. The scope for allowing an insufficient bid to be replaced without silencing partner has been extended. The old rule of replacing it at the lowest legal level remains, provided that the insufficient and replacement bids are natural. But there is now an added possibility, which comes if a replacement call can be found which has the same meaning, or a more precise meaning than the insufficient bid itself.

Confused? Well, Max Bavin has come up with a useful question that directors should ask which might help to make it easier to decide. Would all hands making the replacement call also have made the original call in correct circumstances? If the answer is yes, then the change is allowed.

Here are a few examples:

West North East South
1 1 1

East/West play Precision Club, so 1 shows 16+ HCP and, without interference, 1 shows 0-7 HCP. Can East replace his 1 bid by double if he has 5-7 points? They play that over interference a pass shows 0-4 HCPs and a double 5-7 HCPs.

Would all hands playing Precision Club that would now double also have bid 1 without interference? Yes, so the change can be made and partner can continue bidding. Note that in this case pass would also be acceptable if East had 0-4 HCPs.

West North East South
4NT 5 5

4NT was Blackwood but East missed the 5 bid and 5 showed 0 or 4 aces. East/West play DOPI over intervention (double shows no ace, pass shows one ace). Can East replace 5 by double? Yes, all hands that would double to show no ace, would also have bid 5 without the interference.

LEAD CARD MUST NOT BE WITHDRAWN

Law 41A

NORTH’S RESPONSIBILITY

Although there is no law which states that North is in charge of the table it is conventionally assumed that North is. Consequently North is responsible for

a) Ensuring that the correct boards are being, or are about to be, played
b) Ensuring that the correct pairs play them
c) Filling in travellers correctly and neatly so that they are easily readable
d) Ensuring that the lead card column is completed
e) Not putting a question mark by a queried score but bringing the anomaly to the Director’s attention during the session so that the matter can be sorted out by the relevant pairs
f) Showing each traveller to partner and opponents so that they can confirm the result
g) Passing the boards to the next playing or relay table.

Opponents (conventionally East) are responsible for checking that actions a) to f) are carried out.

OPENING BIDS OF TWO

The current E.B.U. instructions are that the strength of opening two bids must be announced. Many players announce opening multi two and weak two bids but it would appear that some assume that strong opening two bids do not need to be announced. Please note that ALL opening bids, whether weak, strong or intermediate, must be announced.

PARTNER’S INCORRECT EXPLANATION

Declarer or dummy must wait until the end of the auction before correcting partner’s incorrect explanation. However, the correction must be given before declarer’s LHO selects his lead card. If the explanation’s start is so slow that LHO has already selected a card, that card can be replaced. A defender must wait until the end of play before correcting partner’s incorrect explanation and declarer, if he considers that he has been damaged, should call the Director. Please also note that partner’s incorrect explanation is unauthorised information which must not be used.

POST MORTEMS

Post Mortems are an integral part of Bridge and should be used to improve one’s game but not to criticise one’s partner who, after all, is a part of the team and is usually well aware when a mistake has occurred. However please bear the following in mind.

a) Do not continue it when meeting new opponents or allow it to be overheard at other tables as it passes on unauthorised information.

b) Do not start it until you have finished playing ALL boards in the current round. Doing so may well slow down your rate of play and hold up the movement for everyone else.

REVIEW OF AUCTION

Each review MUST cover all previous calls including alerts. To ask about only one call draws your partner’s attention to the fact that you have a special interest in its meaning thus perhaps passing unauthorised information. You are also allowed to ask about relevant calls that were available but not made.

1 REVIEW OF AUCTION DURING AUCTION PERIOD

a) During the auction period, a player is entitled to have a review when, and only when, it is his turn to call. However if he DOES NOT intend to bid at his turn to call he must not ask for a review until 1b) or 1c) occur. If he has any doubts about this he should ask himself the question – What can I gain by asking now rather than when the bidding finishes? In every case the answer must be – Nothing. If he DOES intend to bid he may ask for a review. It is possible that after the review, especially when there has been an alert, he might decide not to bid. As he has effectively told his partner that he would have bid had the explanation been different he has effectively given his partner unauthorised information. However at his turn to call, he may refer to his opponent’s convention card. If there is none he might have no alternative but to ask.

b) The defender on lead is entitled to have a review before selecting the opening lead.

c) After the opening is made but before it is faced, the leader’s partner and the declarer may each request a review.

