Laws Of Duplicate Bridge
Laws
of
Duplicate
Bridge
2008 Revised Authorized Edition
Laws of
Duplicate
Bridge
North American Edition
As Promulgated in the
Western Hemisphere
by the
AmericAn contrAct Bridge LeAgue
effective September 8, 2008
Published by
American contract Bridge League
distributed by
Baron Barclay Bridge Supply
iSBn: 978-0-939460-83-0
Library of congress catalog card number 87-700085
dewey classification 795.41
copyright 2008
by
AmericAn contrAct Bridge LeAgue
All rights reserved. no part of this book may be repro-
duced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic
or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or
by any information storage and retrieval system without
permission in writing from the AcBL.
Preface to the
Laws of Duplicate Bridge 2008
NORTH AmeRicAN eDiTiON
the first Laws of duplicate Bridge were published
in 1928 (until 2008 it was titled The Laws of Duplicate
Contract Bridge). there have been successive re-
visions in 1933, 1935, 1943, 1949, 1963, 1975, 1987
and 1997.
through the thirties, the Laws were promulgated
by the Portland club of London and the Whist club
of new York. From the Forties onwards, the American
contract Bridge League Laws commission replaced
the Whist club, while the British Bridge League
and the european Bridge League supplemented the
Portland club’s efforts. the 1975 Laws were also pro-
mulgated by the World Bridge Federation Laws com-
mission, as they were in 1987 and 1997. the current
version is also promulgated in the remainder of the
world by the WBF.
this latest revision supersedes the 1997 code on
September 8, 2008. Zonal authorities may implement
the new code any time after January 1, 2008 and be-
fore September 30, 2008. in the American contract
Bridge League the revised Laws are effective on
September 8, 2008.
the drafting committee notes with sorrow the
passing of ralph cohen during the drafting of the new
code and the earlier passing of edgar Kaplan. the as-
sistance of Antonio riccardi is acknowledged together
with that of david davenport of the Portland club.
the drafting committee also acknowledges with
gratitude the substantial contributions of Anna gudge,
richard Hills and rick Assad. the code, however,
would not have been produced without the dedication
and hard work of its coordinator, grattan endicott.
i
ii
iNTRODUcTiON TO THe
2008 LAWS OF DUPLicATe BRiDGe
the Laws are designed to define correct proce-
dure and to provide an adequate remedy when there
is a departure from correct procedure. they are pri-
marily designed not as punishment for irregularities
but rather for the rectification of situations where
non-offenders may otherwise be damaged. Players
should be ready to accept gracefully any rectifica-
tion or adjusted score awarded by the director.
there have been many developments in duplicate
bridge over the last ten years and there are no signs
that these changes have stopped. the task that con-
fronted the drafting committee was to ensure the
Laws were updated so as to cope with past changes
and to establish a framework that can cope with fu-
ture developments.
directors have been given considerably more dis-
cretionary powers. there are fewer automatic penal-
ties: they are replaced by the concept of rectification
to correct the result of improper procedure. Bridge
is played in different ways in different countries, so
the Laws give more power to regulating Authori-
ties to make regulations. this is particularly so in
the area of Special Partnership understandings, in
itself a new concept. Artificial bidding is a fact of
life, so an attempt has been made to solve problems
or to allow regulating Authorities to solve prob-
lems that arise.
the drafting committee has tried to clarify the
areas of responsibility of regulating Authorities,
tournament organizers and directors and it is
made clear that certain responsibilities may be ei-
ther assigned or delegated.
iii
many headings present in the 1997 Laws have
been removed in the interest of streamlining their
appearance. Where headings remain they do not
limit the application of any law, nor indeed does the
omission of a cross reference.
the hundreds of headings and sub-headings
can help a director find the section of a law that
is applicable to the facts of a case (these headings
are for convenience of reference only; headings
are not considered to be part of the Laws). the
table of contents at the front of the book and
the alphabetical index at the back should make a
director’s task lighter.
established usage has been retained in regard to
“may” do (failure to do it is not wrong), “does” (es-
tablishes correct procedure without suggesting that
the violation be penalized), “should” do (failure
to do it is an infraction jeopardizing the infractor’s
rights but not often penalized), “shall” do (a vio-
lation will incur a procedural penalty more often
than not), “must” do (the strongest word, a serious
matter indeed). Again “must not” is the strongest
prohibition, “shall not” is strong but “may not” is
stronger — just short of “must not.”
note that this introduction and the definitions
that follow form part of the Laws. Finally, unless
the context clearly dictates otherwise, the singular
includes the plural and the masculine includes the
feminine, and vice versa.
iv
Promulgating Bodies
THe LAWS cOmmiSSiON
of the American Contract Bridge League
Chip Martel, Co-Chairman
*Ralph Cohen, Co-Chairman
Adam Wildavsky, Vice Chairman
Allan Falk
Ray Raskin
Ron Gerard
Eric Rodwell
Robb Gordon
Matt Smith
Georgia Heth
John Solodar
Dan Morse
Roger Stern
Jeffrey Polisner
Peggy Sutherlin
DRAFTiNG cOmmiTTee
John Wignall, Chairman
Grattan Endicott, Coordinator
Max Bavin
Ton Kooijman
Ralph Cohen*
Jeffrey Polisner
Joan Gerard
William Schoder
THe LAWS cOmmiTTee OF
THe WORLD BRiDGe FeDeRATiON
Ton Kooijman, Chairman (Netherlands)
Chip Martel, Vice Chairman (USA)
Grattan Endicott, Secretary (England)
Max Bavin (England)
Jim Kirkham (USA)
Claude Dadoun (France)
Alvin Levy (USA)
David Davenport (England)
Jeanne van der Meiracker
Maurzio Di Sacco (Italy)
(Netherlands)
Joan Levy Gerard (USA)
Dan Morse (USA)
Bertrand Gignoux (France)
Jaime Ortiz-Patiño (England)
David R. Harris (England)
Jeffrey Polisner (USA)
Amalya Kearse (USA)
Wil iam Schoder (USA)
*Deceased
v
contents
CHAPTER I — Definitions
Page
definitions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
CHAPTER II — Preliminaries
1. the Pack — rank of cards and Suits . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2. the duplicate Boards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
3. Arrangement of tables. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
4. Partnerships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
5. Assignment of Seats. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
A. initial Position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
B. change of direction or table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
CHAPTER III — Preparation and Progression
6. the Shuffle and deal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
A. the Shuffle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
B. the deal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
c. representation of Both Pairs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
d. new Shuffle and redeal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
e. director’s option on Shuffling and dealing . . . . . 10
F. duplication of Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
7. control of Board and cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
A. Placement of Board. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
B. removal of cards from Board. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
c. returning cards to Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
d. responsibility for Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
8. Sequence of rounds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
A. movement of Boards and Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
B. end of round. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
c. end of Last round and end of Session. . . . . . . . . 12
CHAPTER IV — General Laws Governing Irregularities
9. Procedure Following an irregularity . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
A. drawing Attention to an irregularity. . . . . . . . . . . 13
B. After Attention is drawn to an irregularity . . . . . . 13
c. Premature correction of an irregularity . . . . . . . . 14
10. Assessment of rectification. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
A. right to determine rectification . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
B. cancelation of enforcement or Waiver of
rectification. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
c. choice after irregularity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
vi
11. Forfeiture of the right to rectification . . . . . . . . . . . 15
A. Action by non-offending Side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
B. Penalty after Forfeiture of the right to rectification 15
12. director’s discretionary Powers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
A. Power to Award an Adjusted Score . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
B. objectives of Score Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
c. Awarding an Adjusted Score . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
13. incorrect number of cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
A. director deems normal Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
B. Adjusted Score and Possible Penalty. . . . . . . . . . . 19
c. Play completed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
d. no call made . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
e. Placement or movement of card. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
F. Surplus card. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
14. missing card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
A. Hand Found deficient before Play commences . . 21
B. Hand Found deficient after Play commences. . . . 21
c. information from replacement of a card . . . . . . . 22
15. Play of a Wrong Board. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
A. Players Have not Previously Played Board. . . . . . 22
B. one or more Players Have Previously Played Board. . 22
c. discovered during Auction Period. . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
16. Authorized and unauthorized information . . . . . . . . 23
A. Players’ use of information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
B. extraneous information from Partner . . . . . . . . . . 24
c. extraneous information from other Sources . . . . 25
d. information from Withdrawn calls and Plays. . . . 26
CHAPTER V — The Auction
PART I — Correct Procedure
SECTIon onE — The Auction Period
17. the Auction Period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
A. the Auction Period Starts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
B. the First call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
c. Successive calls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
d. cards from Wrong Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
e. end of the Auction Period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
18. Bids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
A. Proper Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
B. to Supersede a Bid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
c. Sufficient Bid. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
vii
d. insufficient Bid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
e. rank of the denominations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
F. different methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
19. double and redouble. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
A. double. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
B. redouble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
c. double or redouble Superseded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
d. Scoring a doubled or redoubled contract . . . . . . 30
20. review and explanation of calls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
A. call not clearly recognized. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
B. review of the Auction during the Auction Period. 31
c. review after Final Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
d. Who may review the Auction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
e. correction of error in review. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
F. explanation of calls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
g. incorrect Procedure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
21. call Based on misinformation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
A. call Based on caller’s misunderstanding . . . . . . . 33
B. call Based on misinformation from an opponent . . . . 33
SECTIon Two — The Auction Has Ended
22. Procedure after the Auction and the Auction Period
Have ended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
A. end of the Auction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
B. end of the Auction Period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
PART II — Irregularities in Procedure
23. Awareness of Potential damage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
SECTIon onE — Exposed Card, Enforced Pass
24. card exposed or Led Prior to Play Period . . . . . . . . . 36
A. Low card not Prematurely Led . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
B. Single card of Honor rank or card
Prematurely Led. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
c. two or more cards Are exposed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
SECTIon Two — Changes of Call
25. Legal and illegal changes of call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
A. unintended call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
B. intended call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
viii
26. call Withdrawn, Lead restrictions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
A. call related to Specific Suit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
B. other Withdrawn calls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
SECTIon THREE — Insufficient Bid
27. insufficient Bid. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
A. insufficient Bid Accepted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
B. insufficient Bid not Accepted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
c. Premature replacement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
d. non-offending Side damaged. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
SECTIon FouR — Call out of Rotation
28. calls considered to be in rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
A. rHo required to Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
B. call by correct Player canceling call
out of rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
29. Procedure after a call out of rotation . . . . . . . . . . . 41
A. Forfeiture of right to rectification . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
B. out-of-rotation call canceled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
c. call out of rotation is Artificial. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
30. Pass out of rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
A. Before Any Player Has Bid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
B. After Any Player Has Bid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
c. When Pass is Artificial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
31. Bid out of rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
A. rHo’s turn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
B. Partner’s or LHo’s turn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
32. double or redouble out of rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
A. made at offender’s Partner’s turn to call . . . . . . . 44
B. made at rHo’s turn to call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
33. Simultaneous calls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
34. retention of right to call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
35. inadmissible calls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
A. A double or redouble not permitted by Law 19. . . 45
B. A bid, double or redouble by a player required
to pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
c. A bid of more than seven. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
d. A call after the final pass of the auction . . . . . . . . 45
ix
SECTIon FIVE — Inadmissible Calls
36. inadmissible double or redouble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
A. offender’s LHo calls before rectification. . . . . . 46
B. offender’s LHo does not call before
rectification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
37. Action Violating obligation to Pass. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
A. offender’s LHo calls before rectification. . . . . . 46
B. offender’s LHo does not call before
rectification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
38. Bid of more than Seven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
A. no Play Permissible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
B. Bid and Subsequent calls canceled . . . . . . . . . . . 47
c. offending Side must Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
d. Possible Lack of recourse to Laws 23 and 26 . . . 47
39. call after the Final Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
A. calls canceled. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
B. Pass by a defender or Any call by declaring Side 48
c. other Action by a defender. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
SECTIon SIx — Conventions and Agreements
40. Partnership understandings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
A. Players’ Systemic Agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
B. Special Partnership understandings . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
c. deviation from System and Psychic Action . . . . . 52
CHAPTER VI — The Play
PART I — Procedure
SECTIon onE — Correct Procedure
41. commencement of Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
A. Face-down opening Lead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
B. review of Auction and Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
c. opening Lead Faced . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
d. dummy’s Hand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
42. dummy’s rights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
A. Absolute rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
B. Qualified rights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
43. dummy’s Limitations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
A. Limitations on dummy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
B. if a Violation occurs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
44. Sequence and Procedure of Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
A. Lead to a trick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
x
B. Subsequent Plays to a trick. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
c. requirement to Follow Suit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
d. inability to Follow Suit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
e. tricks containing trumps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
F. tricks not containing trumps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
g. Lead to tricks Subsequent to First trick. . . . . . . . 57
45. card Played . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
A. Play of card from a Hand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
B. Play of a card from dummy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
c. compulsory Play of card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
d. card misplayed by dummy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
e. Fifth card Played to trick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
F. dummy indicates card. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
g. turning the trick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
SECTIon Two — Irregularities in Procedure
46. incomplete or erroneous call of a card from dummy . . 60
A. Proper Form for designating dummy’s card . . . . 60
B. incomplete or erroneous call of a card . . . . . . . . 60
47. retraction of card Played . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
A. in course of rectification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
B. to correct an illegal Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
c. to change an inadvertent designation . . . . . . . . . 61
d. Following an opponent’s change of Play . . . . . . . 61
e. change of Play Based on misinformation. . . . . . . 62
F. other retraction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
PART II — Penalty Card
48. exposure of declarer’s cards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
A. declarer exposes a card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
B. declarer Faces cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
49. exposure of a defender’s card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
50. disposition of a Penalty card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
A. Penalty card remains exposed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
B. major or minor Penalty card? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
c. disposition of a minor Penalty card. . . . . . . . . . . 64
d. disposition of a major Penalty card. . . . . . . . . . . 64
e. information from a Penalty card. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
51. two or more Penalty cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
A. offender to Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
B. offender’s Partner to Lead. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
xi
52. Failure to Lead or Play a Penalty card. . . . . . . . . . . . 67
A. defender Fails to Play a Penalty card. . . . . . . . . . 67
B. defender Plays Another card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
PART III — Irregular Leads and Plays
SECTIon onE — Lead out of Turn
53. Lead out of turn Accepted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
A. Lead out of turn treated as correct Lead . . . . . . 68
B. Wrong defender Plays card to declarer’s
irregular Lead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
c. Proper Lead made Subsequent to irregular Lead . . . 68
54. Faced opening Lead out of turn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
A. declarer Spreads His Hand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
B. declarer Accepts Lead. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
c. declarer must Accept Lead. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
d. declarer refuses opening Lead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
e. opening Lead by Wrong Side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
55. declarer’s Lead out of turn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
A. declarer’s Lead Accepted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
B. declarer required to retract Lead . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
c. declarer might obtain information . . . . . . . . . . . 70
56. defender’s Lead out of turn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
SECTIon Two — other Irregular Leads and Plays
57. Premature Lead or Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
A. Premature Play or Lead to next trick. . . . . . . . . . 71
B. offender’s Partner cannot comply with
rectification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
c. declarer or dummy Has Played . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
58. Simultaneous Leads or Plays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
A. Simultaneous Plays by two Players . . . . . . . . . . . 72
B. Simultaneous cards from one Hand. . . . . . . . . . . 72
59. inability to Lead or Play as required. . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
60. Play after an illegal Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
A. Play of a card after irregularity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
B. defender Plays before required Lead
by declarer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
c. Play by offending Side before Assessment
of rectification. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
xii
SECTIon THREE — The Revoke
61. Failure to Follow Suit — inquiries concerning a revoke . 74
A. definition of a revoke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
B. right to inquire about a Possible revoke . . . . . . . 74
62. correction of a revoke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
A. revoke must Be corrected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
B. correcting a revoke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
c. Subsequent cards Played . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
d. revoke on trick 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
63. establishment of a revoke. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
A. revoke Becomes established . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
B. revoke may not Be corrected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
64. Procedure after establishment of a revoke . . . . . . . . 76
A. rectification following a revoke . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
B. no rectification. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
c. director responsible for equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
PART IV — Tricks
65. Arrangement of tricks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
A. completed trick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
B. Keeping track of the ownership of tricks . . . . . . 78
c. orderliness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
d. Agreement on results of Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
66. inspection of tricks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
A. current trick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
B. own Last card. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
c. Quitted tricks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
d. After the conclusion of Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
67. defective trick. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
A. Before Both Sides Play to the next trick . . . . . . . 80
B. After Both Sides Play to the next trick . . . . . . . . 80
PART V — Claims and Concessions
68. claim or concession of tricks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
A. claim defined . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
B. concession defined. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
c. clarification required for claim. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
d. Play ceases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
69. Agreed claim or concession . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
A. When Agreement is established . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
B. director’s decision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
xiii
70. contested claim or concession . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
A. general objective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
B. clarification Statement repeated . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
c. there is an outstanding trump. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
d. director’s considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
e. unstated Line of Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
71. concession canceled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
CHAPTER VII — Proprieties
72. general Principles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
A. observance of Laws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
B. infraction of Law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
73. communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
A. Appropriate communication between Partners . . 87
B. inappropriate communication between Partners . . . . 88
c. Player receives unauthorized information
from Partner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
d. Variations in tempo or manner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
e. deception. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
F. Violation of Proprieties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
74. conduct and etiquette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
A. Proper Attitude . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
B. etiquette. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
c. Violations of Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
75. mistaken explanation or mistaken call. . . . . . . . . . . 91
A. mistake causing unauthorized information. . . . . 91
B. mistaken explanation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
c. mistaken call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
76. Spectators. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
A. control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
B. At the table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
c. Participation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
d. Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
CHAPTER VIII — The Score
77. duplicate Bridge Scoring table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
78. methods of Scoring and conditions of contest. . . . . 96
A. matchpoint Scoring. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
B. international matchpoint Scoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
c. total Point Scoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
d. conditions of contest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
xiv
79. tricks Won . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
A. Agreement on tricks Won. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
B. disagreement on tricks Won. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
c. error in Score . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
CHAPTER Ix — Tournament Sponsorship
80. regulation and organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
A. the regulating Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
B. tournament organizer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
CHAPTER x — Tournament Director
SECTIon onE — Responsibilities
81. the director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
A. official Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
B. restrictions and responsibilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
c. director’s duties and Powers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
d. delegation of duties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
82. rectification of errors of Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
A. director’s duty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
B. rectification of error. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
c. director’s error . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
83. notification of the right to Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
SECTIon Two — Rulings
84. rulings on Agreed Facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
A. no rectification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
B. Law Provides rectification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
c. Player’s option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
d. director’s option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
85. rulings on disputed Facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
A. director’s Assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
B. Facts not determined . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
SECTIon THREE — Correction of Irregularities
86. in team Play or Similar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
A. Average Score at imP Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
B. non-balancing Adjustments, Knockout Play. . . . 105
c. Substitute Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
d. result obtained at other table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
xv
87. Fouled Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
A. definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
B. Scoring. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
SECTIon FouR — Penalties
88. Award of indemnity Points. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
89. rectification in individual events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
90. Procedural Penalties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
A. director’s Authority. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
B. offenses Subject to Procedural Penalty. . . . . . . . 107
91. Penalize or Suspend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
A. director’s Powers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
B. right to disqualify . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
CHAPTER xI — Appeals
92. right to Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
A. contestant’s right . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
B. time of Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
c. How to Appeal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
d. concurrence of Appellants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
93. Procedures of Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
A. no Appeals committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
B. Appeals committee Available . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
c. Further Possibilities of Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Index to Duplicate Laws. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Elections by the ACBL Board of Directors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
xvi
The Scope of the Laws
the Laws are designed to define correct procedure and
to provide an adequate remedy when there is a departure
from correct procedure. An offending player should be
ready to pay any penalty or rectification graciously or to
accept any adjusted score awarded by the tournament
director. the Laws are primarily designed not as punish-
ment for irregularities, but rather as redress for damage.
xvii
chapter i
Definitions
Adjusted score: A score awarded by the director (see
Law 12). it is either “artificial” or “assigned”.
