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Exploring
the laws
Chapter
V
The Auction, Part 1, Correct
Procedure. The next 5 laws identify the correct procedure
of the auction.
Subjects covered are: Bids,
Doubles and Redoubles, Reviews of the auction, explanation
of calls and calls based on information. Whilst most bridge
players would be well versed in the various procedures, the
importance of defining these procedures is to give the director
the authority to resolve disputes with the full backing
of law.
Law
20, covering reviews and explanations is a classic
example of where misunderstandings can occur, who can
ask and when? who can reply and when?, what should happen
if an incorrect review is given? etc. Ask a dozen players
and you are likely to get a dozen different opinions.
Law 17,
the start of the Auction Period is defined as for a
side when either player looks at the face of his cards; certain
laws covering specific irregularities make mention of 'During
The Auction', so it is very important to have this defined
time so as to be able to rule correctly. Similarly,
the 'End of the Auction' has a defined point in time, namely
when the opening lead is faced or if four passes occur.
Law 18
gives the Zonal Organisation the authority to allow
different methods of making calls, ie Bidding Boxes, Written
Bidding etc.
Law 19
only permits the word 'Double' or 'Redouble' with no
additives whatsoever.
Law 20,
as noted above, deals with reviews and explanations. During
the Auction period, players have the right to ask for a review
of the auction with all alerts being included, any errors
must be corrected, all players being responsible.
After this time, players have one last chance being at their
first turn to play.
The law continues with 'Requests
for Explanation of Calls' which is broken up into 'During
the Auction' and 'After the Final Pass and during the Play
of the Hand'. At a players turn to call, the right to request
a full explanation of the opponents auction is permitted,
questions may also include other available alternatives open
to the player.
Responses should only refer to agreements and partnership
experience, not suggestions or 'I'm taking it as'. After the
final pass and during the play, defenders at their turn to
play can ask for an explanation of the auction whilst declarer,
in addition to the above, also has the right to find out opponents
carding agreements and techniques. Defenders should be aware
that questions designed to wake up partner or have
an element of a pointed nature are prohibited and any
information imparted could subject the pair to both adjusted
scores and penalties as a breach of propriety.
Law 21
has a twist to it, if a player has made a call based on incorrect
information as to an agreement or as a result of a failure
to alert, law permits him to change the call providing partner
has not subsequently called, this means that even if the next
player has called, the right
to change is still there.
No action should be
taken without the permission of the director as it will be
his determination as to whether a change is permitted and
also if the player has a valid reason for wishing to change.
In the case where the next player has made a call before the
change, that player may also change their call without penalty,
with the information of the original call becoming unauthorised
for that pair.
When it is too late to permit correction, the director should
try to determine from the non-offending players any differing
action that may have been taken. By discovering this now gives
an insight into any possible claim of damage.
Following on with this law,
providing the opening lead has not been faced and that the
declarer has informed the opponents of mis-information,
the right to reconsider is still there. The opponent on the
declarers right has the right to reconsider his final pass
with the auction continuing should he elect to do so. The
opponent on declarers left has, however, lost the right.
Law 22
deals with a passed in hand. The message is clear, no redeal.
Players often ask me if it's OK to redeal on the first round,
this is similar to asking a traffic officer if you can illegally
park! If you want to redeal, don't inform the director,
it is a serious breach of law.
Part 2 of chapter 5
is the effective start of dealing with irregularities that
occur during the auction, opening
calls out of turn, insufficient bids, changes of call etc.
This is where directors are most needed and players
are well advised to ensure that premature correction does
not occur and that one steers clear of 'home made' rulings.
You will receive very little sympathy or redress from the
director if things go wrong.
Law 23
concerns itself with 'Damaging Enforced Pass'. Many of the
upcoming laws require partners to pass which in certain circumstances
can damage a non-offending side. This law is the authority
for the director to take action if it can be suggested that
the player could know that to bar partner could be of benefit.
However, just because a player gets a bad score does not necessarily
mean an adjustment, the criteria of 'could have known'
must apply.