2 REVIEW OF AUCTION DURING PLAY PERIOD

a) After the opening lead is faced declarer or opener’s partner, at his first turn to play, is entitled to request a review.

b) After their first turn to play either defender, at his turn to play, may request an explanation of the opposing auction.

c) After his first turn to play declarer, at his or dummy’s turn to play, may request an explanation of a defender’s call or card play conventions.

REVOKE

Defenders are now allowed to ask one another without penalty whether they have revoked. This returns to a situation outlawed in 1987 but they should be aware of the possibility of creating unauthorised information. Also there is now no penalty when both sides revoke on the same board.

REVOKE

QUESTION

A defender does not follow suit and partner immediately asks if he has no cards of that suit. He corrects the revoke by playing a card of the suit led and his incorrectly played card becomes a major penalty card. However, as a discard, it is probably a part of a partnership agreement. What should happen?

ANSWER

Law61B3 now, as a result of the last update of the Laws, indicates that a defender may ask his partner (at the risk of creating unauthorized information) if he has revoked. However if the incorrectly played card is a part of a partnership agreement as it probably is the infringer has passed (probably accidentally) unauthorized information which must not be used by his partner. A director, if called, should

a) inform both pairs of such a possibility
b) ask them to continue playing
c) call him at the end of the hand if they think that anyone has been damaged.

SHUFFLING

It is important to shuffle cards thoroughly. When cards are taken out of a board and given a perfunctory shuffle we are very likely to have four balanced hands producing a final bid of one or two No Trumps. When cards on all 26 boards in one session are well shuffled the probability is that 32 hands contain one singleton and five hands contain a void.

One way of achieving a reasonable shuffle is to take three hands from the board one at a time, shuffle each of them separately, then take the fourth hand and shuffle the whole pack. Another method is to take all 52 cards, place them in five groups of three cards without shuffling, add the remaining cards at random and then shuffle the pack. Whilst neither method can guarantee interesting hands on every board they do, in practice, appear to produce a reasonable number of them so these methods are recommended. However please remember that, after the shuffle, cards must not be dealt in goulash form because the Laws state:-

‘The cards must be dealt face down, one card at a time, into four hands of 13 cards each; each hand is then placed face down in one of the four pockets of he board. The recommended procedure is that the cards be dealt in rotation, clockwise.’

SHUFFLING

The 2007 Laws (valid from 1st August 2008) state that after play has finished each player should shuffle his cards before returning them to the board. This is intended to prevent subsequent players from obtaining unauthorised information by examining the order in which cards were played. It may foil our attempt to provide interesting hands by using the ‘Club shuffle’. Consequently I shall be investigating whether hands are likely to revert to an excessive number of ‘Low No Trump’ distributions.

STAYMAN

This is an artificial response of 2♣ to 1NT, asking the 1NT bidder to name a four card (or longer) major if he holds one, or otherwise to rebid 2♦. 3♣ over 2NT may be played similarly.

The term Stayman means nothing more than the above. It is open to partnerships to have additional agreements, such as whether2♣ promises a four card major, which suit is shown if both majors are held, what the rebids after Stayman are, or whether Stayman applies after 1NT or 2NT overcalls or rebids.

Promissory Stayman:

The 2♣ response guarantees four or more cards in at least one major. This can be shown on convention cards as ‘Prom’.

Non-Promissory Stayman

The 2♣ response does not guarantee four or more cards in at least one major. This can be shown on convention cards as ‘Non-P’. It is sometimes known as ‘Stayman in Weakness’.

Five Card Stayman

The 2♣ or 3♣ response asks for five card majors, 2♦ or 3♦ denying one. Sometimes the 2♦ or 3♦ response shows a four card major and opener rebids 2NT or 3NT without one. One version is often called ‘Puppet’ Stayman
.
TEMPO

The Laws state that ‘It is desirable, though not always required, for players to maintain steady tempo and unvarying manner’. Consequently players who are consistently slow are complying with the letter of the Law. However, because everyone else wishes to finish the session in a reasonable time, they may not be complying with the spirit of the Club. We all know that some hands require more thought than others but I wish to ask those who are seen to be slow for more than one round to make a positive effort to speed up their play in subsequent rounds and enable everyone else to go home at a reasonable time.

In practice, some club members have complained about late finishing as they wish to be home at a reasonable time. Consequently TDs will be using the following procedure.

a) Slow players will be told that they are playing slowly and be asked to play more quickly.

b) If they do not speed up they will be told about item c).

c) If they remain slow the next board will be removed and their opponents given a score of 60% or their session average, whichever is the greater.