Alert: A notification, whose form may be specified by
the regulating Authority, to the effect that opponents
may be in need of an explanation.
Artificial call: A bid, double or redouble that conveys
information (not being information taken for granted
by players generally) other than willingness to play in
the denomination named or last named, or a pass which
promises more than a specified amount of strength or
promises or denies values other than in the last suit
named.
Auction: 1) the process of determining the contract by
means of successive calls. it begins when the first call is
made. 2) the aggregate of calls made (see Law 17).
Bid: An undertaking to win at least a specified number
of odd tricks (tricks in excess of six) in a specified de-
nomination.
Board: 1) A duplicate board as described in Law 2.
2) the four hands as originally dealt and placed in a
duplicate board for play during a session (also referred
to as a “deal”).
Call: Any bid, double, redouble or pass.
Canceled: See “Withdrawn”.
Contestant: in an individual event, a player; in a pair
event, two players playing as partners throughout the
event; in a team event, four or more players playing as
teammates.
Contract: the undertaking by declarer’s side to win,
at the denomination named, the number of odd tricks
specified in the final bid, whether undoubled, doubled or
redoubled (see Law 22).
1
chapter i – definitions
Deal: 1) the distribution of the pack to form the hands
of the four players. 2) the cards so distributed consid-
ered as a unit, including the auction and play thereof.
Declarer: the player who, for the side that makes the
final bid, first bid the denomination named in the final
bid. He becomes declarer when the opening lead is
faced (but see Law 54A when the opening lead is made
out of turn).
Defender: An opponent of (presumed) declarer.
Denomination: the suit or no trump specified in a bid.
Double: A call over an opponent’s bid increasing the
scoring value of fulfilled or defeated contracts (see
Laws 19A and 77).
Dummy: 1) declarer’s partner. He becomes dummy
when the opening lead is faced. 2) declarer’s partner’s
cards, once they are spread on the table after the open-
ing lead.
Event: A contest of one or more sessions.
Extraneous: not part of the lawful procedures of the
game.
Follow Suit: Play a card of the suit that has been led.
Game: 100 or more trick points scored on one deal.
Hand: the cards originally dealt to a player or the re-
maining portion thereof.
Honor: Any ace, king, queen, jack or 10.
Infraction: A player’s breach of law or of lawful regu-
lation.
International Matchpoint (IMP): A unit of scoring
awarded according to a schedule established in Law 78B.
Irregularity: A deviation from correct procedure in-
clusive of, but not limited to, those which involve an
infraction by a player.
2
chapter i – definitions
Lead: the first card played to a trick.
LHO: Left-hand opponent.
Matchpoint: A unit of scoring awarded to a contestant
as a result of comparison with one or more other scores
(see Law 78A).
Odd trick: each trick to be won by declarer’s side in
excess of six.
Opening lead: the card led to the first trick.
Opponent: A player of the other side; a member of the
partnership to which one is opposed.
Overtrick: each trick won by declarer’s side in excess
of the contract.
Pack: the 52 playing cards with which the game is played.
Partner: the player with whom one plays as a side
against the other two players at the table.
Partscore: 90 or fewer trick points scored on one deal.
Pass: A call specifying that a player does not, at that
turn, elect to bid, double or redouble.
Penalty (see also “Rectification”): A penalty is of two
kinds: 1) disciplinary — those applied for the mainte-
nance of courtesy and good order (see Law 91), and 2)
procedural — those (additional to any rectification)
awarded in the director’s discretion in cases of proce-
dural irregularities (see Law 90).
Penalty card: A card subject to disposition under Law 50.
Play: 1) the contribution of a card from a player’s hand
to a trick, including the first card, which is the lead. 2)
the aggregate of plays made. 3) the period during
which the cards are played. 4) the aggregate of the
calls and plays on a board.
Play period: commences when the opening lead on
a board is faced. contestants’ rights and powers in the
3
chapter i – definitions
play period each expire as the relevant law provides.
the play period itself ends when the cards are removed
from their slots on the subsequent board (or when the
last board of a round is quitted).
Premium points: Any points earned other than trick
points (see Law 77).
Psychic call (commonly “psych[e]” or “psychic”): A
deliberate and gross misstatement of honor strength
and/or of suit length.
Rectification: the remedial provisions to be applied
when an irregularity has come to the director’s attention.
Redouble: A call over an opponent’s double, increasing
the scoring value of fulfilled or defeated contracts (see
Laws 19B and 77).
Retracted: See “Withdrawn”.
Revoke: Failure to follow suit in accordance with Law
44 or failure to lead or play, when able, a card or suit
required by law or specified by an opponent when exer-
cising an option in rectification of an irregularity consti-
tutes a revoke.
RHO: right-hand opponent.
Rotation: the clockwise progression of the normal
turns to call or play; also the clockwise order in which,
one at a time, the cards are recommended to be dealt.
Round: A part of a session played without progression
of players.
Session: An extended period of play during which a
number of boards, specified by the tournament orga-
nizer, is scheduled to be played. (may have different
meanings as between Laws 4, 12c2 and 91.)
Side: two players at a table who constitute a partner-
ship against the other two players.
4
chapter i – definitions
Slam: A contract to win six odd tricks (called small
slam) or to win seven odd tricks (called grand slam).
Sorted deck: A pack of cards not randomized from its
prior condition.
Suit: one of four groups of cards in the pack, each
group comprising 13 cards and having a characteristic
symbol: spades (), hearts (), diamonds (), clubs
().
Team: two or more pairs playing in different compass
directions at different tables but for a common score
Applicable regulations may permit teams of more than
four members.
Trick: the unit by which the outcome of the contract is
determined, composed unless flawed of four cards, one
contributed by each player in rotation beginning with
the lead.
Trick points: Points scored by declarer’s side for fulfill-
ing the contract (see Law 77).
Trump: each card of the denomination named in a suit
contract.
Turn: the correct time at which a player is due to call
or play.
Undertrick: each trick by which declarer’s side falls
short of fulfilling the contract (see Law 77).
Unintended: involuntary; not under control of the will;
not the intention of the player at the moment of his ac-
tion.
Vulnerability: the conditions for assigning premiums
and undertrick penalties (see Law 77).
Withdrawn: Actions said to be “withdrawn” include ac-
tions that are “canceled” and cards that are “retracted”.
5
chapter ii
Preliminaries
LAW 1
THe PAcK — RANK OF cARDS AND SUiTS
duplicate bridge is played with a pack of 52 cards,
consisting of 13 cards in each of four suits. the suits
rank downward in the order spades (), hearts (),
diamonds (), clubs (). the cards of each suit rank
downward in the order ace, king, queen, jack, 10, 9, 8,
7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.
LAW 2
THe DUPLicATe BOARDS
A duplicate board containing a pack is provided for
each deal to be played during a session. each board is
numbered and has four pockets to hold the four hands,
designated north, east, South and West. the dealer and
vulnerability are designated as follows:
north dealer
Boards
1
5
9 13
east dealer
Boards
2
6 10 14
South dealer
Boards
3
7 11 15
West dealer
Boards
4
8 12 16
neither Side Vulnerable
Boards
1
8 11 14
north-South Vulnerable
Boards
2
5 12 15
east-West Vulnerable
Boards
3
6
9 16
Both Sides Vulnerable
Boards
4
7 10 13
the same sequence is repeated for Boards 17-32 and
for each subsequent group of 16 boards.
no board that fails to conform to these conditions
should be used. if such a board is used, however, the
conditions marked on it apply for that session.
6
chapter ii – Preliminaries
LAW 3
ARRANGemeNT OF TABLeS
Four players play at each table, and tables are num-
bered in a sequence established by the director. He des-
ignates one direction as north; other compass directions
assume the normal relationship to north.
LAW 4
PARTNeRSHiPS
the four players at each table constitute two partner-
ships or sides, north-South against east-West. in pair or
team events the contestants enter as pairs or teams re-
spectively and retain the same partnerships throughout
a session (except in the case of substitutions authorized
by the director). in individual events each player enters
separately, and partnerships change during a session.
LAW 5
ASSiGNmeNT OF SeATS
A. initial Position
the director assigns an initial position to each
contestant (individual, pair or team) at the start of a
session. unless otherwise directed, the members of
each pair or team may select seats among those as-
signed to them by mutual agreement. Having once
selected a compass direction, a player may change it
within a session only upon instruction or with per-
mission of the director.
B. change of direction or table
Players change their initial compass direction or
proceed to another table in accordance with the di-
rector’s instructions. the director is responsible for
7
chapter ii – Preliminaries
clear announcement of instructions; each player is
responsible for moving when and as directed and for
occupying the correct seat after each change.
8
chapter iii
Preparation and Progression
LAW 6
THe SHUFFLe AND DeAL
A. the Shuffle
Before play starts, each pack is thoroughly shuffled.
there is a cut if either opponent so requests.
B. the deal
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
the board. the recommended procedure is that the
cards be dealt in rotation, clockwise.
c. representation of Both Pairs
A member of each side should be present during the
shuffle and deal unless the director instructs other-
wise.
d. new Shuffle and redeal
1. if it is ascertained before the auction first begins
on a board that the cards have been incorrectly
dealt or that during the shuffle and deal a player
could have seen the face of a card belonging
to another player, there shall be a new shuffle
and deal. thereafter Law 16c applies to the ac-
cidental sighting of a card belonging to another
player’s hand before completion of the play of the
board (but see Law 24). Any illegally dealt board
is a fouled board, and for any other irregularity
see the relevant law.
2. unless the purpose of the tournament is the
replay of past deals, no result may stand if the
9
chapter iii – Preparation and Progression
cards are dealt without shuffle from a sorted
deck* or if the deal has been imported from a
different session. these provisions shall not pre-
vent arrangements, where desired, for exchange
of boards between tables.
3. Subject to Law 22A, there must be a new shuffle
and a redeal when required by the director for
any reason compatible with the Laws (but see
Law 86c).
e. director’s option on Shuffling and dealing
1. the director may instruct that the shuffle and
deal be performed at each table immediately be-
fore play starts.
2. the director may himself perform the shuffle
and deal in advance.
3. the director may have his assistants or other
appointed agents perform the shuffle and deal in
advance.
4. the director may require a different method of
dealing or pre-dealing to produce the same whol-
ly random expectations as from A and B above.
F. duplication of Board
if required by the conditions of play, one or more
exact copies of each original deal may be made
under the director’s instructions. When he so in-
structs, there shall normally be no redeal of a board
(although the director has powers to order it).
* A “sorted deck” is a pack of cards not randomized from its prior
condition.
10
chapter iii – Preparation and Progression
LAW 7
cONTROL OF BOARD AND cARDS
A. Placement of Board
When a board is to be played, it is placed in the cen-
tre of the table until play is completed.
B. removal of cards from Board
1. each player takes a hand from the pocket corre-
sponding to his compass position.
2. each player counts his cards face down to be sure
he has exactly 13. After that, and before making
a call, he must inspect the faces of his cards.
3. during play each player retains possession of his
own cards, not permitting them to be mixed with
those of any other player. no player shall touch
any cards other than his own (but declarer may
play dummy’s cards in accordance with Law 45)
during or after play except by permission of the
director.
c. returning cards to Board
After play has finished, each player should shuffle
his original 13 cards, after which he restores them
to the pocket corresponding to his compass posi-
tion. thereafter no hand shall be removed from the
board unless a member of each side or the director
is present.
d. responsibility for Procedures
Any contestant remaining at a table throughout a
session is primarily responsible for maintaining
proper conditions of play at the table.
11
chapter iii – Preparation and Progression
LAW 8
SeQUeNce OF ROUNDS
A. movement of Boards and Players
1. the director instructs the players as to the proper
movement of boards and progression of contest-
ants.
2. unless the director instructs otherwise, the
north player at each table is responsible for mov-
ing the boards just completed at his table to the
proper table for the following round.
B. end of round
1. in general, a round ends when the director gives
the signal for the start of the following round, but
if any table has not completed play by that time,
the round continues for that table until there has
been a progression of players.
2. When the director exercises his authority to
postpone play of a board, for that board the round
does not end for the players concerned until the
board has been played and the score agreed and
recorded or the director has canceled the play of
the board.
c. end of Last round and end of Session
the last round of a session and the session itself
ends for each table when play of all boards sched-
uled at that table has been completed and when all
scores have been entered without objection.
12
chapter iV
General Laws
Governing irregularities
LAW 9
PROceDURe FOLLOWiNG AN iRReGULARiTY
A. drawing Attention to an irregularity
1. unless prohibited by law, any player may draw
attention to an irregularity during the auction
period, whether or not it is his turn to call.
2. unless prohibited by law, declarer or either de-
fender may draw attention to an irregularity that
occurs during the play period. For incorrectly
pointed card see Law 65B3.
3. When an irregularity has occurred, dummy may
not draw attention to it during the play period but
may do so after play of the hand is concluded.
Any player, however, including dummy, may at-
tempt to prevent another player’s committing an
irregularity (but for dummy subject to Laws 42
and 43).
4. there is no obligation to draw attention to an in-
fraction of law committed by one’s own side (but
see Law 20F5 for correction of partner’s appar-
ently mistaken explanation).
B. After Attention is drawn to an irregularity
1. (a) the director should be summoned at once
when attention is drawn to an irregularity.
(b) Any player, including dummy, may summon
the director after attention has been drawn to
an irregularity.
(c) Summoning the director does not cause a
player to forfeit any rights to which he might
otherwise be entitled.
13
chapter iV – irregularities
(d) the fact that a player draws attention to an
irregularity committed by his side does not
affect the rights of the opponents.
2. no player shall take any action until the director
has explained all matters in regard to rectification.
c. Premature correction of an irregularity
Any premature correction of an irregularity by the
offender may subject him to a further rectification
(see the lead restrictions in Law 26).
LAW 10
ASSeSSmeNT OF RecTiFicATiON
A. right to determine rectification
the director alone has the right to determine recti-
fications when applicable. Players do not have the
right to determine (or waive – see Law 81c5) recti-
fications on their own initiative.
B. cancelation of enforcement or Waiver of
rectification
the director may allow or cancel any enforcement
or waiver of a rectification made by the players
without his instructions.
c. choice after irregularity
1. When these Laws provide an option after an ir-
regularity, the director shall explain all the op-
tions available.
2. if a player has an option after an irregularity, he
must make his selection without consulting part-
ner.
3. When these Laws provide the innocent side with
an option after an irregularity committed by an
14
chapter iV – irregularities
opponent, it is appropriate to select the most ad-
vantageous action.
4. Subject to Law 16d2, after rectification of an
infraction, it is appropriate for the offenders to
make any call or play advantageous to their side,
even though they thereby appear to profit through
their own infraction (but see Laws 27 and 50).
LAW 11
FORFeiTURe OF THe RiGHT
TO RecTiFicATiON
A. Action by non-offending Side
the right to rectification of an irregularity may be
forfeited if either member of the non-offending side
takes any action before summoning the director.
the director does so rule, for example, when the
non-offending side may have gained through subse-
quent action taken by an opponent in ignorance of
the relevant provisions of the law.
B. Penalty after Forfeiture of the right to rectification
even after the right to rectification has been for-
feited under this law, the director may assess a pro-
cedural penalty (see Law 90).
LAW 12
DiRecTOR’S DiScReTiONARY POWeRS
A. Power to Award an Adjusted Score
on the application of a player within the period es-
tablished under Law 92B or on his own initiative the
director may award an adjusted score when these
Laws empower him to do so (in team play see Law
86). this includes:
15
chapter iV – irregularities
1. the director may award an adjusted score when
he judges that these Laws do not provide indem-
nity to a non-offending contestant for the particu-
lar type of violation committed by an opponent.
2. the director awards an artificial adjusted score
if no rectification can be made that will permit
normal play of the board (see c2 below).
3. the director may award an adjusted score if
there has been an incorrect rectification of an
irregularity.
B. objectives of Score Adjustment
1. the objective of a score adjustment is to redress
damage to a non-offending side and to take
away any advantage gained by an offending side
through its infraction. damage exists when, be-
cause of an infraction, an innocent side obtains a
table result less favorable than would have been
the expectation had the infraction not occurred –
but see c1(b) below.
2. the director may not award an adjusted score on
the ground that the rectification provided in these
Laws is either unduly severe or advantageous to
either side.
c. Awarding an Adjusted Score
1. (a) When after an irregularity the director is em-
powered by these Laws to adjust a score and
is able to award an assigned adjusted score,
he does so. Such a score replaces the score
obtained in play.
(b) if, subsequent to the irregularity, the non-
offending side has contributed to its own
damage by a serious error (unrelated to the
16
chapter iV – irregularities
infraction) or by a wild or gambling action, it
does not receive relief in the adjustment for
such part of the damage as is self-inflicted.
the offending side should be awarded the
score that it would have been allotted as the
consequence of its infraction only.
(c) in order to do equity, and unless the regulat-
ing Authority forbids it, an assigned adjusted
score may be weighted to reflect the prob-
abilities of a number of potential results.*
(d) if the possibilities are numerous or not obvi-
ous, the director may award an artificial ad-
justed score.
(e) in its discretion the regulating Authority
may apply all or part of the following proce-
dure in place of (c)*:
(i) the score assigned in place of the actual
score for a non-offending side is the most
favorable result that was likely had the
irregularity not occurred.
(ii) For an offending side the score assigned
is the most unfavorable result that was at
all probable had the irregularity not oc-
curred.
(f) the scores awarded to the two sides need not
balance.
2. (a) When owing to an irregularity no result can
be obtained (and see c1(d) above), the di-
rector awards an artificial adjusted score ac-
cording to responsibility for the irregularity:
average minus (at most 40% of the available
* For ACBL sanctioned events, 12C1(c) does not apply and 12C1(e)
does apply (see Elections 1, p. 136).
17
chapter iV – irregularities
matchpoints in pairs) to a contestant directly
at fault, average (50% in pairs) to a contest-
ant only partly at fault, and average plus (at
least 60% in pairs) to a contestant in no way
at fault.
(b) When the director awards an artificial ad-
justed score of average plus or minus at
international matchpoints, that score is nor-
mally plus or minus 3 imPs, but this may be
varied as Law 86A allows.
(c) the foregoing is modified for a non-offend-
ing contestant who obtains a session score
exceeding 60% of the available matchpoints
or for an offending contestant who obtains
a session score that is less than 40% of the
available matchpoints (or the equivalent in
imPs). Such contestants are awarded the per-
centage obtained (or the equivalent in imPs)
on the other boards of that session.*
3. in individual events the director enforces the
rectifications in these Laws and the provisions
requiring the award of adjusted scores equally
against both members of the offending side, even
though only one of them may be responsible for
the irregularity. But the director shall not award
a procedural penalty against the offender’s part-
ner if of the opinion that offender’s partner is in
no way to blame.
* In ACBL sanctioned events, when there is a non-offending and
an offending contestant, the non-offending contestant receives the
score specified by 12C2(c) above. Their opponents shall receive the
difference between that score and 100%, regardless of their score
on the other boards of that session. For example, if the non-offend-
ing contestant receives 64% on the adjusted deal, the offending
contestant receives 36%.
18
chapter iV – irregularities
4. When the director awards non-balancing ad-
justed scores in knockout play, each contestant’s
score on the board is calculated separately and
the average of them is assigned to each.
LAW 13
iNcORRecT NUmBeR OF cARDS
A. director deems normal Play
When the director determines that one or more
hands of the board contained an incorrect number of
cards (but see Law 14) and a player with an incor-
rect hand has made a call, then when the director
deems that the deal can be corrected and played, the
deal may be so played with no change of call. At
the end of play the director may award an adjusted
score.