Law 24
deals with both accidental and deliberate exposure of a players
card(s) during the auction, any card exposed before the Auction
Period would not be covered under this law, rather Law
16, 'Extraneous Information'. For a card to be considered
exposed or led, all that is required is for the card(s) to
be in such a position that the partner could see its face,
if only the opponents could see it, this law does not apply.
Any card(s) exposed remains face up and would be treated as
a penalty card if appropriate. Providing the exposure was
an accident and is a non-honour, there is no further penalty,
however if the exposure was deliberate, was an honour
card or more that one, then the partner must pass for one
round. This is an instance of where Law
23, 'Damaging Enforced Pass' may apply.
Law 25,
the directors nightmare! 'Legal and Illegal
Changes of Call'. The biggest problem with this law is in
the inconsistency of rulings and the total lack of understanding
by the players. The presumed intent of the first part of this
law in allowing inadvertent calls to be changed is to prevent
ridiculous contracts when either mechanical, or never intended
actions occur and a change is attempted without pause for
thought. How many times have you heard the expression "But
I changed my call in the same breath". Breathing has
nothing to do with it, except staying alive, the main criteria
is Inadvertency, which is unfortunately, undefined in the
preamble but to directors means 'never in ones thought
processes'. Even then, it is difficult to differentiate
between never intended and a stupid mistake or change of mind.
As an example, a player picks up a 7-0-3-3 distribution, is
admiring his heart void holding and opens 3 .
Immediately he see's what he has done and attempts to change
to 3 ,
opponents now request a directors decision.
Clearly there was never an intent to open 3,
yet hearts were in his thoughts at the time.
A second example, holding a 6-1-3-3, 5 points, partner opens
1NT and the player bids 2,
immediately corrects to 2
and again the director is asked to consider the allowability.
Does the pair play transfers? No, does
the player play transfers with other partners? Yes.
Was this a realisation that they were not playing transfers
or a genuine inadvertency? Directors should try to be consistent
in their attitude toward claims of inadvertency, whilst decisions
can be appealed, most committees would seek from the director
his reasons which could well include facts as stated, table
feel, information gained by whatever means combined with his
interpretation of the law in the instance concerned. In the
above examples, the claim of inadvertency would have
a far greater chance of success in the 3
case, than the 2
case.
Law 25 also states that up until
partner makes a call a player may make an 'Immediate Correction
of Inadvertency'. Whilst the reading of this Law permits
a player to correct his call before questioning his entitlement,
the change will often be deemed 'A Purposeful Correction'
and be subject to the appropriate law.
Players will only allow
the change to stand without restriction if he can be
convinced that Inadvertency prevails, if not will move to
Law 25B. 'Delayed or Purposeful Correction'. When the director
deems that inadvertency is not applicable, or if a player
requests permission to change their call, law does permit
this providing two conditions are met. Firstly, that left
hand opponent has not called and secondly, that the change
was not induced as a result of outside information. A change
of intent is therefore permissible. Left hand opponent
may accept the changed call with no penalty, if not the options
now flow to the offender. Any illegal call (eg. Insufficient
Bid) is referred back to the appropriate law, otherwise the
player must either let his first call stand, barring partner
for one round, or make any other legal call with no further
restriction, however, the pair receives the worse of the result
of the board or 40%. The opponents receiving the board result.
Law 23 becomes operative in
the case of an enforced pass and lead penalties would apply
if the pair became defenders.
Law 26
deals with Withdrawn Calls, Lead Penalties. The principle
within the laws relating to unauthorised information is further
endorsed when calls are changed by an offender. To avoid penalties
the suit or suits specified in any withdrawn call must have
been or later bid to void the suggestion of unauthorised information,
if not and the offender becomes a defender, then Declarer
has options available which in theory redress the situation;
Namely, allowing Declarer to either insist or prohibit a lead
of that suit when the partner first gains the lead. Insistence
just for one round, prohibition for as long as the player
is on lead. In cases where the withdrawn call does not relate
to any specific suit, ie a natural bid of No Trumps, Declarer
may only prohibit the lead of any suit he chooses, not insist,
again this prohibition continues until the player loses the
lead. With the advent of transfers, multi two bids and the
like, directors have a difficult task trying to identify which
suits are specified and whether the suits as specified in
the withdrawn call have been legally made in the auction,
however, with the first principle in mind, and any suggestion
that a player could be advantaged by unauthorised information
then the penalty provisions of this law should be invoked.