UNAUTHORISED INFORMATION

May I remind all club members of Law 74B2 which states ‘As a matter of courtesy a player should refrain from making gratuitous comments during the auction and play.’

It is sometimes regarded as pleasant to make what can be construed as jocular remarks during the auction or play, especially when playing social bridge. If, however, it occurs during a duplicate session and the final result gives the commenting pair a good result their opponents may be seething at an unpleasant injustice. In general, it is advisable to make no comment at all.

STAYMAN

2009-12-17T09:12:00.000-08:00

STAYMAN

This is an artificial response of 2♣ to 1NT, asking the 1NT bidder to name a four card (or longer) major if he holds one, or otherwise to rebid 2♦. 3♣ over 2NT may be played similarly.

The term Stayman means nothing more than the above. It is open to partnerships to have additional agreements, such as whether2♣ promises a four card major, which suit is shown if both majors are held, what the rebids after Stayman are, or whether Stayman applies after 1NT or 2NT overcalls or rebids.

Promissory Stayman:

The 2♣ response guarantees four or more cards in at least one major. This can be shown on convention cards as ‘Prom’.

Non-Promissory Stayman

The 2♣ response does not guarantee four or more cards in at least one major. This can be shown on convention cards as ‘Non-P’. It is sometimes known as ‘Stayman in Weakness’.

Five Card Stayman

The 2♣ or 3♣ response asks for five card majors, 2♦ or 3♦ denying one. Sometimes the 2♦ or 3♦ response shows a four card major and opener rebids 2NT or 3NT without one. One version is often called ‘Puppet’ Stayman.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF NORTH AND OTHERS

2009-07-08T12:05:00.000-07:00

July 2008: RESPONSIBILITIES OF NORTH AND OTHERS

Although there is no law which states that North is in charge of the table it is conventionally assumed that North is. Consequently North is responsible for

a) Ensuring that the correct boards are being, or are about to be, played
b) Ensuring that the correct pairs play them
c) Filling in travellers correctly and neatly so that they are easily readable
d) Ensuring that the lead card column is completed
e) Not putting a question mark by a queried score but bringing the anomaly to the Director’s attention during the session so that the matter can be sorted out by the relevant pairs
f) Showing each traveller to partner and opponents so that they can confirm the result
g) Passing the boards to the next playing or relay table.

Opponents (conventionally East) are responsible for checking that actions a) to f) are carried out.

CHANGE OF CALL

2009-06-06T04:28:00.000-07:00

June 2009 CHANGE OF CALL

I draw your attention to a change in interpretation about a change of call. It is now assumed that ‘pause for thought’ is from the moment of realisation and, when in doubt, is to be interpreted generously. So if a player puts down a bidding card, looks around the room and then notices that card, possibly because of a question or an alert, he is allowed to change it if he does so immediately from that moment of realisation so long as the call was inadvertent. However he still cannot change it if his partner has called.

Correct an Explanation

2009-03-07T05:11:00.000-08:00

MARCH 2009: WHEN TO CORRECT PARTNER’S INCORRECT EXPLANATION

Declarer or dummy must wait until the end of the auction before correcting partner’s incorrect explanation. However, the correction must be given before declarer’s LHO selects his lead card. If the explanation’s start is so slow that LHO has already selected a card, that card can be replaced. A defender must wait until the end of play before correcting partner’s incorrect explanation and declarer, if he considers that he has been damaged, should call the Director. Please also note that partner’s incorrect explanation is unauthorised information which must not be used.

Incorrect Explanations

2009-02-04T14:42:00.000-08:00

February 2009: WHEN TO CORRECT PARTNER’S INCORRECT EXPLANATION

Declarer or dummy must wait until the end of the auction before correcting partner’s incorrect explanation. However, the correction must be given before declarer’s LHO selects his lead card. If the explanation’s start is so slow that LHO has already selected a card, that card can be replaced. A defender must wait until the end of play before correcting partner’s incorrect explanation and declarer, if he considers that he has been damaged, should call the Director. Please also note that partner’s incorrect explanation is unauthorised information which must not be used.

January 2009

2009-01-07T11:39:00.000-08:00

January 2009 REVOKE

QUESTION

A defender does not follow suit and partner immediately asks if he has no cards of that suit. He corrects the revoke by playing a card of the suit led and his incorrectly played card becomes a major penalty card. However, as a discard, it is probably a part of a partnership agreement. What should happen?