B. Adjusted Score and Possible Penalty
otherwise when a call has been made, the director
shall award an adjusted score and may penalize an
offender.
c. Play completed
When it is determined after play ends that a player’s
hand originally contained more than 13 cards with
another player holding fewer (but see Law 13F),
the result must be canceled and an adjusted score
awarded (Law 86d may apply). An offending con-
testant is liable to a procedural penalty.
d. no call made
if a player is found to have an incorrect number of
cards and no call has been made on his hand:
1. the director shall correct the discrepancy and if
19
chapter iV – irregularities
no player will then have seen another’s card shall
require that the board be played normally.
2. When the director determines that one or more
pockets of the board contained an incorrect num-
ber of cards and a player has seen one or more
cards of another player’s hand, if the director
deems:
(a) that the unauthorized information is unlikely
to interfere with normal bidding or play, the
director allows the board to be played and
scored. if he then considers the information
has affected the outcome of the board, the
director shall adjust the score and may pe-
nalize an offender.
(b) that the unauthorized information gained
thereby is of sufficient importance to inter-
fere with normal bidding or play, the direc-
tor shall award an artificial adjusted score
and may penalize an offender.
e. Placement or movement of card
When under this law the director requires play to
continue, knowledge of the placement or movement
of a card by the director is unauthorized informa-
tion for the partner of a player whose hand con-
tained an incorrect number of cards.
F. Surplus card
Any surplus card not part of the deal is removed if
found. the auction and play continue unaffected. if
such a card is found to have been played to a quitted
trick, an adjusted score may be awarded.
20
chapter iV – irregularities
LAW 14
miSSiNG cARD
A. Hand Found deficient before Play commences
When one or more hand(s) is/are found to contain
fewer than 13 cards, with no hand having more than
13, before the opening lead is faced, the director
makes a search for any missing card, and:
1. if the card is found, it is restored to the deficient
hand.
2. if the card cannot be found, the director recon-
structs the deal by substituting another pack.
3. the auction and play continue normally without
alteration of any of the calls made, the restored
hand being deemed to have contained all of its
cards continuously throughout.
B. Hand Found deficient after Play commences
When one or more hand(s) is/are found to contain
fewer than 13 cards, with no hand having more
than 13, at any time after the opening lead is faced
(until the end of the correction period), the director
makes a search for any missing card, and:
1. if the card is found among the played cards, Law
67 applies.
2. if the card is found elsewhere, it is restored to the
deficient hand. rectification and/or penalties may
apply (see B4 below).
3. if the card cannot be found, the deal is recon-
structed using another pack. rectification and/or
penalties may apply (see B4 below).
4. a card restored to a hand under the provisions
of Section B of this law is deemed to have be-
longed continuously to the deficient hand. it may
become a penalty card (Law 50), and failure to
have played it may constitute a revoke.
21
chapter iV – irregularities
c. information from replacement of a card
Knowledge of the replacement of a card is unau-
thorized for the partner of a player whose hand con-
tained an incorrect number of cards.
LAW 15
PLAY OF A WRONG BOARD
A. Players Have not Previously Played Board
if players play a board not designated for them to
play in the current round (but see c below):
1. the director normally allows the score to stand
if none of the four players has previously played
the board.
2. the director may require both pairs to play the
correct board against one another later.
B. one or more Players Have Previously Played Board
if any player plays a board he has previously played,
with the correct opponents or otherwise, his second
score on the board is canceled both for his side and
his opponents, and the director shall award an artifi-
cial adjusted score to the contestants deprived of the
opportunity to earn a valid score.
c. discovered during Auction Period
if during the auction period the director discovers
that a contestant is playing a board not designated
for him to play in the current round, he shall cancel
the auction, ensure that the correct contestants are
seated and that all players involved are informed of
their lawful obligations and rights both now and at
future rounds. A second auction begins. Players who
participated in the first auction must repeat the calls
they made previously. if any call differs in any way
22
chapter iV – irregularities
from the corresponding call in the first auction, the
director shall cancel the board. otherwise the auc-
tion and play continue normally. the director may
award a procedural penalty (and an adjusted score)
if of the opinion that there has been a purposeful
attempt by either side to preclude normal play of the
board.
LAW 16
AUTHORiZeD AND UNAUTHORiZeD
iNFORmATiON
A. Players’ use of information
1. A player may use information in the auction or
play if:
(a) it derives from the legal calls and plays of
the current board (including illegal calls and
plays that are accepted) and is unaffected
by unauthorized information from another
source; or
(b) it is authorized information from a with-
drawn action (see d below); or
(c) it is information specified in any law or
regulation to be authorized or, when not
otherwise specified, arising from the legal
procedures authorized in these Laws and in
regulations (but see B1 below); or
(d) it is information that the player possessed
before he took his hand from the board (Law
7B) and the Laws do not preclude his use of
this information.
2. Players may also take account of their estimate of
their own score, of the traits of their opponents
and any requirement of the tournament regula-
tions.
23
chapter iV – irregularities
3. no player may base a call or play on other infor-
mation (such information being designated extra-
neous).
4. if there is a violation of this law causing damage,
the director adjusts the score in accordance with
Law 12c.
B. extraneous information from Partner
1. (a) After a player makes available to his partner
extraneous information that may suggest
a call or play, as for example by a remark,
a question, a reply to a question, an un-
expected* alert or failure to alert, or by
unmistakable hesitation, unwonted speed,
special emphasis, tone, gesture, movement or
mannerism, the partner may not choose from
among logical alternatives one that could de-
monstrably have been suggested over another
by the extraneous information.
(b) A logical alternative action is one that,
among the class of players in question and
using the methods of the partnership, would
be given serious consideration by a signifi-
cant proportion of such players, of whom it is
judged some might select it.
2. When a player considers that an opponent has
made such information available and that dam-
age could well result, he may announce, unless
prohibited by the regulating Authority (which
may require that the director be called), that he
reserves the right to summon the director later.
the opponents should summon the director im-
* i.e., unexpected in relation to the basis of his action.
24
chapter iV – irregularities
mediately if they dispute the fact that unauthor-
ized information might have been conveyed.
3. When a player has substantial reason to believe
that an opponent who had a logical alternative
has chosen an action that could have been sug-
gested by such information, he should summon
the director when play ends*. the director shall
assign an adjusted score (see Law 12c) if he
considers that an infraction of law has resulted in
an advantage for the offender.
c. extraneous information from other Sources
1. When a player accidentally receives unauthorized
information about a board he is playing or has
yet to play, as by looking at the wrong hand; by
overhearing calls, results or remarks; by seeing
cards at another table; or by seeing a card be-
longing to another player at his own table before
the auction begins, the director should be noti-
fied forthwith, preferably by the recipient of the
information.
2. if the director considers that the information
could interfere with normal play, he may, before
any call has been made:
(a) adjust the players’ positions at the table, if
the type of contest and scoring permit, so
that the player with information about one
hand will hold that hand; or
(b) if the form of competition allows of it, order
the board redealt for those contestants; or
(c) allow completion of the play of the board,
standing ready to award an adjusted score if
* It is not an infraction to call the Director earlier or later.
25
chapter iV – irregularities
he judges that unauthorized information may
have affected the result; or
(d) award an artificial adjusted score.
3. if such unauthorized information is received after
the first call in the auction has been made and
before completion of the play of the board, the
director proceeds as in 2(c) above.
d. information from Withdrawn calls and Plays
When a call or play has been withdrawn as these
Laws provide:
1. For a non-offending side, all information arising
from a withdrawn action is authorized, whether
the action be its own or its opponents’.
2. For an offending side, information arising from
its own withdrawn action and from withdrawn
actions of the non-offending side is unauthor-
ized. A player of an offending side may not
choose from among logical alternative actions
one that could demonstrably have been suggested
over another by the unauthorized information.
26
chapter V
The Auction
Part i – correct Procedure
Section One – The Auction Period
LAW 17
THe AUcTiON PeRiOD
A. the Auction Period Starts
the auction period on a deal begins for a side when
either partner withdraws his cards from the board.
B. the First call
the player designated by the board as dealer makes
the first call.
c. Successive calls
the player to dealer’s left makes the second call,
and thereafter each player calls in turn in a clock-
wise rotation.
d. cards from Wrong Board
1. A call is canceled if it is made by a player on
cards that he has picked up from a wrong board.
2. After looking at the correct hand, the offender
calls again and the auction continues normally
from that point. if offender’s LHo has called
over the canceled call, the director shall award
an artificial adjusted score when offender’s sub-
stituted call differs* from his canceled call (of-
fender’s LHo must repeat the previous call) or
* For example, a substituted call differs if its meaning is much dif-
ferent or if it is psychic.
27
chapter V – the Auction
if the offender’s partner has subsequently called
over the canceled call.
3. if the offender subsequently repeats his call on
the board from which he mistakenly drew his
cards, the director may allow that board to be
played normally, but the director shall award an
artificial adjusted score when offender’s call dif-
fers* from his original canceled call.
4. A procedural penalty (Law 90) may be assessed
in addition to rectifications under d2 and d3
above.
e. end of the Auction Period
1. the auction and the auction period end as Law
22 provides.
2. When a call has been followed by three passes
the auction does not end if one of those passes
was out of rotation, depriving a player of his
right to call at that turn. When this occurs, the
auction reverts to the player who missed his turn,
all subsequent passes are canceled and the auc-
tion proceeds normally. Law 16d applies to the
canceled calls, any player who has passed out of
rotation being an offender.
LAW 18
BiDS
A. Proper Form
A bid designates a number of odd tricks (tricks in
excess of six) from one to seven and a denomina-
tion. (Pass, double and redouble are calls but not
bids.)
* For example, a substituted call differs if its meaning is much dif-
ferent or if it is psychic.
28
chapter V – the Auction
B. to Supersede a Bid
A bid supersedes a previous bid if it designates
either the same number of odd tricks in a higher-
ranking denomination or a greater number of odd
tricks in any denomination.
c. Sufficient Bid
A bid that supersedes the last preceding bid is a suf-
ficient bid.
d. insufficient Bid
A bid that fails to supersede the last preceding bid is
an insufficient bid.
e. rank of the denominations
the rank of the denominations in descending order
is: no trump, spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs.
F. different methods
regulating Authorities may authorize different
methods of making calls.*
LAW 19
DOUBLe AND ReDOUBLe
A. double
1. A player may double only the last preceding bid.
that bid must have been made by an opponent,
and calls other than pass must not have inter-
vened.
2. in doubling, a player should not state the number
of odd tricks or the denomination. the only cor-
rect form is the single word “double”.
* See Elections 2, p.136.
29
chapter V – the Auction
3. if a player, in doubling, incorrectly states the bid,
or the number of odd tricks or the denomination,
he is deemed to have doubled the bid as it was
made. Law 16 — Authorized and unauthorized
information — may apply.
B. redouble
1. A player may redouble only the last preceding
double. that double must have been made by an
opponent, and calls other than pass must not have
intervened.
2. in redoubling, a player should not state the
number of odd tricks or the denomination. the
only correct form is the single word “redouble”.
3. if a player, in redoubling, incorrectly states the
doubled bid, or the number of odd tricks or the
denomination, he is deemed to have redoubled
the bid as it was made. Law 16 — Authorized
and unauthorized information — may apply.
c. double or redouble Superseded
Any double or redouble is superseded by a subse-
quent legal bid.
d. Scoring a doubled or redoubled contract
if a doubled or redoubled bid is not followed by a
subsequent legal bid, scoring values are increased as
provided in Law 77.
LAW 20
ReVieW AND eXPLANATiON OF cALLS
A. call not clearly recognized
A player may require clarification forthwith if he is
in doubt what call has been made.
30
chapter V – the Auction
B. review of the Auction during the Auction Period
during the auction period, a player is entitled to
have all previous calls restated* when it is his turn
to call, unless he is required by law to pass. Alerts
should be included when responding to the request.
A player may not ask for a partial restatement of
previous calls and may not halt the restatement be-
fore it is completed.
c. review after Final Pass
1. After the final pass, either defender has the right
to ask if it is his opening lead (see Laws 47e and
41).
2. declarer** or either defender may, at his first
turn to play, require all previous calls to be re-
stated* (see Laws 41B and 41c). As in B above,
the player may not ask for a partial restatement
or halt the restatement before it is completed.
d. Who may review the Auction
A request to have calls restated* shall be responded
to only by an opponent.
e. correction of error in review
All players, including dummy or a player required
by law to pass, are responsible for prompt correc-
tion of errors in restatement* (see Law 12c1 when
an uncorrected review causes damage).
* When the calls are not spoken, responders must ensure that it is
clear to an inquiring opponent what calls have been made.
** Declarer’s first turn to play is from dummy unless accepting an
opening lead out of turn.
31
chapter V – the Auction
F. explanation of calls
1. during the auction and before the final pass, any
player may request, but only at his own turn to
call, an explanation of the opponents’ prior auc-
tion. He is entitled to know about calls actually
made, about relevant alternative calls available
that were not made, and about relevant infer-
ences from the choice of action where these are
matters of partnership understanding. except on
the instruction of the director, replies should be
given by the partner of the player who made the
call in question. the partner of a player who asks
a question may not ask a supplementary question
until his turn to call or play. Law 16 may apply
and the regulating Authority may establish regu-
lations for written explanations.
2. After the final pass and throughout the play pe-
riod, either defender at his own turn to play may
request an explanation of the opposing auction.
At his turn to play from his hand or from dummy
declarer may request an explanation of a defend-
er’s call or card-play understandings. explana-
tions should be given on a like basis to F1 above
and by the partner of the player whose action is
explained.
3. under F1 and F2 above, a player may ask con-
cerning a single call, but Law 16B1 may apply.
4. if a player subsequently realizes that his own ex-
planation was erroneous or incomplete, he must
call the director immediately. the director ap-
plies Law 21B or Law 40B4.
5. (a) A player whose partner has given a mistaken
explanation may not correct the error during
the auction, nor may he indicate in any man-
32
chapter V – the Auction
ner that a mistake has been made. “mistaken
explanation” here includes failure to alert or
announce as regulations require or an alert
(or an announcement) that regulations do not
require.
(b) the player must call the director and inform
his opponents that, in his opinion, his part-
ner’s explanation was erroneous (see Law 75)
but only at his first legal opportunity, which is
(i) for a defender, at the end of the play.
(ii) for declarer or dummy, after the final
pass of the auction.
6. if the director judges that a player has based an
action on misinformation given to him by an op-
ponent, see, as appropriate, Law 21 or Law 47e.
g. incorrect Procedure
1. it is improper to ask a question solely for part-
ner’s benefit.
2. except as the regulating Authority allows, a
player may not consult his own system card and
notes during the auction and play periods, but see
Law 40B2(b).
LAW 21
cALL BASeD ON miSiNFORmATiON
A. call Based on caller’s misunderstanding
no rectification or redress is due to a player who
acts on the basis of his own misunderstanding.
B. call Based on misinformation from an opponent
1. (a) until the end of the auction period and pro-
vided that his partner has not subsequently
called, a player may change a call without
33
chapter V – the Auction
other rectification for his side when the
director judges that the decision to make the
call could well have been influenced by mis-
information given to the player by an oppo-
nent (see Law 17e). Failure to alert promptly
where an alert is required by the regulating
Authority is deemed misinformation.
(b) the director is to presume mistaken expla-
nation rather than mistaken call in the ab-
sence of evidence to the contrary.
2. When a player elects to change a call because of
misinformation (as in B1 above), his LHo may
then in turn change any subsequent call he may
have made, without other rectification unless at
the end of the play of the deal the director judges
the withdrawn call to have conveyed such infor-
mation as to damage the non-offending side, in
which case Law 16d applies.
3. When it is too late to change a call and the
director judges that the offending side gained
an advantage from the irregularity, he awards an
adjusted score.
Section Two – The Auction Has ended
LAW 22
PROceDURe AFTeR THe AUcTiON
AND THe AUcTiON PeRiOD HAVe eNDeD
A. end of the Auction
the auction ends when:
1. all four players pass, but see Law 25. the hands
are returned to the board without play. there
shall not be a redeal.
34
chapter V – the Auction
2. one or more players having bid, there are three
consecutive passes in rotation subsequent to the
last bid. the last bid becomes the contract, but
see Law 19d.
B. end of the Auction Period
1. the auction period ends when, subsequent to the
end of the auction as in A2 above, either defender
faces an opening lead. (if the lead is out of turn,
then see Law 54.) the interval between the end
of the auction and the end of the auction period
is designated the clarification period.
2. if no player bids (see A1 above), the auction pe-
riod ends when all four hands have been returned
to the board.
Part ii
irregularities in Procedure
LAW 23
AWAReNeSS OF POTeNTiAL DAmAGe
Whenever, in the opinion of the director, an offender
could have been aware at the time of his irregularity
that this could well damage the non-offending side, the
director shall require the auction and play to continue
(if not completed). When the play has been completed,
the director awards an adjusted score if he considers
the offending side has gained an advantage through the
irregularity*.
* As, for example, by partner’s enforced pass.
35
chapter V – the Auction
Section One –
exposed card, enforced Pass
LAW 24
cARD eXPOSeD OR LeD PRiOR
TO PLAY PeRiOD
When the director determines that during the auc-
tion period because of a player’s own error one or more
cards of that player’s hand were in position for the face
to be seen by his partner, the director shall require that
every such card be left face up on the table until the
auction period ends. information from cards thus ex-
posed is authorized for the non-offending side but unau-
thorized for the offending side. if the offender becomes
declarer or dummy, the cards are picked up and returned
to the hand. if the offender becomes a defender, every
such card becomes a penalty card (see Law 50), then:
A. Low card not Prematurely Led
if it is a single card below the rank of an honor and
not prematurely led, there is no further rectification.
B. Single card of Honor rank or card Prematurely Led
if it is a single card of honor rank or is any card
prematurely led, offender’s partner must pass when
next it is his turn to call. See Law 23 when a pass
damages the non-offending side.
c. two or more cards Are exposed
if two or more cards are so exposed, offender’s part-
ner must pass when next it is his turn to call. See
Law 23 when a pass damages the non-offending
side.
36
chapter V – the Auction
Section Two – changes of call
LAW 25
LeGAL AND iLLeGAL cHANGeS OF cALL
A. unintended call
1. until his partner makes a call, a player may sub-
stitute his intended call for an unintended call but
only if he does so, or attempts to do so, without
pause for thought. the second (intended) call
stands and is subject to the appropriate law.
2. no substitution of call may be made when his
partner has made a subsequent call.
3. if the auction ends before it reaches the player’s
partner, no substitution may occur after the end
of the auction period (see Law 22).
4. if a substitution is allowed, the LHo may with-
draw any call he made over the first call. infor-
mation from the withdrawn call is authorized
only to his side. there is no further rectification.
B. intended call
1. A substituted call not permitted by A above may
be accepted by the offender’s LHo. (it is accept-
ed if LHo calls intentionally over it.) the first
call is then withdrawn, the second call stands and
the auction continues.
2. except as in B1 above, a substitution not per-
mitted by A above is canceled. the original call
stands and the auction continues.
3. Law 16d applies to a call withdrawn or canceled.
37
chapter V – the Auction
LAW 26
cALL WiTHDRAWN, LeAD ReSTRicTiONS
When an offending player’s call is withdrawn, and he
chooses a different* final call for that turn, then if he
becomes a defender:
A. call related to Specific Suit
if the withdrawn call related solely to a specified
suit or suits (and no other suit), and
1. if each such suit was specified in the legal auc-
tion by the same player, there is no lead restric-
tion, but see Law 16d.
2. if each such suit was not specified in the legal
auction by the same player, then at offender’s
partner’s first turn to lead (which may be the
opening lead) declarer may either
(a) require the offender’s partner to lead such
a suit. if there is more than one, declarer
chooses the suit.