Law 27
'Insufficient Bid' is another minefield. Directors
have a responsibility to determine the likelihood of any suggestion
of conventuality as this would affect the degree of penalty.
Directors should never assume that an insufficient bid is
unconventional in either the level called or at a legal level.
Take a seemingly innocent auction of 1
- P - 1 ,
does the pair play any form of strong club or short club?,
would a legal 2
response suggest anything other that Clubs?, etc etc, it is
very easy to underestimate all the possibilities.
The law uses the words 'Incontrovertibly not conventional',
which again is not defined but would tend to mean 'without
the slightest chance of'. As is common to most of the irregularities
in the auction and play, the next player has the right to
accept an insufficient bid, to newer player the statement
by the director to this effect tends to suggest that it is
polite or sportsmanlike not to insist on a penalty,
a rude shock awaits them as other players are seldom polite
to them in similar situations. There are quite significant
advantages of accepting insufficient bids, however, many players
believe they should demand their pound of flesh, often to
their detriment. Being able to gain an extra round of bidding
is frequently of great assistance, or for that matter, even
keeping the auction low. Partner opens 3,
next player bids 1,
you hold a void Heart and a 9 count including 5 Spades. To
be able to accept the 1
and avoid the possibility of a negative score, should the
1
bidder elect to pass instead of making their bid good, would
be very appealing to most players. To the detail of the law,
if the next player requires retraction, the option to make
it good without penalty is solely dependant that there is
no possibility of conventuality, either of the insufficient
or sufficient bid at the lowest level. If this is not the
case, the player can take any action other than a Double
or Redouble with the partner required to pass for the
remainder of the auction. Both Law 23
'Damaging Enforced Pass' and Law 26
'Call Withdrawn, Lead Penalties' may be applicable.
Laws 28 to 34 relate to
'Calls Out of Rotation'.
Note the wording 'Call'; In a great majority
of cases the first statement from the table is 'A Bid out
of Turn', whilst in fact it is a pass out of turn, ie a call.
Referring to the definitions, a call is, 'Any Bid, Double,
Redouble or Pass, whilst a bid is, ' An Undertaking to Win
at least a specific number of tricks in a specified denomination'.
The options are vastly different with a pass far less serious
than a bid.
As in Law 27 and others, any call
out of turn can be accepted, try the following, you hold:
|
8 |
|
A K Q J
6 5 |
|
A Q 3 |
|
A 6 5 |
You are the dealer, about
to open an Acol, 8 playing trick, 2.
Before you have the opportunity, your right hand opponent
opens a weak 2,
pre-emptive out of turn. You call the director who offers
you the option to accept, your move! This occurred to an international
player of repute who reasoned that if he accepted the bid,
which he did, partner would draw the only possible conclusion
that he was stacked in Hearts, unable to Double and wanting
to penalise. Unfortunately the player had an enviable reputation
as a gentleman at the table, so partner assumed he was being
nice to his opponents, so instead of doubling, bid his 6 card
Spade suit.
In all seriousness, an acceptance is a valuable option, don't
discard it lightly. Should an acceptance not be forthcoming,
then the director will offer the applicable options which
are encompassed within one of the seven laws pertaining to
a call out of turn.
| Opening Pass
out of Turn and before any player has bid: |
| |
Call reverts
to correct position, offender passes for one round |
| Opening Pass
out of turn During the Auction: |
| |
RHO's turn
to call, offender must pass for one round. |
| |
LHO's turn
to call, treated as a change of call, Law
25 |
| |
Partners turn to call,
offender must pass throughout, with partner barred from
doubling or redoubling at that turn. A
conventional pass is treated as a 'Bid out of Rotation'.
|
| A Double or
Redouble out of Turn: |
| |
At partners
turn to call, partner barred for complete auction. |
| |
At RHO's turn
to call, if RHO passes, the double or redouble must be
repeated, no penalty. |
| |
If RHO bids,
offender can do what he likes, but partner is barred throughout.