ANSWER

Law61B3 now, as a result of the last update of the Laws, indicates that a defender may ask his partner (at the risk of creating unauthorized information) if he has revoked. However if the incorrectly played card is a part of a partnership agreement as it probably is the infringer has passed (probably accidentally) unauthorized information which must not be used by his partner. A director, if called, should

a) inform both pairs of such a possibility
b) ask them to continue playing
c) call him at the end of the hand if they think that anyone has been damaged.

Post Mortems

2008-12-18T07:11:00.001-08:00

December 2008 POST MORTEMS

Post Mortems are an integral part of Bridge and should be used to improve one’s game but not to criticise one’s partner who, after all, is a part of the team and is usually well aware when a mistake has occurred. However please bear the following in mind.

a) Do not continue it when meeting new opponents or allow it to be overheard at other tables as it passes on unauthorised information.

b) Do not start it until you have finished playing ALL boards in the current round. Doing so may well slow down your rate of play and hold up the movement for everyone else.

TEMPO

2008-11-05T02:48:00.000-08:00

November 2008: Tempo

The Laws state that ‘It is desirable, though not always required, for players to maintain steady tempo and unvarying manner’. Consequently players who are consistently slow are complying with the letter of the Law. However, because everyone else wishes to finish the session in a reasonable time, they may not be complying with the spirit of the Club. We all know that some hands require more thought than others but I wish to ask those who are seen to be slow for more than one round to make a positive effort to speed up their play in subsequent rounds and enable everyone else to go home at a reasonable time.

Insufficient Bid

2008-10-07T23:49:00.000-07:00

October 2008: INSUFFICIENT BID

This is both complicated to explain and understand and may be difficult to apply. There is a significant change to the insufficient bid law. The scope for allowing an insufficient bid to be replaced without silencing partner has been extended. The old rule of replacing it at the lowest legal level remains, provided that the insufficient and replacement bids are natural. But there is now an added possibility, which comes if a replacement call can be found which has the same meaning, or a more precise meaning than the insufficient bid itself.

Confused? Well, Max Bavin has come up with a useful question that directors should ask which might help to make it easier to decide. Would all hands making the replacement call also have made the original call in correct circumstances? If the answer is yes, then the change is allowed.

Here are a few examples:

West North East South
1C 1S 1D

East/West play Precision Club, so 1C shows 16+ HCP and, without interference, 1D shows 0-7 HCP. Can East replace his 1D bid by double if he has 5-7 points? They play that over interference a pass shows 0-4 HCPs and a double 5-7 HCPs.

Would all hands playing Precision Club that would now double also have bid 1D without interference? Yes, so the change can be made and partner can continue bidding. Note that in this case pass would also be acceptable if East had 0-4 HCPs.

West North East South
4NT 5D 5C

4NT was Blackwood, East missed the 5D bid and 5C showed 0 or 4 aces. East/West play DOPI over intervention (double shows no ace, pass shows one ace). Can East replace 5C by double? Yes, all hands that would double to show no ace, would also have bid 5C without the interference.

Card Pointed the Wrong Way

2008-09-05T06:51:00.000-07:00

September 2008 Card Pointed the wrong way

Players are now allowed to point out that a quitted trick card is pointing the wrong way. Declarer can do it at any time; dummy or defenders can do it only until the lead is made to the following trick.

Any Questions

2008-09-05T06:46:00.000-07:00

July 2008 Any Questions

I would like to remind everyone of the protocol of prompting questions at the end of the auction. The correct sequence is for the person on lead to place the lead facedown on the table. His or her partner may then either ask questions or indicate that there are none. The person on lead must not prompt by saying ‘Any questions partner?’ as this could give an impression that the person on lead is not sure that partner has fully understood the bidding. I am fully aware that in most cases the person on lead prompts because he wishes to get things moving but if he waits even the slowest partner will finally realise that some action is necessary. Partners who are frequently spoon fed are likely to assume that the action is normal which it should not be.

SHUFFLING

2008-08-06T08:52:00.000-07:00

August 2008: SHUFFLING

The 2007 Laws (valid from 1^st August 2008) state that after play has finished each player should shuffle his cards before returning them to the board. This is intended to prevent subsequent players from obtaining unauthorised information by examining the order in which cards were played. It may foil our attempt to provide interesting hands by using the ‘Club shuffle’. Consequently I shall be investigating whether hands are likely to revert to an excessive number of ‘Low No Trump’ distributions.