(b) prohibit offender’s partner from leading (one)
such suit. Such prohibition continues for as
long as the offender’s partner retains the lead.
B. other Withdrawn calls
For other withdrawn calls, declarer may prohibit of-
fender’s partner from leading any one suit at his first
turn to lead, including the opening lead, such prohi-
bition to continue for as long as offender’s partner
retains the lead.
* A call repeated with a much different meaning shall be deemed a
different call.
38
chapter V – the Auction
Section Three – insufficient Bid
LAW 27
iNSUFFicieNT BiD
A. insufficient Bid Accepted
1. Any insufficient bid may be accepted (treated as
legal) at the option of offender’s LHo. it is ac-
cepted if that player calls.
2. if a player makes an insufficient bid out of rota-
tion, Law 31 applies.
B. insufficient Bid not Accepted
if an insufficient bid in rotation is not accepted (see
A above), it must be corrected by the substitution of
a legal call (but see B3 below). then:
1. (a) if the insufficient bid is corrected by the
lowest sufficient bid in the same denomina-
tion and in the director’s opinion both the
insufficient bid and the substituted bid are
incontrovertibly not artificial, the auction
proceeds without further rectification. Law
16d does not apply, but see d below.
(b) if, except as in (a) above, the insufficient
bid is corrected with a legal call that in the
director’s opinion has the same meaning*
as or a more precise meaning* than the
insufficient bid (such meaning being fully
contained within the possible meanings of
the insufficient bid), the auction proceeds
without further rectification, but see d below.
* The meaning of (information available from) a call is the
knowledge of what it shows and what it excludes.
39
chapter V – the Auction
2. except as provided in B1 above, if the insufficient
bid is corrected by a sufficient bid or by a pass,
the offender’s partner must pass whenever it is
his turn to call. the lead restrictions in Law 26
may apply, and see Law 23.
3. except as provided in B1(b) above, if the offender
attempts to substitute a double or a redouble
for his insufficient bid, the attempted call is
canceled. the offender must replace it as the
foregoing allows and his partner must then pass
whenever it is his turn to call. the lead restric-
tions in Law 26 may apply, and see Law 23.
4. if the offender attempts to replace the one insuf-
ficient bid with another insufficient bid, the
director rules as in B3 above if the LHo does not
accept the substituted insufficient bid as A above
allows.
c. Premature replacement
if the offender replaces his insufficient bid before
the director has ruled on rectification, unless the in-
sufficient bid is accepted as A above allows, the sub-
stitution stands. the director applies the relevant
foregoing section to the substitution.
d. non-offending Side damaged
if following the application of B1 above, the direc-
tor judges at the end of the play that without as-
sistance gained through the infraction the outcome
of the board could well have been different and in
consequence the non-offending side is damaged (see
Law 12B1), he shall award an adjusted score. in his
adjustment he should seek to recover as nearly as
possible the probable outcome of the board had the
insufficient bid not occurred.
40
chapter V – the Auction
Section Four – call Out of Rotation
LAW 28
cALLS cONSiDeReD TO Be iN ROTATiON
A. rHo required to Pass
A call is considered to be in rotation when it is
made by a player at his rHo’s turn to call if that
opponent is required by law to pass.
B. call by correct Player canceling call out of rota-
tion
A call is considered to be in rotation when made by
a player whose turn it was to call before rectifica-
tion has been assessed for a call out of rotation by
an opponent. making such a call forfeits the right to
rectification for the call out of rotation. the auction
proceeds as though the opponent had not called at
that turn, but Law 16d2 applies.
LAW 29
PROceDURe AFTeR A cALL
OUT OF ROTATiON
A. Forfeiture of right to rectification
Following a call out of rotation, offender’s LHo
may elect to call thereby forfeiting the right to any
rectification.
B. out-of-rotation call canceled
unless A above applies, a call out of rotation is
canceled and the auction reverts to the player whose
turn it was to call. offender may make any legal call
in proper rotation, but his side may be subject to the
provisions for rectification in Law 30, 31 or 32.
41
chapter V – the Auction
c. call out of rotation is Artificial
if a call out of rotation is artificial, the provisions
of Laws 30, 31 and 32 apply to the denomination(s)
specified, rather than the denomination named.
LAW 30
PASS OUT OF ROTATiON
When a player has passed out of rotation and the call
is canceled, the option in Law 29A not having been
exercised, the following provisions apply (if the pass is
artificial, see c below):
A. Before Any Player Has Bid
When a player has passed out of rotation before any
player has bid, the offender must pass when next it
is his turn to call and Law 23 may apply.
B. After Any Player Has Bid
1. When a pass out of rotation is made at offender’s
rHo’s turn to call after any player has bid, of-
fender must pass when next it is his turn to call.
2. When, after any player has bid, the offender
passes out of rotation at his partner’s turn to call,
(a) the offender must pass whenever it is his turn
to call, and Law 23 may apply, and
(b) offender’s partner may make any sufficient
bid or may pass, but he may not double or
redouble at that turn, and Law 23 may apply.
3. After any player has bid, a pass out of rotation
at offender’s LHo’s turn to call is treated as a
change of call and Law 25 applies.
c. When Pass is Artificial
When a pass out of rotation is artificial or is a pass
of an artificial call, Law 31, not Law 30, applies.
42
chapter V – the Auction
LAW 31
BiD OUT OF ROTATiON
When a player has bid out of rotation, has passed ar-
tificially or has passed partner’s artificial call (see Law
30c) and the call is canceled, the option in Law 29A not
having been exercised, the following provisions apply:
A. rHo’s turn
When the offender has called at his rHo’s turn to
call, then:
1. if that opponent passes, offender must repeat the
call out of rotation. When that call is legal there
is no rectification.
2. if that opponent makes a legal* bid, double or re-
double, offender may make any legal call. When
this call
(a) repeats the denomination of his bid out of
rotation, offender’s partner must pass when
next it is his turn to call (see Law 23).
(b) does not repeat the denomination of his bid
out of rotation, or if the call out of rotation
was an artificial pass or a pass of partner’s
artificial call, the lead restrictions in Law 26
may apply, and offender’s partner must pass
whenever it is his turn to call (see Law 23).
B. Partner’s or LHo’s turn
When the offender has bid at his partner’s turn to
call or at his LHo’s turn to call, if the offender has
not previously called**, offender’s partner must
* An illegal call by RHO is rectified as usual.
**Later calls at LHO’s turn to call are treated as changes of call,
and Law 25 applies.
43
chapter V – the Auction
pass whenever it is his turn to call (see Law 23
when the pass damages the non-offending side). the
lead restrictions of Law 26 may apply.
LAW 32
DOUBLe OR ReDOUBLe OUT OF ROTATiON
A double or redouble out of rotation may be accepted
at the option of the opponent next in rotation (see Law
29A), except that an inadmissible double or redouble
may never be accepted. if offender’s LHo nevertheless
calls, see Law 36. if the call out of rotation is not ac-
cepted, it is canceled, the lead restriction in Law 26B
may apply and:
A. made at offender’s Partner’s turn to call
if a double or redouble out of rotation has been
made when it was the offender’s partner’s turn to
call, the offender’s partner must pass whenever it is
his turn to call. See Law 23 if the pass damages the
non-offending side.
B. made at rHo’s turn to call
if a double or redouble out of rotation has been
made when it was the offender’s rHo’s turn to call,
then:
1. if offender’s rHo passes, offender must repeat
his out-of-rotation double or redouble and there
is no rectification unless the double or redouble
is inadmissible, in which case Law 36 applies.
2. if offender’s rHo bids, doubles or redoubles, the
offender may in turn make any legal call, but of-
fender’s partner must pass whenever it is his turn
to call. See Law 23 if the pass damages the non-
offending side.
44
chapter V – the Auction
LAW 33
SimULTANeOUS cALLS
A call made simultaneously with one made by the
player whose turn it was to call is deemed to be a subse-
quent call.
LAW 34
ReTeNTiON OF RiGHT TO cALL
When following a call there have been three consecu-
tive passes, one or more being out of rotation, Law
17e2 applies.
LAW 35
iNADmiSSiBLe cALLS
the following calls are inadmissible:
A. A double or redouble not permitted by Law 19. Law
36 applies.
B. A bid, double or redouble by a player required to
pass. Law 37 applies.
c. A bid of more than seven. Law 38 applies.
d. A call after the final pass of the auction. Law 39 ap-
plies.
45
chapter V – the Auction
Section Five – inadmissible calls
LAW 36
iNADmiSSiBLe DOUBLe AND ReDOUBLe
A. offender’s LHo calls before rectification
if offender’s LHo calls before rectification of an in-
admissible double or redouble the inadmissible call
and all subsequent calls are canceled. the auction
reverts to the player whose turn it was to call and
proceeds as though there had been no irregularity.
the lead restrictions in Law 26 do not apply.
B. offender’s LHo does not call before rectification
When A above does not apply:
1. any double or redouble not permitted by Law 19
is canceled.
2. the offender must substitute a legal call, the auc-
tion continues and the offender’s partner must
pass whenever it is his turn to call.
3. Law 23 may apply. the lead restrictions in Law
26 may apply.
4. if the call is out of turn, the auction reverts to the
player whose turn it was to call, the offender may
make any legal call at his turn and his partner
must pass whenever it is his turn to call. Law 23
may apply. the lead restrictions in Law 26 may
apply.
LAW 37
AcTiON ViOLATiNG OBLiGATiON TO PASS
A. offender’s LHo calls before rectification
if the inadmissible call was a bid or a double or re-
double by a player required by law to pass (but not
46
chapter V – the Auction
an action contrary to Law 19A1 or Law 19B1) and
offender’s LHo calls before the director has ruled
on rectification, that call and all subsequent calls
stand. if the offender was required to pass for the
remainder of the auction, he must still pass at subse-
quent turns. the lead restrictions in Law 26 do not
apply.
B. offender’s LHo does not call before rectification
When A above does not apply:
1. any bid, double or redouble by a player required
by law to pass is canceled.
2. a pass is substituted, the auction continues and
each member of the offending side must pass
whenever it is his turn to call. Law 23 may apply.
the lead restrictions in Law 26 may apply.
LAW 38
BiD OF mORe THAN SeVeN
A. no Play Permissible
no play of a contract of more than seven is ever per-
missible.
B. Bid and Subsequent calls canceled
A bid of more than seven is canceled together with
any subsequent calls.
c. offending Side must Pass
A pass must be substituted, the auction continues
unless completed and each member of the offending
side must pass whenever it is his turn to call.
d. Possible Lack of recourse to Laws 23 and 26
Law 23 may apply and the lead restrictions in Law
47
chapter V – the Auction
26 may apply, except that if the offender’s LHo had
called subsequent to the infraction and before recti-
fication, there is no recourse to these Laws.
LAW 39
cALL AFTeR THe FiNAL PASS
A. calls canceled
All calls after the final pass of the auction are can-
celed.
B. Pass by a defender or Any call by declaring Side
if offender’s LHo calls before rectification or if the
infraction is a pass by a defender or any call by the
future declarer or dummy, there is no further rectifi-
cation.
c. other Action by a defender
if offender’s LHo has not called subsequent to the
infraction and the infraction is a bid, double or re-
double by a defender, the lead restrictions in Law 26
may apply.
Section Six –
conventions and Agreements
LAW 40
PARTNeRSHiP UNDeRSTANDiNGS
A. Players’ Systemic Agreements
1. (a) Partnership understandings as to the methods
adopted by a partnership may be reached
explicitly in discussion or implicitly through
mutual experience or awareness of the players.
(b) each partnership has a duty to make avail-
able its partnership understandings to oppo-
48
chapter V – the Auction
nents before commencing play against them.
the regulating Authority specifies the man-
ner in which this shall be done.
2. information conveyed to partner through such
understandings must arise from the calls, plays
and conditions of the current deal. each player
is entitled to take into account the legal auction
and, subject to any exclusions in these Laws, the
cards he has seen. He is entitled to use informa-
tion specified elsewhere in these Laws to be au-
thorized (see Law 73c).
3. A player may make any call or play without prior
announcement provided that such call or play is
not based on an undisclosed partnership under-
standing (see Law 40c1).
B. Special Partnership understandings*
1. (a) in its discretion the regulating Authority
may designate certain partnership under-
standings as “special partnership understand-
ings”. A special partnership understanding
is one whose meaning, in the opinion of the
regulating Authority, may not be readily
understood and anticipated by a significant
number of players in the tournament.
(b) Whether explicit or implicit, an agreement
between partners is a partnership under-
standing. A convention is included, unless
the regulating Authority decides otherwise,
among the agreements and treatments that
constitute special partnership understand-
ings, as is the case with any call that has an
artificial meaning.
* See Elections 3, p.136.
49
chapter V – the Auction
2. (a) the regulating Authority is empowered
without restriction to allow, disallow, or al-
low conditionally any special partnership un-
derstanding. it may prescribe a system card
with or without supplementary sheets, for the
prior listing of a partnership’s understandings
and regulate its use. the regulating Author-
ity may prescribe alerting procedures and/or
other methods of disclosure of a partnership’s
methods. it may vary the general require-
ment that the meaning of a call or play shall
not alter by reference to the member of the
partnership by whom it is made. Such a regu-
lation must not restrict style and judgment,
only method.*
(b) unless the regulating Authority provides
otherwise, a player may not consult his own
system card after the auction period com-
mences until the end of play, except that
players of the declaring side (only) may con-
sult their own system card during the clarifi-
cation period.*
(c) unless the regulating Authority provides
otherwise, a player may consult his oppo-
nent’s system card*
(i) prior to the commencement of the auc-
tion,
(ii) during the clarification period, and
(iii) during the auction and during the play
but only at his turn to call or play.
(d) the regulating Authority may restrict the
use of psychic artificial calls.*
* See Elections 3, 4, 5 and 6, pp. 136 and 137.
50
chapter V – the Auction
3. the regulating Authority may disallow prior
agreement by a partnership to vary its under-
standings during the auction or play following a
question asked, a response to a question or any
irregularity.*
4. A side that is damaged as a consequence of its
opponents’ failure to provide disclosure of the
meaning of a call or play as these Laws require is
entitled to rectification through the award of an
adjusted score.
5. When a side is damaged by an opponent’s use
of a special partnership understanding that does
not comply with the regulations governing the
tournament, the score shall be adjusted. A side in
breach of those regulations may be subject to a
procedural penalty.
6. (a) When explaining the significance of partner’s
call or play in reply to an opponent’s inquiry
(see Law 20), a player shall disclose all spe-
cial information conveyed to him through
partnership agreement or partnership experi-
ence, but he need not disclose inferences
drawn from his knowledge and experience of
matters generally known to bridge players.
(b) the director adjusts the scores if informa-
tion not given in an explanation is crucial for
an opponent’s choice of action and that op-
ponent is thereby damaged.
* See Elections 7, p. 137.
51
chapter V – the Auction
c. deviation from System and Psychic Action
1. A player may deviate from his side’s announced
understandings always, provided that his partner
has no more reason to be aware of the deviation
than have the opponents. repeated deviations
lead to implicit understandings, which then form
part of the partnership’s methods and must be
disclosed in accordance with the regulations
governing disclosure of system. if the director
judges there is undisclosed knowledge that has
damaged the opponents, he shall adjust the score
and may award a procedural penalty.
2. other than the above, no player has any obliga-
tion to disclose to the opponents that he has devi-
ated from his announced methods.
3. (a) unless permitted by the regulating Author-
ity, a player is not entitled during the auction
and play periods to any aids to his memory,
calculation or technique.
(b) repeated violations of requirements to dis-
close partnership understandings may be
penalized.
52
chapter Vi
The Play
Part i – Procedure
Section One – correct Procedure
LAW 41
cOmmeNcemeNT OF PLAY
A. Face-down opening Lead
After a bid, double or redouble has been followed by
three passes in rotation, the defender on presumed
declarer’s left makes the opening lead face down*.
the face-down lead may be withdrawn only upon
instruction of the director after an irregularity (see
Law 47e2); the withdrawn card must be returned to
the defender’s hand.
B. review of Auction and Questions
Before the opening lead is faced, the leader’s partner
and the presumed declarer (but not the presumed
dummy) each may require a review of the auction
or request an explanation of an opponent’s call (see
Law 20F2 and 20F3). declarer** or either defender
may, at his first turn to play a card, require a review
of the auction; this right expires when he plays a
card. the defenders (subject to Law 16) and the
declarer retain the right to request explanations
* A Regulating Authority may specify that opening leads be made
face up.
** Declarer’s first turn to play is from dummy unless accepting an
opening lead out of turn.
53
chapter Vi – the Play
throughout the play period, each at his own* turn to
play.
c. opening Lead Faced
Following this clarification period, the opening
lead is faced, the play period begins irrevocably,
and dummy’s hand is spread (but see Law 54A for
a faced opening lead out of turn). After it is too
late to have previous calls restated (see B above),
declarer or either defender, at his own* turn to play,
is entitled to be informed as to what the contract is
and whether, but not by whom, it was doubled or
redoubled.
d. dummy’s Hand
After the opening lead is faced, dummy spreads his
hand in front of him on the table, face up, sorted
into suits, the cards in order of rank with lowest
ranking cards towards declarer, and in columns
pointing lengthwise towards declarer. trumps are
placed to dummy’s right. declarer plays both his
hand and that of dummy.
LAW 42
DUmmY’S RiGHTS
A. Absolute rights
1. dummy is entitled to give information, in the
director’s presence, as to fact or law.
2. dummy may keep count of tricks won and lost in
accordance with Law 65B.
3. dummy plays the cards of the dummy as de-
clarer’s agent as directed (see Law 45F if dummy
suggests a play).
*Declarer may inquire at his turn to play from dummy or from his
own hand.
54
chapter Vi – the Play
B. Qualified rights
dummy may exercise other rights subject to the
limitations stated in Law 43.
1. dummy may ask declarer (but not a defender)
when he has failed to follow suit to a trick wheth-
er he has a card of the suit led.
2. dummy may try to prevent any irregularity by
declarer.
3. dummy may draw attention to any irregularity,
but only after play of the hand is concluded.
LAW 43
DUmmY’S LimiTATiONS
except as Law 42 allows:
A. Limitations on dummy
1. (a) unless attention has been drawn to an irregu-
larity by another player, dummy should not
initiate a call for the director during play.
(b) dummy may not call attention to an irregu-
larity during play.
(c) dummy must not participate in the play, nor
may he communicate anything about the play
to declarer.
2. (a) dummy may not exchange hands with de-
clarer.
(b) dummy may not leave his seat to watch de-
clarer’s play.
(c) dummy may not, on his own initiative, look
at the face of a card in either defender’s hand.
B. if a Violation occurs
1. dummy is liable to penalty under Law 90 for any
violation of the limitations listed in A1 and A2
above.
55
chapter Vi – the Play
2. if dummy, after his violation of the limitations
listed in A2 above,
(a) warns declarer not to lead from the wrong
hand, either defender may choose the hand
from which declarer shall lead.
(b) is the first to ask declarer if a play from de-
clarer’s hand constitutes a revoke, declarer
must substitute a correct card if his play was
illegal, and the provisions of Law 64 then
apply as if the revoke had been established.
3. if dummy, after his violation of the limitations
listed in A2 above, is the first to draw attention to
a defender’s irregularity, there is no rectification.
Play continues as though no irregularity had oc-
curred. At the end of play, see Law 12B1.
LAW 44
SeQUeNce AND PROceDURe OF PLAY
A. Lead to a trick
the player who leads to a trick may play any card in
his hand (unless he is subject to restriction after an
irregularity committed by his side).
B. Subsequent Plays to a trick
After the lead, each other player in turn plays a card,
and the four cards so played constitute a trick. (For
the method of playing cards and arranging tricks,
see Laws 45 and 65 respectively.)
c. requirement to Follow Suit
in playing to a trick, each player must follow suit if
possible. this obligation takes precedence over all
other requirements of these Laws.
