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Exploring
the Laws
Chapter
III
Preparation and Progression
encompasses three laws, the first defines all the
requirements of the Shuffle and Deal.
Law 6A,B,C
and D look at hand dealing with the only stipulation being
that under no circumstances can one deal more than 1 card
at a time to any one hand, i.e dealing in 2's or 3's is out,
as is dealing back and forth, however, one is permitted to
randomly deal, such as to North then South then East
then West, or as is a current fad into 5 piles. There
is also no stipulation as to which pocket of the board the
hands are placed.
There is a requirement to
thoroughly shuffle each pack, with an option of a cut if an
opponent requires it.
How one defines 'thoroughly' is not stated, the consensus
of opinion being at least three shuffles, although a new pack
would certainly need more. There is a theory that the more
one shuffles, the more distributional the hands, I suppose
this can be said to be borne out by the randomises
of computer hands which in effect have a perfect shuffle each
time.
Back in the dark ages before computers.
I was CDT at a tournament
where pre dealt hands were required, I put the contract out
to an outside contractor with certain specifications including
adequate shuffling. Murphy's Law, corners were
cut, new packs were in use and in the first set of 16 boards
there were 13 six or seven diamond contracts! I discovered
this fairly early on when I was called to a table by North
who had overheard a neighbouring table discussing how they
should have bid 6D.
Law 6E
and F give the director (and the Sponsoring Organisation)
the authority to predeal or to require the players to duplicate
boards, here too, is the authority to use different methods
of dealing, this is to allow dealing machines to do
the work.
Law 7
enforces the requirement that the boards must remain in the
centre of the table at all times. This is important as it
avoids errors in hands being taken out and returned to the
pockets. All players should get into the habit of counting
their cards as is always the case, the one time they don't,
14-12 appears without fail. At the end of play, all
that is required is to put your 13 cards back in your pocket.
Handling another players cards without their permission is
a no-no, the etiquette of the game suggests that a simple
request to an opponent would result in a positive response.
The procedures at the
table are primarily the responsibility of any pair stationary
at a table. In Howell movements, with no sitting pairs all
players are equally responsible. In the next Law, irrespective
of stationary or not, North is required to move the boards,
this suggests that directors would be best advised to set
the numbering of the tables to ensure that the next lower
number is behind North.
Law 8
carries an important definition, one that is referred to in
later laws, namely, 'End of Round' and 'End of Session'.
The former occurs when the director calls the move, or when
the table finishes play and the pair(s) move, whilst the latter
is when the last score has been entered and agreed to.
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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 time, into four hands of thirteen 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 otherwise.
D. New Shuffle and Re-deal
1. Cards Incorrectly Dealt or Exposed There must be
a new shuffle and a re-deal if it is ascertained before the
auction begins for both sides (see Law
17A) that the cards have been incorrectly dealt or
that a player could have seen the face of a card belonging
to another hand.
2. No Shuffle or No Deal No result may stand if the
cards are dealt without shuffle from a sorted deck or if the
deal had previously been played in a different session.
3. At Director's Instruction 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. By Players The Director may instruct that the
shuffle and deal be performed at each table immediately before
play starts.
2. By Director The Director may perform the shuffle
and deal in advance, himself.
3. By Agents or Assistants The Director
may have his assistants or other appointed agents perform
the shuffle and deal in advance.
4. Different Method of Dealing or Pre-dealing The Director
may require a different method of dealing or pre-dealing.
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.
LAW 7
- CONTROL OF BOARD AND CARDS
A. Placement of
Board When a board is to be played it is placed in the
centre of the table until play is completed.
B. Removal of Cards from Board Each player takes
a hand from the pocket corresponding to his compass position.
1. Counting Cards in Hand before Play Each player counts
his cards face down to be sure he has exactly thirteen; after
that, and before making a call, he must inspect the face of
his cards.
2. Control of Player's Hand 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 Each player shall
restore his original thirteen cards to the pocket corresponding
to his compass position. 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.
LAW 8
- SEQUENCE OF ROUNDS
A. Movement
of Boards and Players
1. Director's Instructions The Director instructs the
players as to the proper movement of boards and progression
of contestants.
2. Responsibility for Moving Boards The North player
at each table is responsible for moving the boards just completed
at his table to the proper table for the following round,
unless the Director instructs otherwise.
B. End of Round 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.
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 scheduled at that table has been completed,
and when all scores have been entered on the proper scoring
forms without objection.
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