Hovering over the Bidding Box

2008-06-06T18:56:00.000-07:00

June 2008: Hovering over the Bidding Box

There are occasions when a player needs time to think before making a call and, consequently, both partner and opponents are aware that he or she has a problem but they do not, nor should they, know whether the problem concerns a choice of bids or a choice between bidding and passing. However, if the player’s hand hovers over the bidding box and moves between two cards in that box his or her problem becomes obvious. This gives unauthorised information which must not be used by his partner and, unfortunately for his partner, gives authorised information to his opponents which they can use. Consequently this annoying habit should not be used especially as it gives an impression that the hand rather than the brain is doing the thinking.

WHEN TO REPLACE CARDS

2008-05-14T14:06:00.000-07:00

WHEN TO REPLACE CARDS IN BIDDING BOXES

A card, when taken out of a bidding box, is placed on the table facing one’s partner. At the end of the bidding the person on lead may ask questions then selects the lead card and places it face down on the table. When all further questions are completed that person turns the card over and then and only then should cards be replaced into their bidding boxes. This approach is used to ensure that players asking questions have full information about the bidding sequence. This action applies to ALL cards including pass cards.

Completion of Transfer

2008-04-01T11:29:00.000-07:00

April 2008

COMPLETION OF TRANSFER

A weak takeout response to a 1NT opening bid is not alertable but a response requesting a transfer is alertable. However the completion of that transfer is not alertable unless it contains extra meanings. Consequently when there is no alert to the response, opponents are justified in assuming that the responder’s hand is weak. When there is a transfer without an alert to the completion, opponents are justified in assuming that no extra specific information has been given.

Opening Bids of Two

2008-03-03T13:33:00.000-08:00

March 2008 OPENING BIDS OF TWO

The current E.B.U. instructions are that the strength of opening two bids must be announced. Many players announce opening multi-two and weak two bids but it would appear that some assume that strong opening two bids do not need to be announced. Please note that ALL opening two level bids, whether weak, strong or intermediate, must be accompanied by an announcement of the strength of the bid from the opener’s partner. Opening bids which are an accepted convention, such as the Opening Two Clubs, should be alerted as usual.

Explanation of an Alert

2008-02-05T18:18:00.000-08:00

EXPLANATION OF AN ALERT

February 2008

The Laws indicate that a player must either ask to have all previous calls restated or say nothing about them when it is his turn to call. They also state ‘During the auction and play any player except dummy may refer to his opponents’ convention card at his turn to call or play’. If there is no convention card, as is normal in our club, players sometimes specifically ask for an explanation of an alert and no other call. Although it is understandable it contravenes the Laws and so should not be done. Everyone should also be aware that specifically asking about an alert and then not bidding puts partner in an invidious position because although he can justifiably assume that your hand has reasonable strength he must make no use of that information. His invidious position is even greater if your hand does not have reasonable strength. Consequently, if you have no intention of bidding, say nothing during the auction.

Removal of the Board

2008-01-14T08:07:00.000-08:00

January 2008: REMOVAL OF THE BOARD

Law 7A states ‘When a board is to be played it is placed in the centre of the table until play is completed’. However it is often convenient, because of space considerations, to put it on one side. Before doing this you should check that no-one wishes to object.

Remarks During The Bidding

2007-12-11T09:09:00.000-08:00

December 2007 UNAUTHORISED INFORMATION

May I remind all club members of Law 74B2 which states ‘As a matter of courtesy a player should refrain from making gratuitous comments during the auction and play.’

It is sometimes regarded as pleasant to make what can be construed as jocular remarks during the auction or play, especially when playing social bridge. If, however, it occurs during a duplicate session and the final result gives the commenting pair a good result their opponents may be seething at an unpleasant injustice. In general, it is advisable to make no comment at all.

Calling the Director

2007-12-10T19:11:00.000-08:00

November 2007 CALLING THE DIRECTOR

One of the Director’s functions is to sort out or clarify any apparent anomalies or infringements that occur. However I am aware that some players are reticent about calling the Director because they assume that their action is tantamount to an accusation of cheating or deliberate malpractice. Others assume that an opponent, when calling, is about to make such an accusation. In practice it is a request to restore equity and should not be considered as anything stronger than that.

To avoid calling, some players attempt to sort out the problem themselves but they should consider the following points:

(a) The Director's ruling is unbiased.

(b) It gives the Director experience and added confidence in his or her ability to deal with such situations.