56
chapter Vi – the Play
d. inability to Follow Suit
if unable to follow suit, a player may play any card
(unless he is subject to restriction after an irregular-
ity committed by his side).
e. tricks containing trumps
A trick that contains a trump is won by the player
who has contributed to it the highest trump.
F. tricks not containing trumps
A trick that does not contain a trump is won by the
player who has contributed to it the highest card of
the suit led.
g. Lead to tricks Subsequent to First trick
the lead to the next trick is from the hand in which
the last trick was won.
LAW 45
cARD PLAYeD
A. Play of card from a Hand
each player except dummy plays a card by detach-
ing it from his hand and facing* it on the table im-
mediately before him.
B. Play of a 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. in playing from dummy’s hand,
declarer may, if necessary, pick up the desired card
himself.
* The opening lead is first made face down unless the Regulating
Authority directs otherwise.
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chapter Vi – the Play
c. compulsory Play of card
1. A defender’s card held so that it is possible for
his partner to see its face must be played to the
current trick. if the defender has already made a
legal play to the current trick, see Law 45e.
2. declarer must play a card from his hand if it is
(a) held face up, touching or nearly touching the
table; or
(b) maintained in such a position as to indicate
that it has been played.
3. A card in the dummy must be played if it has
been deliberately touched by declarer except for
the purpose either of arranging dummy’s cards
or of reaching a card above or below the card or
cards touched.
4. (a) A card must be played if a player names or
otherwise designates it as the card he pro-
poses to play.
(b) until his partner has played a card, a player
may change an unintended designation if he
does so without pause for thought. if an op-
ponent has, in turn, played a card that was
legal before the change in designation, that
opponent may withdraw the card so played,
return it to his hand, and substitute another
(see Laws 47d and 16d1).
5. A penalty card, major or minor, may have to be
played (see Law 50).
d. card misplayed by dummy
if dummy places in the played position a card that
declarer did not name, the card must be withdrawn
if attention is drawn to it before each side has played
to the next trick, and a defender may withdraw and
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chapter Vi – the Play
return to his hand a card played after the error but
before attention was drawn to it. if declarer’s rHo
changes his play, declarer may withdraw a card he
had subsequently played to that trick (see Law 16d).
e. Fifth card Played to trick
1. A fifth card contributed to a trick by a defender
becomes a penalty card, subject to Law 50, un-
less the director deems that it was led, in which
case Law 53 or Law 56 applies.
2. When declarer contributes a fifth card to a trick
from his own hand or dummy, it is returned to
the hand without further rectification unless the
director deems that it was led, in which case Law
55 applies.
F. dummy indicates card
After dummy’s hand is faced, dummy may not touch
or indicate any card, except for purpose of arrange-
ment, without instruction from declarer. if he does
so, the director should be summoned forthwith and
informed of the action. Play continues. At the end of
the play the director shall award an adjusted score
if he considers dummy suggested a play to declarer
and the defenders were damaged by the play sug-
gested.
g. turning the trick
no player should turn his card face down until all
four players have played to the trick.
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chapter Vi – the Play
Section Two –
irregularities in Procedure
LAW 46
iNcOmPLeTe OR eRRONeOUS cALL
OF A cARD FROm DUmmY
A. Proper Form for designating dummy’s card
When calling a card to be played from dummy, de-
clarer should clearly state both the suit and the rank
of the desired card.
B. incomplete or erroneous call of a card
in case of an incomplete or erroneous call by de-
clarer of the card to be played from dummy, the
following restrictions apply, except when declarer’s
different intention is incontrovertible:
1. (a) if declarer in playing from dummy calls
“high”, or words of like meaning, he is
deemed to have called the highest card.
(b) if he directs dummy to “win” the trick he is
deemed to have called the lowest card that it
is known will win the trick.
(c) if he calls “low”, or words of like meaning,
he is deemed to have called the lowest card.
2. if declarer designates a suit but not a rank he is
deemed to have called the lowest card of the suit
indicated.
3. if declarer designates a rank but not a suit
(a) in leading, declarer is deemed to have con-
tinued the suit in which dummy won the pre-
ceding trick, provided there is a card of the
designated rank in that suit.
(b) in all other cases declarer must play a card
from dummy of the designated rank if he can
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chapter Vi – the Play
legally do so. if there are two or more such
cards that can be legally played, declarer
must designate which is intended.
4. if declarer calls a card that is not in dummy, the
call is void and declarer may designate any legal
card.
5. if declarer indicates a play without designating
either a suit or a rank (as by saying “play any-
thing” or words of like meaning), either defender
may designate the play from dummy.
LAW 47
ReTRAcTiON OF cARD PLAYeD
A. in course of rectification
A card once played may be withdrawn when re-
quired by rectification following an irregularity (but
a defender’s withdrawn card may become a penalty
card, see Law 49).
B. to correct an illegal Play
A played card may be withdrawn to correct an ille-
gal play. For defenders, except as this law provides,
see Law 49 — penalty card. For simultaneous play,
see Law 58.
c. to change an inadvertent designation
A played card may be withdrawn and returned to the
hand without further rectification after a change of
designation permitted by Law 45c4(b).
d. Following an opponent’s change of Play
After an opponent’s change of play, a played card
may be withdrawn and returned to the hand without
further rectification and another card may be substi-
tuted. (Laws 16d and 62c2 may apply.)
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chapter Vi – the Play
e. change of Play Based on misinformation
1. A lead out of turn (or play of a card) may be re-
tracted without further rectification if the player
was mistakenly informed by an opponent that it
was his turn to lead or play. A lead or play may
not be accepted by his LHo in this circumstance.
2. (a) A player may retract the card he has played
because of a mistaken explanation of an op-
ponent’s call or play and before a corrected
explanation without further rectification, but
only if no card was subsequently played to
that trick. An opening lead may not be re-
tracted after dummy has faced any card.
(b) When it is too late to correct a play under
2(a) above, the director may award an ad-
justed score.
F. other retraction
1. A card may be withdrawn as Law 53c provides.
2. except as this law specifies, a card once played
may not be withdrawn.
Part ii – Penalty card
LAW 48
eXPOSURe OF DecLAReR’S cARDS
A. declarer exposes a card
declarer is not subject to restriction for exposing a
card (but see Law 45c2), and no card of declarer’s
or dummy’s hand ever becomes a penalty card. de-
clarer is not required to play any card dropped ac-
cidentally.
B. declarer Faces cards
1. When declarer faces his cards after an opening
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chapter Vi – the Play
lead out of turn, Law 54 applies.
2. When declarer faces his cards at any time other
than immediately after an opening lead out of
turn, he may be deemed to have made a claim or
concession of tricks (unless he demonstrably did
not intend to claim), and Law 68 then applies.
LAW 49
eXPOSURe OF A DeFeNDeR’S cARDS
except in the normal course of play or application of
law (see for example Law 47e), when a defender’s card
is in a position in which his partner could possibly see
its face, or when a defender names a card as being in his
hand, each such card becomes a penalty card (Law 50).
See the footnote to Law 68 when a defender has made a
statement concerning an uncompleted trick currently in
progress, and see Law 68B2 when partner objects to a
defender’s concession.
LAW 50
DiSPOSiTiON OF A PeNALTY cARD
A card prematurely exposed (but not led, see Law 57)
by a defender is a penalty card unless the director des-
ignates otherwise (see Law 49, and Law 23 may apply).
A. Penalty card remains exposed
A penalty card must be left face up on the table im-
mediately before the player to whom it belongs until
a rectification has been selected.
B. major or minor Penalty card?
A single card below the rank of an honor exposed
unintentionally (as in playing two cards to a trick,
or in dropping a card accidentally) becomes a minor
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chapter Vi – the Play
penalty card. Any card of honor rank, or any card
exposed through deliberate play (for example in
leading out of turn or in revoking and then correct-
ing), becomes a major penalty card. When one de-
fender has two or more penalty cards, all such cards
become major penalty cards.
c. disposition of a minor Penalty card
When a defender has a minor penalty card, he may
not play any other card of the same suit below the
rank of an honor until he has first played the penalty
card, but he is entitled to play an honor card instead.
offender’s partner is not subject to lead restriction,
but information gained through seeing the penalty
card is unauthorized (see e below).
d. disposition of a major Penalty card
When a defender has a major penalty card, both the
offender and his partner may be subject to restric-
tion, the offender whenever he is to play, the partner
whenever he is to lead.
1. (a) A major penalty card must be played at the
first legal opportunity, whether in leading,
following suit, discarding or trumping. if a
defender has two or more penalty cards that
can legally be played, declarer designates
which is to be played.
(b) the obligation to follow suit or to comply
with a lead or play restriction takes prec-
edence over the obligation to play a major
penalty card, but the penalty card must still
be left face up on the table and played at the
next legal opportunity.
2. When a defender has the lead while his partner
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chapter Vi – the Play
has a major penalty card, he may not lead until
declarer has stated which of the options below is
selected (if the defender leads prematurely, he is
subject to rectification under Law 49). declarer
may choose:
(a) to require* the defender to lead the suit of
the penalty card or to prohibit* him from
leading that suit for as long as he retains the
lead. For two or more penalty cards, see Law
51. if declarer exercises either of these op-
tions, the card is no longer a penalty card and
is picked up.
(b) not to require or prohibit a lead, in which
case the defender may lead any card; the
penalty card remains a penalty card**. if
this option is selected, Law 50d continues to
apply for as long as the penalty card remains.
e. information from a Penalty card
1. Knowledge of the requirements for playing a
penalty card is authorized information for all
players.
2. other information derived from the sight of a
penalty card is unauthorized for the partner of
the player who has the penalty card (but author-
ized for declarer).
3. if the director judges that the exposed card con-
veyed such information as to damage the non-
offending side he shall award an adjusted score.
* If the player is unable to lead as required, see Law 59.
** If the partner of the defender with the penalty card retains the lead,
and the penalty card has not yet been played, then al the require-
ments and options of Law 50D2 apply again at the fol owing trick.
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chapter Vi – the Play
LAW 51
TWO OR mORe PeNALTY cARDS
A. offender to Play
if it is a defender’s turn to play and that defender
has two or more penalty cards that can legally be
played, declarer designates which is to be played at
that turn.
B. offender’s Partner to Lead
1. (a) When a defender has two or more penalty
cards in one suit, and declarer requires*
the defender’s partner to lead that suit, the
cards of that suit are no longer penalty
cards and are picked up; the defender may
make any legal play to the trick.
(b) When a defender has two or more penalty
cards in one suit, and declarer prohibits*
the defender’s partner from leading that
suit, the cards of that suit are no longer
penalty cards and are picked up. the de-
fender may make any legal play to the
trick. the prohibition continues until the
defender’s partner loses the lead.
2. (a) When a defender has penalty cards in more
than one suit (see Law 50d2(a)) and his
partner is to lead, declarer may require* the
defender’s partner to lead any suit in which
the defender has a penalty card, but B1(a)
above then applies.
(b) When a defender has penalty cards in more
than one suit and his partner is to lead, de-
clarer may prohibit* the defender’s partner
* If the player is unable to lead as required, see Law 59.
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chapter Vi – the Play
from leading one or more of such suits;
the defender then picks up every penalty
card in every suit prohibited by declarer
and makes any legal play to the trick. the
prohibition continues until the defender’s
partner loses the lead.
LAW 52
FAiLURe TO LeAD OR PLAY A PeNALTY cARD
A. defender Fails to Play a Penalty card
When a defender fails to lead or play a penalty card
as required by Law 50 or Law 51, he may not, on
his own initiative, withdraw any other card he has
played.
B. defender Plays Another card
1. (a) if a defender has led or played another card
when required by law to play a penalty
card, declarer may accept such lead or play.
(b) declarer must accept such lead or play if
he has thereafter played from his own hand
or dummy.
(c) if the played card is accepted under either
(a) or (b) above, any unplayed penalty card
remains a penalty card.
2. if declarer does not accept the card illegally
played or led, the defender must substitute the
penalty card for the card illegally played or led.
every card illegally led or played by the defender
in the course of committing the irregularity be-
comes a major penalty card.
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chapter Vi – the Play
Part iii – irregular Leads and Plays
Section One – Lead Out of Turn
LAW 53
LeAD OUT OF TURN AccePTeD
A. Lead out of turn treated as correct Lead
Any lead faced out of turn may be treated as a cor-
rect lead (but see Law 47e1). it becomes a correct
lead if declarer or either defender, as the case may
be, accepts it by making a statement to that effect, or
if a play is made from the hand next in rotation to the
irregular lead (but see c). if there is no such accep-
tance or play, the director will require that the lead
be made from the correct hand (and see Law 47B).
B. Wrong defender Plays card to declarer’s irregular
Lead
if the defender at the right of the hand from which
declarer’s lead out of turn was made plays to the
irregular lead (but see c below), the lead stands and
Law 57 applies.
c. Proper Lead made Subsequent to irregular Lead
Subject to Law 53A, if it was properly the turn to
lead of an opponent of the player who led out of
turn, that opponent may make his proper lead to
the trick of the infraction without his card being
deemed played to the irregular lead. When this oc-
curs, the proper lead stands and all cards played in
error to this trick may be withdrawn. Law 16d ap-
plies, but there is no further rectification.
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chapter Vi – the Play
LAW 54
FAceD OPeNiNG LeAD OUT OF TURN
When an opening lead out of turn is faced and of-
fender’s partner leads face down, the director requires
the face down lead to be retracted. Also:
A. declarer Spreads His Hand
After a faced opening lead out of turn, declarer may
spread his hand; he becomes dummy. if declarer
begins to spread his hand, and in doing so exposes
one or more cards, he must spread his entire hand.
dummy becomes declarer.
B. declarer Accepts Lead
When a defender faces the opening lead out of turn
declarer may accept the irregular lead as provided
in Law 53, and dummy is spread in accordance with
Law 41.
1. the second card to the trick is played from de-
clarer’s hand.
2. if declarer plays the second card to the trick from
dummy, dummy’s card may not be withdrawn
except to correct a revoke.
c. declarer must Accept Lead
if declarer could have seen any of dummy’s cards
(except cards that dummy may have exposed dur-
ing the auction and that were subject to Law 24), he
must accept the lead.
d. declarer refuses opening Lead
declarer may require a defender to retract his faced
opening lead out of turn. the withdrawn card be-
comes a major penalty card and Law 50d applies.
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chapter Vi – the Play
e. opening Lead by Wrong Side
if a player of the declaring side attempts to make an
opening lead, Law 24 applies.
LAW 55
DecLAReR’S LeAD OUT OF TURN
A. declarer’s Lead Accepted
if declarer has led out of turn from his or dummy’s
hand, either defender may accept the lead as pro-
vided in Law 53, or require its retraction (after mis-
information, see Law 47e1). if the defenders choose
differently, the option expressed by the defender
next in turn to the hand from which the card was led
out of turn shall prevail.
B. declarer required to retract Lead
1. if declarer has led from his or dummy’s hand
when it was a defender’s turn to lead, and if ei-
ther defender requires him to retract such lead,
declarer restores the card led in error to the
proper hand. no further rectification applies.
2. if declarer has led from the wrong hand when it
was his turn to lead from his hand or dummy’s,
and if either defender requires him to retract the
lead, he withdraws the card led in error. He must
lead from the correct hand.
c. declarer might obtain information
When declarer adopts a line of play that could have
been based on information obtained through the in-
fraction, the director may award an adjusted score.
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chapter Vi – the Play
LAW 56
DeFeNDeR’S LeAD OUT OF TURN
See Law 54d.
Section Two –
Other irregular Leads and Plays
LAW 57
PRemATURe LeAD OR PLAY
A. Premature Play or Lead to next trick
When a defender leads to the next trick before his
partner has played to the current trick or plays out of
turn before his partner has played, the card so led or
played becomes a major penalty card, and declarer
selects one of the following options. He may:
1. require offender’s partner to play the highest card
he holds of the suit led, or
2. require offender’s partner to play the lowest card
he holds of the suit led, or
3. forbid offender’s partner to play a card of another
suit specified by declarer.
B. offender’s Partner cannot comply with rectifica-
tion
When offender’s partner is unable to comply with
the rectification selected by declarer he may play
any card, as provided in Law 59.
c. declarer or dummy Has Played
1. A defender is not subject to rectification for play-
ing before his partner if declarer has played from
both hands nor if dummy has played a card or
has illegally suggested that it be played. A single-
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chapter Vi – the Play
ton in dummy or one of cards adjacent in rank of
the same suit is not considered to be played until
declarer has instructed (or indicated*) the play.
2. A premature play (not a lead) by declarer from
either hand is a played card and may not be with-
drawn.
LAW 58
SimULTANeOUS LeADS OR PLAYS
A. Simultaneous Plays by two Players
A lead or play made simultaneously with another
player’s legal lead or play is deemed to be subse-
quent to it.
B. Simultaneous cards from one Hand
if a player leads or plays two or more cards simulta-
neously:
1. if only one card is visible, that card is played; all
other cards are picked up and there is no further
rectification (see Law 47F).
2. if more than one card is visible, the player des-
ignates the card he proposes to play; when he is
a defender, each other card exposed becomes a
penalty card (see Law 50).
3. After a player withdraws a visible card, an op-
ponent who subsequently played to that card may
withdraw his play and substitute another without
further rectification (but see Law 16d).
4. if the simultaneous play remains undiscovered
until both sides have played to the next trick,
Law 67 applies.
* As by a gesture or nod.
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chapter Vi – the Play
LAW 59
iNABiLiTY TO LeAD OR PLAY AS ReQUiReD
A player may play any otherwise legal card if he is
unable to lead or play as required to comply with a
rectification, whether because he holds no card of the
required suit, or because he has only cards of a suit he
is prohibited from leading, or because he is obliged to
follow suit.
LAW 60
PLAY AFTeR AN iLLeGAL PLAY
A. Play of a card after irregularity
1. A play by a member of the non-offending side
after his rHo has led or played out of turn or
prematurely and before rectification has been
assessed, forfeits the right to rectification of that
offense.
2. once the right to rectification has been forfeited,
the illegal play is treated as though it were in turn
(except when Law 53c applies).
3. if the offending side has a previous obligation to
play a penalty card or to comply with a lead or
play restriction, the obligation remains at future
turns.
B. defender Plays before required Lead by declarer
When a defender plays a card after declarer has
been required to retract his lead out of turn from
either hand but before declarer has led from the
correct hand, the defender’s card becomes a major
penalty card (Law 50).
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chapter Vi – the Play
c. Play by offending Side before Assessment of recti-
fication
A play by a member of the offending side before
rectification has been assessed does not affect the
rights of the opponents, and may itself be subject to
rectification.
Section Three – The Revoke
LAW 61
FAiLURe TO FOLLOW SUiT – iNQUiRieS
cONceRNiNG A ReVOKe
A. definition of a revoke
Failure to follow suit in accordance with Law 44
or failure to lead or play, when able, a card or suit
required by law or specified by an opponent when
exercising an option in rectification of an irregular-
ity constitutes a revoke. (When unable to comply,
see Law 59.)
B. right to inquire about a Possible revoke
1. declarer may ask a defender who has failed to
follow suit whether he has a card of the suit led.
2. (a) dummy may ask declarer (but see Law
43B2(b)).
(b) dummy may not ask a defender and Law
16B may apply.
3. defenders may ask declarer and, unless prohib-
ited by the regulating Authority, may ask one
another (at the risk of creating unauthorized in-
formation).
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chapter Vi – the Play
LAW 62
cORRecTiON OF A ReVOKe
A. revoke must Be corrected
A player must correct his revoke if he becomes
aware of the irregularity before it becomes estab-
lished.
B. correcting a revoke
to correct a revoke, the offender withdraws the card
he played and substitutes a legal card.
1. A card so withdrawn becomes a major penalty
card (Law 50) if it was played from a defender’s
unfaced hand.
2. the card may be replaced without further recti-
fication if it was played from declarer’s (subject
to Law 43B2(b)) or dummy’s hand, or if it was a
defender’s faced card.
c. Subsequent cards Played
1. each member of the non-offending side may
withdraw and return to his hand any card he may
have played after the revoke but before attention
was drawn to it (see Law 16d).
2. After a non-offender so withdraws a card, the
player of the offending side next in rotation may
withdraw his played card, which becomes a pen-
alty card if the player is a defender, and see Law
16d.
3. A claim of a revoke does not automatically war-
rant inspection of quitted tricks (see Law 66c).
d. revoke on trick 12
1. on the twelfth trick, a revoke, even if established,
must be corrected if discovered before all four
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chapter Vi – the Play
hands have been returned to the board.
2. if a revoke by a defender occurs on the twelfth
trick and before it was the turn of his partner
to play to the trick, when offender’s partner has
cards of two suits he may not choose the play
that could possibly have been suggested by see-
ing the revoke card.
LAW 63
eSTABLiSHmeNT OF A ReVOKe
A. revoke Becomes established
A revoke becomes established:
1. when the offender or his partner leads or plays
to the following trick (any such play, legal or il-
legal, establishes the revoke).
2. when the offender or his partner names or other-
wise designates a card to be played to the follow-
ing trick.
3. when a member of the offending side makes or
agrees to a claim or concession of tricks orally or
by facing his hand or in any other way.
B. revoke may not Be corrected
once a revoke is established, it may no longer be
corrected (except as provided in Law 62d for a re-
voke on the twelfth trick), and the trick on which the
revoke occurred stands as played.
LAW 64
PROceDURe AFTeR eSTABLiSHmeNT
OF A ReVOKe
A. rectification following a revoke
When a revoke is established:
1. and the trick on which the revoke occurred was
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chapter Vi – the Play
won by the offending player*, at the end of the
play the trick on which the revoke occurred is
transferred to the non-offending side together
with one of any subsequent tricks won by the of-
fending side.
2. and the trick on which the revoke occurred was
not won by the offending player* then, if the of-
fending side won that or any subsequent trick,
after play ends one trick is transferred to the non-
offending side.
B. no rectification
there is no rectification as in A above following an
established revoke:
1. if the offending side did not win either the revoke
trick or any subsequent trick.
2. if it is a subsequent revoke in the same suit by
the same player. Law 64c may apply.
3. if the revoke was made in failing to play any card
faced on the table or belonging to a hand faced
on the table, including a card from dummy’s
hand.
4. if attention was first drawn to the revoke after a
member of the non-offending side has made a
call on the subsequent deal.
5. if attention was first drawn to the revoke after the
round has ended.
6. if it is a revoke on the twelfth trick.
7. when both sides have revoked on the same board.
* A trick won in dummy is not won by declarer for the purposes of
this law.
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chapter Vi – the Play
c. director responsible for equity
When, after any established revoke, including those
not subject to rectification, the director deems that
the non-offending side is insufficiently compensated
by this law for the damage caused, he shall assign an
adjusted score.
Part iV – Tricks
LAW 65
ARRANGemeNT OF TRicKS
A. completed trick
When four cards have been played to a trick, each
player turns his own card face down near him on the
table.
B. Keeping track of the ownership of tricks
1. if the player’s side has won the trick, the card is
pointed lengthwise toward his partner.
2. if the player’s opponents have won the trick, the
card is pointed lengthwise toward the opponents.
3. declarer may require that a card pointed incor-
rectly be pointed as above. dummy or either
defender may draw attention to a card pointed
incorrectly, but for these players the right expires
when a lead is made to the following trick. if
done later, Law 16B may apply.
c. orderliness
each player arranges his own cards in an orderly
overlapping row in the sequence played, so as to
permit review of the play after its completion, if
necessary to determine the number of tricks won
by each side or the order in which the cards were
played.
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chapter Vi – the Play
d. Agreement on results of Play
A player should not disturb the order of his played
cards until agreement has been reached on the num-
ber of tricks won. A player who fails to comply with
the provisions of this law jeopardizes his right to
claim ownership of doubtful tricks or to claim (or
deny) a revoke.
LAW 66
iNSPecTiON OF TRicKS
A. current trick
So long as his side has not led or played to the next
trick, declarer or either defender may, until he has
turned his own card face down on the table, require
that all cards just played to the trick be faced.
B. own Last card
until a card is led to the next trick, declarer or either
defender may inspect, but not expose, his own last
card played.
c. Quitted tricks
thereafter, until play ceases, the cards of quitted
tricks may not be inspected (except at the director’s
specific instruction; for example, if necessary to
verify a claim of a revoke).
d. After the conclusion of Play
After play ceases, the played and unplayed cards
may be inspected to settle a claim of a revoke or
of the number of tricks won or lost, but no player
should handle cards other than his own. if, after
such a claim has been made, a player mixes his
cards in such a manner that the director can no
79
chapter Vi – the Play
longer ascertain the facts, the director shall rule in
favor of the other side.
LAW 67
DeFecTiVe TRicK
A. Before Both Sides Play to the next trick
When a player has omitted to play to a trick or has
played too many cards to a trick, the error must be
rectified if attention is drawn to the irregularity be-
fore a player on each side has played to the follow-
ing trick.
1. to rectify omission to play to a trick, the offend-
er supplies a card he can legally play.
2. to rectify the play of too many cards to a trick,
Law 45e (Fifth card Played to trick) or Law
58B (Simultaneous cards from one Hand) shall
be applied.
B. After Both Sides Play to the next trick
After both sides have played to the following trick,
when attention is drawn to a defective trick or when
the director determines that there had been a defec-
tive trick (from the fact that one player has too few
or too many cards in his hand, and a correspond-
ingly incorrect number of played cards), the direc-
tor establishes which trick was defective. to rectify
the number of cards, the director should proceed as
follows.
1. When the offender has failed to play a card to
the defective trick, the director shall require him
forthwith to expose a card face-up in front of him
and then place it appropriately among his played
cards (this card does not affect ownership of the
trick); if
80
chapter Vi – the Play
(a) the offender has a card of the suit led to the
defective trick, he must choose such a card to
place among his played cards. He is deemed
to have revoked on the defective trick and is
subject to the loss of one trick transferred in
accordance with Law 64A2.
(b) the offender has no card of the suit led to
the defective trick, he chooses any card to
place among his played cards. He is deemed
to have revoked on the defective trick and is
subject to the loss of one trick transferred in
accordance with Law 64A2.
2. (a) When the offender has played more than
one card to the defective trick, the director
inspects the played cards and requires the of-
fender to restore to his hand all extra cards*,
leaving among the played cards the one faced
in playing to the defective trick (if the direc-
tor is unable to determine which card was
faced, the offender leaves the highest ranking
of the cards that he could legally have played
to the trick). ownership of the defective trick
does not change.
(b) A restored card is deemed to have belonged
continuously to the offender’s hand, and a
failure to have played it to an earlier trick
may constitute a revoke.
* The Director should avoid, when possible, exposing a defender’s
played cards, but if an extra card to be restored to a defender’s
hand has been exposed, it becomes a penalty card (see Law 50).
81
chapter Vi – the Play
Part V – claims and concessions
LAW 68
cLAim OR cONceSSiON OF TRicKS
For a statement or action to constitute a claim or
concession of tricks under these Laws, it must refer to
tricks other than one currently in progress*. if it does
refer to subsequent tricks:
A. claim defined
Any statement to the effect that a contestant will
win a specific number of tricks is a claim of those
tricks. A contestant also claims when he suggests
that play be curtailed, or when he shows his cards
(unless he demonstrably did not intend to claim
— for example, if declarer faces his cards after an
opening lead out of turn, Law 54, not this law will
apply).
B. concession defined
1. Any statement to the effect that a contestant will
lose a specific number of tricks is a concession
of those tricks; a claim of some number of tricks
is a concession of the remainder, if any. A player
concedes all the remaining tricks when he aban-
dons his hand.
2. regardless of B1 above, if a defender attempts to
concede one or more tricks and his partner im-
mediately objects, no concession has occurred.
* If the statement or action pertains only to the winning or losing of
an uncompleted trick currently in progress, play proceeds regularly;
cards exposed or revealed by a defender do not become penalty
cards, but Law 16, Authorized and Unauthorized Information, may
apply, and see Law 57A, Premature Play.
82
chapter Vi – the Play
unauthorized information may exist, so the di-
rector should be summoned immediately. Play
continues. Any card that has been exposed by a
defender in these circumstances is not a penalty
card, but Law 16d applies to information arising
from its exposure and the information may not
be used by the partner of the defender who has
exposed it.
c. clarification required for claim
A claim should be accompanied at once by a clear
statement as to the order in which cards will be
played, of the line of play or defense through which
the claimer proposes to win the tricks claimed.
d. Play ceases
After any claim or concession, play ceases (but see
Law 70d3). if the claim or concession is agreed,
Law 69 applies; if it is doubted by any player
(dummy included), the director must be summoned
immediately and Law 70 applies. no action may be
taken pending the director’s arrival.
LAW 69
AGReeD cLAim OR cONceSSiON
A. When Agreement is established
Agreement is established when a contestant assents
to an opponent’s claim or concession and raises no
objection to it before his side makes a call on a sub-
sequent board or before the round ends, whichever
occurs first. the board is scored as though the tricks
claimed or conceded had been won or lost in play.
83
chapter Vi – the Play
B. director’s decision
Agreement with a claim or concession (see A
above) may be withdrawn within the correction pe-
riod established under Law 79c:
1. if a player agreed to the loss of a trick his side
had, in fact, won; or
2. if a player has agreed to the loss of a trick that
his side would likely have won had the play
continued. the board is rescored with such trick
awarded to his side.
LAW 70
cONTeSTeD cLAim OR cONceSSiON
A. general objective
in ruling on a contested claim or concession, the di-
rector adjudicates the result of the board as equita-
bly as possible to both sides, but any doubtful point
as to a claim shall be resolved against the claimer.
the director proceeds as follows.
B. clarification Statement repeated
1. the director requires claimer to repeat the clari-
fication statement he made at the time of his
claim.
2. next, the director hears the opponents’ objec-
tions to the claim, but the director’s considera-
tions are not limited only to the opponents’ ob-
jections.
3. the director may require players to put their re-
maining cards face up on the table.
c. there is an outstanding trump
When a trump remains in one of the opponents’
hands, the director shall award a trick or tricks to
84
chapter Vi – the Play
the opponents if:
1. claimer made no statement about that trump, and
2. it is at all likely that claimer at the time of his
claim was unaware that a trump remained in an
opponent’s hand, and
3. a trick could be lost to that trump by any normal*
play.
d. director’s considerations
1. the director shall not accept from claimer any
successful line of play not embraced in the origi-
nal clarification statement if there is an alterna-
tive normal* line of play that would be less suc-
cessful.
2. the director shall not accept any part of a de-
fender’s claim that depends on his partner’s se-
lecting a particular play from among alternative
normal* plays.
3. in accordance with Law 68d, play should have
ceased, but if any play has occurred after the
claim, this may provide evidence to be deemed
part of the clarification of the claim. the director
may accept it as evidence of the players’ probable
plays subsequent to the claim and/or of the accu-
racy of the claim.
e. unstated Line of Play
1. the director shall not accept from claimer any
unstated line of play the success of which de-
pends upon finding one opponent rather than the
other with a particular card, unless an opponent
failed to follow to the suit of that card before the
* For the purposes of Laws 70 and 71, “normal” includes play that
would be careless or inferior for the class of player involved.
85
chapter Vi – the Play
claim was made, or would subsequently fail to
follow to that suit on any normal* line of play or
unless failure to adopt that line of play would be
irrational.
2. the regulating Authority may specify an order
(e.g., “from the top down”) in which the director
shall deem a suit played if this was not clarified
in the statement of claim (but always subject to
any other requirement of this law).
LAW 71
cONceSSiON cANceLeD
A concession must stand, once made, except that
within the correction period established under Law 79c
the director shall cancel a concession:
1. if a player conceded a trick his side had, in fact,
won; or
2. if a player has conceded a trick that could not be
lost by any normal* play of the remaining cards.
the board is rescored with such trick awarded to
his side.
* For the purposes of Laws 70 and 71, “normal” includes play that
would be careless or inferior for the class of player involved.
86
chapter Vii
Proprieties
LAW 72
GeNeRAL PRiNciPLeS
A. observance of Laws
duplicate bridge tournaments should be played in
strict accordance with the Laws. the chief object
is to obtain a higher score than other contestants
whilst complying with the lawful procedures and
ethical standards set out in these Laws.
B. infraction of Law
1. A player must not infringe a law intentionally,
even if there is a prescribed rectification he is
willing to accept.
2. there is no obligation to draw attention to an in-
fraction of law committed by one’s own side (but
see Law 20F for a mistaken explanation and see
Laws 62A and 79A2).
3. A player may not attempt to conceal an infrac-
tion, as by committing a second revoke, conceal-
ing a card involved in a revoke or mixing the
cards prematurely.
LAW 73
cOmmUNicATiON
A. Appropriate communication between Partners
1. communication between partners during the auc-
tion and play shall be effected only by means of
calls and plays.
2. calls and plays should be made without undue
emphasis, mannerism or inflection, and without
undue hesitation or haste. But the regulating
87
chapter Vii – Proprieties
Authority may require mandatory pauses, as on
the first round of the auction, or after a skip-bid
warning or on the first trick.
B. inappropriate communication between Partners
1. Partners shall not communicate by means such
as the manner in which calls or plays are made,
extraneous remarks or gestures, questions asked
or not asked of the opponents or alerts and expla-
nations given or not given to them.
2. the gravest possible offense is for a partnership
to exchange information through prearranged
methods of communication other than those
sanctioned by these Laws.
c. Player receives unauthorized information from
Partner
When a player has available to him unauthorized in-
formation from his partner, such as from a remark,
question, explanation, gesture, mannerism, undue
emphasis, inflection, haste or hesitation, an unex-
pected* alert or failure to alert, he must carefully
avoid taking any advantage from that unauthorized
information.
d. Variations in tempo or manner
1. it is desirable, though not always required, for
players to maintain steady tempo and unvarying
manner. However, players should be particularly
careful when variations may work to the benefit
of their side. otherwise, unintentionally to vary
the tempo or manner in which a call or play is
made is not in itself an infraction. inferences
* i.e., unexpected in relation to the basis of his action.
88
chapter Vii – Proprieties
from such variation may appropriately be drawn
only by an opponent and at his own risk.
2. A player may not attempt to mislead an opponent
by means of a remark or a gesture, by the haste
or hesitancy of a call or play (as in hesitating
before playing a singleton), the manner in which
a call or play is made or by any purposeful devia-
tion from correct procedure.
e. deception
A player may appropriately attempt to deceive an
opponent through a call or play (so long as the de-
ception is not protected by concealed partnership
understanding or experience).
F. Violation of Proprieties
When a violation of the Proprieties described in
this law results in damage to an innocent opponent,
if the director determines that an innocent player
has drawn a false inference from a remark, man-
ner, tempo or the like of an opponent who has no
demonstrable bridge reason for the action, and who
could have known, at the time of the action, that the
action could work to his benefit, the director shall
award an adjusted score (see Law 12c).
LAW 74
cONDUcT AND eTiQUeTTe
A. Proper Attitude
1. A player should maintain a courteous attitude at
all times.
2. A player should carefully avoid any remark or
action that might cause annoyance or embarrass-
ment to another player or might interfere with the
enjoyment of the game.
89
chapter Vii – Proprieties
3. every player should follow uniform and correct
procedure in calling and playing.
B. etiquette
As a matter of courtesy, a player should refrain from:
1. paying insufficient attention to the game.
2. making gratuitous comments during the auction
and play.
3. detaching a card before it is his turn to play.
4. prolonging play unnecessarily (as in playing on
although he knows that all the tricks are surely
his) for the purpose of disconcerting an opponent.
5. summoning and addressing the director in a man-
ner discourteous to him or to other contestants.
c. Violations of Procedure
the following are examples of violations of proce-
dure:
1. using different designations for the same call.
2. indicating approval or disapproval of a call or
play.
3. indicating the expectation or intention of winning
or losing a trick that has not been completed.
4. commenting or acting during the auction or play
so as to call attention to a significant occurrence or
to the number of tricks still required for success.
5. looking intently at any other player during the
auction and play or at another player’s hand as
for the purpose of seeing his cards or of observ-
ing the place from which he draws a card (but it
is appropriate to act on information acquired by
unintentionally seeing an opponent’s card*).
* See Law 73D2 when a player may have shown his cards inten-
tionally.
90
chapter Vii – Proprieties
6. showing an obvious lack of further interest in a
deal (as by folding one’s cards).
7. varying the normal tempo of bidding or play for
the purpose of disconcerting an opponent.
8. leaving the table needlessly before the round is
called.
LAW 75
miSTAKeN eXPLANATiON
OR miSTAKeN cALL
After a misleading explanation has been given to
opponents the responsibilities of the players (and the
director) are as illustrated by the consequences of this
following example. north has opened 1nt and South,
who holds a weak hand with long diamonds, has bid
2, intending to sign off. north explains, however, in
answer to West’s inquiry, that South’s bid is strong and
artificial, asking for major suits.
A. mistake causing unauthorized information
Whether or not north’s explanation is a correct
statement of partnership agreement, South, having
heard north’s explanation, knows that his own 2
bid has been misinterpreted. this knowledge is “un-
authorized information” (see Law 16A), so South
must be careful to avoid taking any advantage from
that unauthorized information (see Law 73c). (if he
does, the director shall award an adjusted score.)
For instance, if north rebids 2nt, South has the
unauthorized information that this bid merely denies
a four-card holding in either major suit. South’s
responsibility is to act as though north had made a
strong game try opposite a weak response, showing
maximum values.
91
chapter Vii – Proprieties
B. mistaken explanation
the actual partnership agreement is that 2 is a
natural signoff; the mistake was in north’s explana-
tion. this explanation is an infraction of law, since
east–West are entitled to an accurate description
of the north–South agreement. When this infrac-
tion results in damage to east–West, the director
shall award an adjusted score. if north subsequently
becomes aware of his mistake, he must immedi-
ately notify the director. South must do nothing to
correct the mistaken explanation while the auction
continues. After the final pass, South, if he is to be
declarer or dummy, should call the director and
must volunteer a correction of the explanation. if
South becomes a defender, he calls the director and
corrects the explanation when play ends.
c. mistaken call
the partnership agreement is as explained — 2 is
strong and artificial; the mistake was in South’s call.
Here there is no infraction of law, since east–West
did receive an accurate description of the north–
South agreement; they have no claim to an accurate
description of the north–South hands. (regardless
of damage, the director shall allow the result to
stand; but the director is to presume mistaken ex-
planation, rather than mistaken call, in the absence
of evidence to the contrary.) South must not correct
north’s explanation (or notify the director) imme-
diately, and he has no responsibility to do so subse-
quently.
92
chapter Vii – Proprieties
LAW 76
SPecTATORS
A. control
1. Spectators in the playing area* are subject to the
control of the director under the regulations for
the tournament.
2. regulating Authorities and tournament organ-
izers who grant facilities for electronic trans-
mission of play as it occurs may establish by
regulation the terms by which such transmissions
are viewed and prescribe acceptable conduct for
viewers. (A viewer must not communicate with a
player in the course of a session in which the lat-
ter is playing.)
B. At the table
1. A spectator may not look at the hand of more
than one player unless allowed by regulation.
2. A spectator must not show any reaction to the
bidding or play when a deal is in progress.
3. during a round a spectator must refrain from
mannerisms or remarks of any kind and must
have no conversation with a player.
4. A spectator must not disturb a player.
5. A spectator at the table shall not draw attention
to any aspect of the game.
c. Participation
1. A spectator may speak as to fact or law within
the playing area* only when requested to do so
by the director.
* The playing area includes all parts of the accommodation where a
player may be present during a session in which he is participating.
It may be further defined by regulation.
93
chapter Vii – Proprieties
2. regulating Authorities and tournament organ-
izers may specify how to deal with irregularities
caused by spectators.
d. Status
Any person in the playing area*, other than a player
or a tournament official, has the status of a spectator
unless the director specifies differently.
* The playing area includes all parts of the accommodation where a
player may be present during a session in which he is participating.
It may be further defined by regulation.
94
chapter Viii
The Score
LAW 77
DUPLicATe BRiDGe ScORiNG TABLe
TRICK SCORE
Scored by declarer’s side if the contract is fulfilled.
IF TRUMPS ARE: ♣
♦
♥
♠
For each odd trick bid and made
Undoubled
20
20
30
30
Doubled
40
40
60
60
Redoubled
80
80
120
120
AT A NOTRUMP CONTRACT
UNDOUBLED
DOUBLED
REDOUBLED
For first odd trick bid and made
40
80
160
For each additional odd trick
30
60
120
A trick score of 100 points or more, made on one board, is GAME. A trick score
of less than 100 points is a PARTSCORE.
PREMIUM SCORE
Scored by declarer’s side
SLAMS
For making a slam
Not Vulnerable
Vulnerable
Small Slam (12 tricks) bid and made
500
750
Grand Slam (al 13 tricks) bid and made
1000
1500
OVERTRICKS
For each OVERTRICK
Not Vulnerable
Vulnerable
(tricks made in excess of contract)
Undoubled
Trick Value
Trick Value
Doubled
100
200
Redoubled
200
400
PREMIUMS FOR GAME, PARTSCORE, FULFILLING CONTRACT
For making GAME, vulnerable
500
For making GAME, not vulnerable
300
For making any PARTSCORE
50
For making any doubled, but not redoubled contract 50
For making any redoubled contract
100
UNDERTRICK PENALTIES
Scored by declarer’s opponents if the contract is not fulfilled
UNDERTRICKS
Tricks by which declarer falls short of the contract
Not Vulnerable
Vulnerable
Undbld Dbld Rdbld Undbld Dbld Rdbld
For first undertrick
50
100
200
100 200 400
For each additional undertrick 50
200
400
100 300 600
Bonus for the fourth
and each subsequent
undertrick
0
100
200
0
0
0
If all four players pass (see Law 22) each side enters a zero score.
95
chapter Viii – the Score
LAW 78
meTHODS OF ScORiNG AND
cONDiTiONS OF cONTeST
A. matchpoint Scoring
in matchpoint scoring each contestant is awarded,
for scores made by different contestants who have
played the same board and whose scores are com-
pared with his, two scoring units (matchpoints or
half matchpoints) for each score inferior to his, one
scoring unit for each score equal to his, and zero
scoring units for each score superior to his.
B. international matchpoint Scoring
in international matchpoint scoring, on each board
the total point difference between the two scores
compared is converted into imPs according to the
following scale.
Difference
Difference
Difference
in points IMPs
in points IMPs
in points
IMPs
0–10
0
370–420 9
1500–1740 17
20–40
1
430–490 10
1750–1990 18
50–80
2
500–590 11
2000–2240 19
90–120
3
600–740 12
2250–2490 20
130–160
4
750–890 13
2500–2990 21
170–210
5
900–1090 14
3000–3490 22
220–260
6
1100–1290 15
3500–3990 23
270–310
7
1300–1490 16
4000 & upward 24
320–360
8
c. total Point Scoring
in total point scoring, the net total point score of all
boards played is the score for each contestant.
d. conditions of contest
if approved by the regulating Authority other scor-
ing methods (for example conversions to Victory
96
chapter Viii – the Score
Points) may be adopted. the tournament organizer
should publish conditions of contest in advance of
a tournament or contest. these should detail condi-
tions of entry, methods of scoring, determination of
winners, breaking of ties, and the like. the condi-
tions must not conflict with law or regulation and
shall incorporate any information specified by the
regulating Authority. they should be available to
contestants.
LAW 79
TRicKS WON
A. Agreement on tricks Won
1. the number of tricks won shall be agreed upon
before all four hands have been returned to the
board.
2. A player must not knowingly accept either the
score for a trick that his side did not win or the
concession of a trick that his opponents could not
lose.
B. disagreement on tricks Won
if a disagreement arises, the director must be called,
then:
1. the director determines whether there has been
a claim or concession and, if so, applies Law 69.
2. if B1 above does not apply, the director rules
what score is to be recorded. if the director is
not called before the round ends, he rules in ac-
cordance with c below or Law 87, as applicable,
but there shall be no obligation to increase a
side’s score.
97
chapter Viii – the Score
c. error in Score
1. An error in computing or tabulating the agreed-
upon score, whether made by a player or scorer,
may be corrected until the expiration of the pe-
riod specified by the tournament organizer. un-
less the tournament organizer specifies a later*
time, this correction period expires 30 minutes
after the official score has been made available
for inspection.
2. regulations may provide for circumstances in
which a scoring error may be corrected after ex-
piry of the correction period if the director and
the tournament organizer are both satisfied be-
yond reasonable doubt that the record is wrong.
* An earlier time may be specified when required by the special
nature of a contest.
98
chapter iX
Tournament Sponsorship
LAW 80
ReGULATiON AND ORGANiZATiON
A. the regulating Authority
1. the regulating Authority under these Laws is
(a) for its own world tournaments and events the
World Bridge Federation.
(b) the respective Zonal Authority for tourna-
ments and events held under its auspices.
(c) for any other tournament or event the na-
tional Bridge organization in whose territory
the tournament takes place.
2. the regulating Authority has the responsibilities
and powers specified in these Laws.
3. the regulating Authority may delegate its pow-
ers (retaining ultimate responsibility for their
exercise) or it may assign them (in which case it
has no further responsibility for their exercise).
B. tournament organizer
1. the regulating Authority may recognize an
entity, designated the “tournament organizer”,
which subject to the requirements of the regulat-
ing Authority and these Laws is responsible for
arranging and preparing a tournament or event.
the tournament organizer’s powers and duties
may be delegated, but the responsibility for their
performance is retained. the regulating Author-
ity and the tournament organizer may be the
same body.
2. the tournament organizer’s powers and duties
include:
(a) appointment of the director. if there is no
99
chapter iX – tournament Sponsorship
appointed director, the players should desig-
nate a person to perform his functions.
(b) to make advance arrangements for the tour-
nament, including playing quarters, equip-
ment and all other logistical requirements.
(c) to establish the date and time of each session.
(d) to establish the conditions of entry.
(e) to establish the conditions for bidding and
play in accordance with these Laws, together
with any special conditions (as, for example,
play with screens – provisions for rectifica-
tion of actions not transmitted across the
screen may be varied).
(f) to announce regulations supplementary to, but
not in conflict with, these Laws.
(g) (i) to arrange* for the appointment of any
assistants required for the director.
(ii) to appoint other staff and prescribe their
duties and responsibilities.
(h) to arrange* for entries to be accepted and
listed.
(i) to establish suitable conditions of play and
announce them to the contestants.
(j) to arrange* for scores to be collected, results
tabulated and an official record made of
them.
(k) to make suitable arrangements for the con-
duct of appeals under Law 93.
(l) any other powers and duties conferred in
these Laws.
* It is normal in some jurisdictions for the Director to assume re-
sponsibility for some or all of the tasks that the Tournament Organ-
izer is here required to arrange.
100
chapter X
Tournament Director
Section One – Responsibilities
LAW 81
THe DiRecTOR
A. official Status
the director is the official representative of the
tournament organizer.
B. restrictions and responsibilities
1. the director is responsible for the on-site techni-
cal management of the tournament. He has pow-
ers to remedy any omissions of the tournament
organizer.
2. the director applies and is bound by these Laws
and supplementary regulations announced under
authority given in these Laws.
c. director’s duties and Powers
the director (not the players) has the responsibility
for rectifying irregularities and redressing damage.
the director’s duties and powers normally include
also the following:
1. to maintain discipline and to ensure the orderly
progress of the game.
2. to administer and interpret these Laws and to
advise the players of their rights and responsibili-
ties thereunder.
3. to rectify an error or irregularity of which he
becomes aware in any manner, within the correc-
tion period established in accordance with Law
79c.
101
chapter X – tournament director
4. to assess rectification when applicable and to ex-
ercise the powers given him in Laws 90 and 91.
5. to waive rectification for cause, in his discretion,
upon the request of the non-offending side.
6. to adjust disputes.
7. to refer any matter to an appropriate committee.
8. to report results for the official record if the
tournament organizer requires it and to deal
with any other matters delegated to him by the
tournament organizer.
d. delegation of duties
the director may delegate any of his duties to assis-
tants, but he is not thereby relieved of responsibility
for their correct performance.
LAW 82
RecTiFicATiON OF eRRORS OF PROceDURe
A. director’s duty
it is the responsibility of the director to rectify er-
rors of procedure and to maintain the progress of the
game in a manner that is not contrary to these Laws.
B. rectification of error
to rectify an error in procedure the director may:
1. award an adjusted score as permitted by these
Laws.
2. require, postpone or cancel the play of a board.
3. exercise any other power given to him in these
Laws.
c. director’s error
if a ruling has been given that the director subse-
quently determines to be incorrect, and if no rectifi-
102
chapter X – tournament director
cation will allow the board to be scored normally, he
shall award an adjusted score, treating both sides as
non-offending for that purpose.
LAW 83
NOTiFicATiON OF THe RiGHT TO APPeAL
if the director believes that a review of his decision
on a point of fact or exercise of his discretionary power
could well be in order, he shall advise a contestant of
his right to appeal or may refer the matter to an appro-
priate committee.
Section Two – Rulings
LAW 84
RULiNGS ON AGReeD FAcTS
When the director is called to rule on a point of law
or regulation, and the facts are agreed, he rules as fol-
lows:
A. no rectification
if no rectification is prescribed by law, and there is
no occasion for him to exercise his discretionary
powers, he directs the players to proceed with the
auction or play.
B. Law Provides rectification
if the case is clearly covered by a law that prescribes
the rectification for the irregularity, he determines
that rectification and ensures that it is implemented.
103
chapter X – tournament director
c. Player’s option
if a law gives a player a choice of rectification,
the director explains the options and sees that the
choice is made and implemented.
d. director’s option
the director rules any doubtful point in favor of the
non-offending side. He seeks to restore equity. if in
his judgment it is probable that a non-offending side
has been damaged by an irregularity for which these
Laws provide no rectification, he adjusts the score
(see Law 12).
LAW 85
RULiNGS ON DiSPUTeD FAcTS
When the director is called upon to rule on a point
of law or regulation in which the facts are not agreed
upon, he proceeds as follows:
A. director’s Assessment
1. in determining the facts, the director shall base
his view on the balance of probabilities, which is
to say in accordance with the weight of the evi-
dence he is able to collect.
2. if the director is then satisfied that he has ascer-
tained the facts, he rules as in Law 84.
B. Facts not determined
if the director is unable to determine the facts to his
satisfaction, he makes a ruling that will permit play
to continue.
104
chapter X – tournament director
Section Three –
correction of irregularities
LAW 86
iN TeAm PLAY OR SimiLAR
A. Average Score at imP Play
When the director chooses to award an artificial
adjusted score of average plus or average minus in
imP play, that score is plus 3 imPs or minus 3 imPs
respectively. Subject to approval by the regulating
Authority, this may be varied by the tournament
organizer.
B. non-balancing Adjustments, Knockout Play
When the director awards non-balancing adjusted
scores (see Law 12c) in knockout play, each con-
testant’s score on the board is calculated separately.
the average of the two scores is then assigned to
each contestant.
c. Substitute Board
the director shall not exercise his Law 6 authority
to order one board redealt when the final result of a
match without that board could be known to a con-
testant. instead, he awards an adjusted score.
d. result obtained at other table
in team play when the director awards an adjusted
score (excluding any award that ensues from appli-
cation of Law 6d2), and a result has been obtained*
between the same contestants at another table, the
director may assign an adjusted score in imPs or
* If commenced between the same two contestants at another
table, the board may be completed.
105
chapter X – tournament director
total points (and should do so when that result ap-
pears favorable to the non-offending side).
LAW 87
FOULeD BOARD
A. definition
A board is considered to be “fouled” if the direc-
tor determines that a card (or more than one) was
displaced in the board or if he determines that the
dealer or vulnerability differed between copies of
the same board, and the contestants who should
have had a score comparison did not play the board
in identical form for such reason.
B. Scoring
in scoring a fouled board, the director determines
as closely as possible which scores were obtained
on the board in its correct form and which in the
changed form(s). He divides the scores on that basis
into groups and rates each group separately as pro-
vided in the regulations for the tournament. (in the
absence of a relevant regulation the director selects
and announces his method.)
Section Four – Penalties
LAW 88
AWARD OF iNDemNiTY POiNTS
See Law 12c2.
LAW 89
RecTiFicATiON iN iNDiViDUAL eVeNTS
See Law 12c3.
106
chapter X – tournament director
LAW 90
PROceDURAL PeNALTieS
A. director’s Authority
the director, in addition to implementing the recti-
fications in these Laws, may also assess procedural
penalties for any offense that unduly delays or ob-
structs the game, inconveniences other contestants,
violates correct procedure or requires the award of
an adjusted score at another table.
B. offenses Subject to Procedural Penalty
the following are examples of offenses subject to
procedural penalty (but the offenses are not limited
to these):
1. arrival of a contestant after the specified starting
time.
2. unduly slow play by a contestant.
3. discussion of the bidding, play or result of a
board which may be overheard at another table.
4. unauthorized comparison of scores with another
contestant.
5. touching or handling of cards belonging to an-
other player (see Law 7).
6. placing one or more cards in an incorrect pocket
of the board.
7. errors in procedure (such as failure to count
cards in one’s hand, playing the wrong board,
etc.) that require an adjusted score for any con-
testant.
8. failure to comply promptly with tournament
regulations or with instructions of the director.
107
chapter X – tournament director
LAW 91
PeNALiZe OR SUSPeND
A. director’s Powers
in performing his duty to maintain order and disci-
pline, the director is empowered to assess disciplin-
ary penalties in points or to suspend a contestant for
the current session or any part thereof. the direc-
tor’s decision under this clause is final and may not
be overruled by an appeals committee (see Law
93B3).
B. right to disqualify
the director is empowered to disqualify a contest-
ant for cause, subject to approval by the tournament
organizer.
108
chapter Xi
Appeals
LAW 92
RiGHT TO APPeAL
A. contestant’s right
A contestant or his captain may appeal for a review
of any ruling made at his table by the director. Any
such appeal, if deemed to lack merit, may be the
subject of a sanction imposed by regulation.
B. time of Appeal
the right to request or appeal a director’s ruling
expires 30 minutes after the official score has been
made available for inspection unless the tournament
organizer has specified a different time period.
c. How to Appeal
All appeals shall be made through the director.
d. concurrence of Appellants
An appeal shall not be heard unless
1. in a pairs event both members of the partnership
concur in making the appeal (but in an individual
contest an appellant does not require his partner’s
concurrence).
2. in a team event the team captain concurs in mak-
ing the appeal.
LAW 93
PROceDUReS OF APPeAL
A. no Appeals committee
the director shall hear and rule upon all appeals
if there is no appeals committee (or alternative ar-
109
chapter Xi – Appeals
rangement under Law 80B2(k)), or if such cannot
operate without disturbing the orderly progress of
the tournament.
B. Appeals committee Available
if a committee is available,
1. the director shall hear and rule upon such part
of the appeal as deals solely with the Laws or
regulations. His ruling may be appealed to the
committee.
2. the director shall refer all other appeals to the
committee for adjudication.
3. in adjudicating appeals the committee may exer-
cise all powers assigned by these Laws to the di-
rector, except that the committee may not over-
rule the director on a point of law or regulations
or on exercise of his Law 91 disciplinary powers.
(the committee may recommend to the director
that he change such a ruling.)
c. Further Possibilities of Appeal*
1. the regulating Authority may establish pro-
cedures for further appeals after the foregoing
procedures have been exhausted. Any such fur-
ther appeal, if deemed to lack merit, may be the
subject of a sanction imposed by regulation.
2. the director or the appeals committee may refer
a matter for later consideration by the regulating
Authority. the regulating Authority has author-
ity to resolve any matter finally.
* See Elections 8 and 9 for ACBL regulations concerning further
appeal, p. 137.
110
chapter Xi – Appeals
3. (a) notwithstanding 1 and 2 above, where deem-
ing it crucial to the progress of the tourna-
ment the regulating Authority may assign
the responsibility for dealing finally with any
appeal to the respective tournament appeals
committee and, along with the parties to the
appeal, is then bound by the outcome.
(b) With due notice given to the contestants,
a regulating Authority may authorize the
omission or modification of such stages as it
wishes of the appeals process set out in these
Laws.*
* The Regulating Authority is responsible for compliance with any
national law that may affect its action.
111
index to Duplicate Laws
compiled by Richard Hills and based on original
work on the 1997 Laws by Rick Assad.
Adjusted score deFn
Application of player 12A
Artificial Adjusted Score 12c1(d), 12c2
Assigned Adjusted Score 12c1
Average 12c2(a)
Average minus 12c2, 86A
Average plus 12c2, 86A
Awarding 12c
Balance, need not 12c1(f)
damage 12B1
director’s own initiative 12A
incorrect rectification of irregularity 12A3
indemnity, Laws provide no 12A1
normal play impossible 12A2
team play 86
Wild or gambling, non-offending side 12c1(b)
Agreement
See Partnership understanding
Aids to memory, calculation or technique 40c3(a)
Alert deFn
disclosure 40B2(a)
Failure to, mistaken explanation 20F5(a)
Failure to, unauthorized information 16B1(a), 73c
unexpected, unauthorized information 16B1(a), 73c
Appeal 92, 93
Adjudication 93B2
All others 93B2
Arrangements for 80B2(k), 93A
captain 92A, 92d
committee available 93B
committee powers 93B3
112
concerns law 93B1
concurrence of appellants 92d
contestant’s right to 92A
Further possibilities of 93c
made through director 92c
no appeals committee 93A
notification of right to 83
Procedures 93
regulating Authority, assign finality 93c3(a)
regulating Authority, further procedures 93c1
regulating Authority, national law 93 footnote
regulating Authority, omit or modify 93c3(b)
regulating Authority, referral to 93c2
regulating Authority, resolve finally 93c2
time of 92B
Without merit 92A, 93c1
Arrangement of tables 3
Artificial adjusted score 12c1(d), 12c2
See also Adjusted score
Artificial call deFn, 40B1(b)
Artificial pass deFn, 30c
Assigned adjusted score 12c1
See also Adjusted score
Assignment of seats 5
change of direction or table 5B
Auction deFn
See also Auction period
Auction period 17
Auction deFn
card exposed or led during 24
cards taken from wrong board 17d
clarification period 22B1
commencement of auction deFn
commencement of auction period 17A
113
end of auction 17e, 22A
end of auction period 17e, 22B
explanation of calls during 20F
Procedure after 22B, 41
review after final pass 20c
review before opening lead faced 41B
review during auction period 20B
review responded to by opponent 20d
Successive calls 17c
Authorized information 16
Arising from law or regulation 16A1(c)
estimate of score 16A2
Legal calls and plays 16A1(a)
opponents’ traits 16A2
Prior possession, not precluded by law 16A1(d)
requirements of tournament regulations 16A2
Withdrawn action, non-offending side 16d1
Average minus score 12c2, 86A
Average plus score 12c2, 86A
Average score 12c2(a)
Note: An “average score” is not identical to a “zero score”.
Awareness of potential damage 23
Bid deFn
See also call
After auction has ended 39
Before a pass out of rotation 30B
different methods 18F
insufficient bid 27
insufficient bid accepted 27A1
insufficient bid not accepted 27B
insufficient bid out of rotation 27A2, 31
mistaken 21B1(b), 75
out of rotation 31
Proper form 18A
rank of the denominations 18e
114
Seven, more than 38
Sufficient 18c
Supersede 18B
Board, deFn
See also deal
dealer and vulnerability 2
duplicate 2
duplication of 6F
Fouled board 87
movement of 8A
normal play impossible 12A2
Placement of 7A
removal of cards from 7B
returning cards to 7c
Wrong board 15
Wrong board discovered during auction 15c
Wrong board not previously played 15A
Wrong board previously played 15B
calculation aids to 40c3(a)
call deFn
Based on caller’s misunderstanding 21A
Based on misinformation 21B
By correct player 28B
change by opponent following correction 21B2
change of call intentional 25B
change of call unintentional 25A
explanation of 20F
in rotation, considered to be 28
inadmissible 35
inadmissible action, obligation to pass 37
inadmissible bid, more than seven 38
inadmissible call after final pass 39
inadmissible double 36
inadmissible redouble 36
not clearly recognized 20A
out of rotation 29
out of rotation accepted 29A
out of rotation artificial 29c
115
out of rotation canceled (withdrawn) 16d, 28B
out of rotation LHo’s turn 25, 28B
retention of right to call 17e2
review and explanation of 20
rHo required to pass 28A
Simultaneous 33
Substitute call accepted 25B1
Substitute call not accepted 25B2
too late to change call 21B3
Withdrawn, offending side 16d2
Withdrawn, lead restrictions 26
Withdrawn, non-offending side 16d1
call for card
See card
canceled
See Withdrawn action
card
cannot be found 14A2
compulsory play of 45c
correction of unintended designation 45c4(b)
counting of 7B2
designated or named 45c4(a)
designating dummy’s card, complete 46A
designating dummy’s card, erroneous 46B
designating dummy’s card, incomplete 46B
designating dummy’s card, unintended 45c4(b), 46B
dummy indicates 45F
dummy misplays 45d
exposed declarer 48
exposed defender 49
exposed during auction period 24
Fifth card played to trick 45e
incorrect number of 13
inspection of 7B2, 66
missing 14
Penalty card 49, 50
Penalty card, failure to play 52
Penalty cards, two or more 51
116
Played 45
rank 1
removal from board 7B1
removal from wrong board 17d
retaining possession of 7B3
returning to board 7c
revoke
See revoke
Shuffle after play finished 7c
Shuffle and deal 6
Withdrawn (retracted) card 16d, 47
card missing 14
information from replacement 14c
noticed at any later time 14B
noticed before play commences 14A
change of play 47
misinformation 47e
claim 68, 69, 70
See also concession
Agreed claim or concession 69
Agreed claim or concession, established 69A
Agreement with claim or concession withdrawn 69B
clarification 68c, 70B
contested 70
definition of 68A
Line of play, director’s considerations 70d
Line of play, unstated 70e
normal play 70 footnote
outstanding trump 70c
Play ceases 68d, 70d3
clarification period 22B1, 41
communication 73
See also information
Between partners, appropriate 73A
Between partners, inappropriate 73B
manner 73d
117
Prearranged 73B2
tempo 73d
unauthorized information from partner 73c
concession 68, 69, 70, 71
See also claim
Agreed claim or concession 69
Agreed claim or concession, established 69A
Agreement with claim or concession withdrawn 69B
cancelation of 71
contested 70A
definition of 68B1
normal play 71 footnote
Play continues after partner’s objection 68B2
conduct 74
contestant deFn
contract deFn, 22
convention 40B1(b)
See also Partnership understanding
convention card
See System card
correct procedure 74c, 90
courtesy 74A1
detaching card 74B3
discourteous manner, director call 74B5
enjoyment of the game 74A2
etiquette 74B
Fast play, disconcerting 74c7
gratuitous comments 74B2
insufficient attention 74B1
Lack of further interest 74c6
Leaving the table needlessly 74c8
requirement to follow 74A3
Significant occurrence 74c4
Slow play, disconcerting 74c7
118
Slow play, undue 90B2
Slow play, unnecessary 74B4
Varying tempo, disconcerting 74c7
Violations of procedure, examples 74c
correction of an irregularity, premature 9c
correction period 79c
counting cards 7B2
courtesy 74A1
deal deFn, 6B
At director’s instructions, redeal 6d3
cards incorrectly dealt or exposed 6d1
different method, dealing or pre-dealing 6e4
director’s options on dealing 6e
no redeal 86c
no result, dealt without shuffle 6d2
redeal 6d
dealer and vulnerability 2
deception 73e
deck
See Sorted deck
declarer deFn
declarer after opening lead out of turn 54A
defective trick 67
defender deFn
definitions deFn
denomination deFn
rank 1, 18e
director 81
119
delegation of duties 81d
discretionary powers 12
disqualify 91B
error by director 82c
Powers 81c
refer question 83
responsibilities 81B
Suspend 91A
Status 81A
Summoning 9B1
disciplinary Penalty 91A
disclosure
Alert
See Alert
explanation of calls 20F
incorrect procedure 20g
Partnership understanding
See Partnership understanding
does intro
double deFn
inadmissible 19A, 27B3, 36
Legal 19A1
of incorrectly stated bid 19A3
out of rotation 32
Proper form 19A2
Scoring 77
Superseded 19c
doubled contract 19d
Scoring 77
dummy deFn
designating card to be played from 46
Faced hand 41d
indicates card 45F
Limitations 43
rights, absolute 42A
120
rights, qualified 42B
duplication of board 6F
end of last round 8c
end of round 8B
end of session 8c
enjoyment of the game 74A2
equity 12c1(c)
event deFn
explanation
calls 20F
correcting errors 20F5, 75B
defender’s card play 20F2
mistaken, presumed 21B1(b), 75c
mistaken, unauthorized information 75A
extraneous deFn
Facts
Agreed 84
disputed 85
Standard of proof 85A1
Final pass, review of auction 20c
Follow suit deFn
Forfeiture of the right to rectification 11
Fouled board 87
game deFn
Hand deFn
121
Honor deFn
imP (international matchpoint) deFn, 78B
inadmissible call 35
incorrect number of cards 13
incorrect rectification 12A3
indemnity, Laws provide no 12A1
individual events 12c3
information 16
See also communication
Authorized 16
calls or plays, legal 16A1(a)
calls or plays, withdrawn 16d
deceptive, appropriate 73e
deceptive, no demonstrable bridge reason 73F
extraneous, from other sources 16c
extraneous, from partner 16B
traits of opponents 16A2
unauthorized 16
infraction deFn, 72B
See also irregularity
conceal 72B3
intentional 72B1
own side 72B2
insufficient bid 18d, 27
Accepted 27A1
Adjusted score, non-offending side damaged 27d
meaning of insufficient and replacement calls 27 footnote
not accepted 27B
offender’s partner perhaps
perpetually passing 27B2, 27B3, 27B4
out of rotation 27A2, 31
122
Premature replacement 27c
replaced at lowest level, non-artificial 27B1(a)
replaced by another insufficient bid 27B4
replaced by call with same meaning 27B1(b)
replaced by double or redouble 27B3
international matchpoint (imP) deFn, 78B
interpretation of the Laws intro
introduction intro
irregularity deFn
See also infraction
After attention is drawn 9B
Assessment of rectification 10
Awareness of potential damage 23
caused by spectator 76c2
choice after 10c
drawing attention to 9A
no further action 9B2
opponents’ rights 9B1(d)
Player’s rights 9B1(c)
Premature correction 9c
Prevention of 9A3
Procedure following 9
retention of rights 9B1(c)
Summoning the director 9B1(a), 9B1(b)
Lead deFn
inability to lead as required 59
not accepted 54d, 55B
opening lead face down 41A
opening lead faced 41c
out of turn 53, 54, 55
out of turn accepted 53, 54, 55A
out of turn by declarer 53, 54e, 55
out of turn by defender 53, 54
out of turn faced opening lead 54
out of turn face down opening lead 41A, 47e2
out of turn misinformation 47e1
123
Premature 57
restrictions, if call withdrawn 26
restrictions, if penalty card(s) 50, 51
Simultaneous 58
LHo (Left hand opponent) deFn
Logical alternative 16B1(b)
mandatory pauses 73A2
matchpoint deFn, 78A
may intro
may not intro
memory, aids to 40c3(a)
misinformation
call based on misinformation 21B
change of play 47e
missing card 14
noticed at any later time 14B
noticed before play commences 14A
mistaken call 21B1(b), 75
mistaken explanation 21B1(b), 75
movement
of boards 8A
of players 8A
must intro
national Bridge organization 80A1(c)
non-offending side
124
Action by 11A
Withdrawn action authorized information 16d1
normal play impossible 12A2
obligation to pass, action violating 37
odd trick deFn, 18A
opening lead deFn
Face down 41A
Faced 41c
out of turn 54
opponent deFn
opponents’ rights 9B1(d)
options
Advantageous 10c3, 10c4
choice among 10c2
explanation of 10c1
overtrick deFn
Pack deFn, 1
Partner deFn
extraneous information from 16B
Partnership agreement
See Partnership understanding
Partnership understanding 40
Aids to memory, calculation or technique 40c3(a)
Adjusted score 40B4, 40B6(b)
Artificial meaning 40B1(b)
convention 40B1(b)
deviation from 40B2(d), 40c
disclosure, all special knowledge 40B6(a)
disclosure, failure to 40B4
disclosure, inferences 40B6(a)
125
disclosure, partial 40B6(b)
disclosure, repeated violations 40c3(b)
duty to make available before commencing 40A1(b)
explicit 40A1(a)
implicit 40A1(a), 40c1
information conveyed through 40A2
Psychic action 40B2(d), 40c
Special 40B
System card 40B2(a)
System card, consultation of 20g2
undisclosed 40A3, 40B4, 40c1, 40c3(b)
Partnerships 4
Partscore deFn
Pass deFn
Action violating obligation to 37
Artificial 30c
damaging enforced 23
out of rotation 30
out of rotation after any bid 30B
out of rotation before any bid 30A
out of rotation when artificial 30c
Pauses, mandatory 73A2
Penalty deFn
See also rectification
disciplinary penalty 91
Procedural penalty 90
Procedural penalty, individual events 12c3
repeated violations of disclosure 40c3(b)
Penalty card deFn, 50
declarer or dummy 48A
defender 49
Failure to play 52
two or more 51
Placement of board 7A
126
Play deFn
After an illegal play 60
After irregularity 60A
commencement of 41
inability to follow suit 44d
inability to play as required 59
Lead 44A
Premature 57
Procedure of 44
requirement to follow suit 44c
Simultaneous 58
Subsequent plays 44B
Play Period deFn
commencement of 41c
explanation of calls during 20F2
Players 3, 4, 5
movement of 8A
Playing area 76 footnote
Powers
director’s discretionary 12
director’s duties and 81c
regulating Authority 80A
tournament organizer 80B
Premature
correction of an irregularity 9c
Lead or play by a defender 57
Premium points deFn, 77
Procedure
Auction period
See Auction period
After establishment of a revoke 64
correct
See correct procedure
127
director’s duty 81, 82A
director’s error 82c
Play 44
rectification of error in 82
responsibility for 7d
Procedural penalty 90
Assessed independently 90A
comparing scores 90B4
director’s authority 90A
errors in procedure 90B7
Loud discussion 90B3
Failure to comply promptly 90B8
misplacing cards 90B6
offenses subject to 90B
Slow play 90B2
tardiness 90B1
touching cards 90B5
Proof, standard of 85A1
Proprieties, violation of 73F
Psychic call deFn, 40
See also Partnership understanding
Question
calls actually made 20F1, 20F2
calls relevant but not made 20F1, 20F2
calls, inferences 20F1, 20F2
concerning auction before opening lead 41B
Single call 20F3
unauthorized information 16B1(a), 73c
rank
cards and suits 1
denominations 18e
designation of 46B3
incomplete designation of 46B1, 46B5
rectification, deFn
128
Action by non-offending side 11A
After forfeiture of the right to 11B
Assessment of 10
cancelation of enforcement 10B
doubtful point 84d
Forfeiture of the right to 11
incorrect 12A3
irregularity caused by spectator 76c2
revoke 64
right to assess 10A
unduly severe or advantageous 12B2
Waiver 10B, 81c5
redeal 6d
no redeal 86c
redouble deFn
inadmissible 19B, 27B3, 36
Legal 19B1
of an incorrectly stated bid 19B3
out of rotation 32
Proper form 19B2
Superseded 19c
redoubled contract 19d
Scoring 77
regulating Authority 80A
Assign powers 80A3
delegate powers 80A3
Further possibilities of appeal 93c
may be tournament organizer 80B1
national Bridge organization 80A1(c)
responsibilities and powers 80A2
World Bridge Federation 80A1(a)
Zonal Authority 80A1(b)
result
See also Score
Agreement on 65d, 79A
canceled 13c
129
no result can be obtained 12c2
no result, dealt without shuffle 6d2
most favorable result likely 12c1(e)(i)
most unfavorable result at all probable 12c1(e)(ii)
obtained at other table in team play 86d
retention of right to call 17e2
retracted (withdrawn) card 47
See also Withdrawn action
review
Auction 20c2, 41B
After completion of play 65c
After final pass 20c
At turn to call 20B
call not clearly recognized 20A
calls 20
contract 41c
correction of error 20e
current trick 66A
own last card 66B
responded by an opponent 20d
Quitted tricks 66c
revoke 61, 62, 63, 64
After calls to next deal 64B4
After round has ended 64B5
Before partner plays to twelfth trick 62d2
By failure to play a faced card 64B3
correction 62
definition deFn, 61A
equity 64c
established 63A
inquiries 61B
rectification assessed 64A
rectification not assessed 64B
Procedure after establishment 64
twelfth trick 62d
rHo (right hand opponent) deFn
130
right to assess rectification 10A
right to call, retention of 17e2
rights
dummy’s 42
opponents’, after director summoning 9B1(d)
Player’s, after director summoning 9B1(c)
rotation deFn
round deFn
end of 8B
end of last round 8c
rulings
Agreed facts 84
disputed facts 85
Standard of proof 85A1
Score, adjusted
See Adjusted score
Scoring
doubled contract 19d
error 79c
Fouled board 87
international matchpoint (imP) 78B
matchpoint 78A
other methods 78d
redoubled contract 19d
Scoring table 77
total point 78c
Session deFn
At table throughout 7d
compass direction during 5
date and time 80B2(c)
different meaning of deFn
end of 8c
Partnerships during 4
131
Score obtained in the 12c2
Suspend a contestant for the 91A
Shall intro
Should intro
Shuffle 6A
At director’s instructions 6d3
director’s options 6e
new 6d
no shuffle 6d2
Side deFn
Slam deFn
Sorted deck deFn, 6d2
See also Pack
Special partnership understanding 40B1(a)
See also Partnership understanding
Spectator 76
At the table 76B
caused irregularity 76c2
control 76A
Participation 76c
Status 76d
Standard of proof 85A1
Substitute board 6d3
in team play 86c
Substitute player 4
Suit deFn, 1
designation of 46B2
incomplete designation 46B3, 46B5
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System card 40B2(a)
consult 20g2
consult opponent’s 40B2(c)
consult own 40B2(b)
team deFn
See also contestant
team play 86
Average score at imP play 86A
non-balancing adjustments, knockout play 86B
result obtained at other table in team play 86d
Substitute board 86c
technique, aids to 40c3(a)
tempo or manner 73d
inferences 73d1
mislead 73d2
Purposeful deviation 73d2
unintentional variation 73d1
tournament organizer 80B
Accept and list entries 80B2(h)
Advance arrangements 80B2(b)
Appeals 80B2(k), 93A
Appoint director 80B2(a)
Appoint director’s assistants 80B2(g)(i)
Appoint other staff 80B2(g)(ii)
Bidding and play, conditions 80B2(e)
Bidding and play, special conditions 80B2(e)
conditions of contest 78d, 80B2(i)
conditions of entry 80B2(d)
correction period 79c
date and time of session 80B2(c)
may be regulating Authority 80B1
Powers and duties 80B2
Powers and duties, delegate 80B1
Powers and duties, other 80B2(l)
Scoring 80B2(j)
Supplementary regulations 80B2(f)
133
tasks, director to assume responsibility 80 footnote
time of appeal 92B
trick deFn
Arrangement of 65
defective 67
Fifth card played 45e
inspection of 66
Player mixes his cards 65d, 66d
review of the play 66d
turning 45g
Won 79
trick points deFn, 77
trump deFn
tricks containing 44e
tricks not containing 44F
turn deFn
unauthorized information 16
extraneous information 16A3
extraneous information from other sources 16c
extraneous information from partner 16B, 73c
Logical alternative 16B1(b)
Withdrawn action, offending side 16d2
understanding
See Partnership understanding
undertrick deFn
Scoring 77
unduly severe or advantageous rectification 12B2
unintended deFn
Variations in tempo or manner 73d
134
Vulnerability deFn
dealer and 2
Scoring 77
Waiver of rectification 10B, 81c5
Withdrawn action deFn, 16d
Authorized information non-offending side 16d1
call, intended 25B
call, unintended 25A
canceled is a deFn
card, unintended designation 45c4(b)
card, withdrawn (retracted) 47
Lead restrictions 26
unauthorized information offending side 16d2
World Bridge Federation 80A1(a)
Zonal Authority 80A1(b)
Zero score 77
Note: A “zero score” is not identical to an “average score”.
135
elections by The AcBL Board of Directors
1. 12c1(e): the provisions of Law 12c1(e) apply
for AcBL sanctioned events, while the provi-
sions of Law 12c1(c) shall not apply for AcBL
sanctioned events.
2. Law18F: the AcBL Board of directors autho-
rizes tournament organizers in AcBL sanctioned
events to use bidding boxes. Any alternative
method which is necessary to enable a person
with a disability to compete is authorized subject
to the approval of the director.
3. Law 40B1 and Law 40B2(a): An opening bid of
1nt and an opening bid of one in a suit, which
by partnership agreement could show fewer than
8 high-card points, is designated a special part-
nership agreement. these two special partnership
agreements are disallowed in all AcBL sanc-
tioned events.
4. Law 40B2(a): Both members of a partnership
must employ the same system that appears on the
convention card.
a. during a session of play, a system may not be
varied, except with permission of the tourna-
ment director. (A director might allow a pair
to change a convention but would not allow a
pair to change its basic system.)
b. At the outset of a round or session, a pair
may review its opponents’ convention card
and alter its defenses against the opponents’
special understandings and preemptive bids.
this must be announced to its opponents.
the opponents may not vary their system
136
after being informed of these defensive
alterations.
5. Law 40B2(b): defenses to methods permitted by
the AcBL mid-chart and/or Superchart may be
referred to by any player whenever it would be
appropriate to refer to an opponent’s convention
card.
6. Law 40B2(c): in addition, a player is permitted
to consult an opponent’s convention card at his
rHo’s turn to call.
7. Law 40B3: A partnership, by prior agreement,
may not vary its understanding during the
auction or play following a question asked, a
response to a question or any irregularity.
8. Law 93c1: A further appeal to the regulating
Authority (AcBL) may be allowed only as fol-
lows:
a. on a point of law to and at the discretion of
the AcBL Laws commission.
b. on an allegation of bias of a committee
member or members to and at the discretion
of the AcBL Appeals and charges com-
mittee. the appellant is required to present
evidence that the bias was not known at the
time of the hearing.
c. the appeal must be filed within thirty (30)
days of the decision of the Bridge Appeals
committee that heard the issue.
9. Law 93c3(a): except as noted in 8 above, the re-
sponsibility of dealing finally with any appeal of
a director’s decision is that of the tournament’s
bridge appeals committee.
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