Law 23 'Damaging Enforced
Pass' may apply. |
| A Bid out
of Turn: |
| |
At RHO's turn,
if that player passes, the bid is repeated with no penalty |
| |
If RHO bids
or doubles or redoubles, offender can repeat the denomination
named at any level barring partner for one round or take
any other legal action, including a double or redouble,
barring partner for the rest of the auction. |
Law 33
and Law 34 complete the picture,
covering simultaneous calls; The offenders call deemed to
be subsequent, and 'Retention of Right to Call' which
safeguards a players right to call if a call has been followed
by three passes, when one of those passes was out of rotation.
An aspect I have never encountered!
Inadmissible Calls:
Whilst most calls have a place within the structure of the
game, there are instances when a call has no meaning and therefore
cannot be either accepted or considered. Law
19 referred to 'Correct Procedure During the Auction',
'Doubles and Redoubles'.
Law 36
looks at what happens if correct procedure is broken and a
player either Doubles his partners bid, Redoubles his partners
Double, or makes an opening Double. In the good old day of
'Forcing Pass' whereby a Pass showed opening values,
opponents lobbied hard for the right to make a take out Double,
fortunately this request fell on deaf ears.
The law rightfully considers
an inadmissible Double as a change of call that cannot
be repeated, so the penalty mirrors the restrictions stated
in that law, namely, a legal call must be substituted with
the offenders partner barred for the rest of the auction.
Should the auction have continued past the normal point of
seemingly no return, the director would cancel all subsequent
bidding, returning the call to the original offender with
the auction proceeding as though nothing had happened.
I was faced with the following
problem some years ago, bidding proceeding:
| North |
South |
East |
West |
| 1NT |
X |
P |
XX |
| P |
P |
P |
|
Hand was played, making 7
tricks. I was then called to assist in working out the
score! On reviewing the bidding, the error became apparent
with four sheepish players wondering what came next.
I went away, considered the law options, which were very little
help, and decided to rule under Law
12, 'Directors Discretionary Powers' awarding
40% to both sides. I based this decision as according to law
the bidding went 1NT - X - P end of story as the XX is cancelled
along with the three remaining passes. So there was never
a completed bridge auction.
The second instance when law
considers a Double or Redouble as inadmissible is when law
requires that player to pass by way of a previous ruling,
should he do so, then the penalty requires its retraction
with both members of the partnership required to pass for
the rest of the auction. If, however, a member of the non
offending side make a call before the director rules, status
quo stands with no penalty.
Finally, all calls after the
final pass or a call higher than seven is naturally considered
Inadmissible, such actions normally occur in jest and
are mainly treated as such. Law does give a ruling in both
circumstances and players may one day find themselves in receipt
of quite severe penalties for their moment of fun.
The penalties include reference to Law
26, 'Call Withdrawn, Lead Penalties', Law
23 'Damaging Enforced Pass'.
All that remains of the procedures
of the auction is 'Partnership Understandings'.
An important area that
looks at agreements, both implicit and explicit, the authority
to permit systems and conventions, the convention card and
psyching.
An absolute right of
a partnership is to choose to make any call or play that departs
from either accepted practice or agreements without advisement
providing partner is equally as unaware of such departure
as the opponents.
Sponsoring Organisations
have the right to regulate the use of bidding or play conventions
and prescribe the correct form of convention card for the
listing of agreements. They may also require a partnership
to play the same system, however such regulation should not
restrict either style or judgement, only method.
If you have a disagreement
with your partner over which system to play, you are required
to overcome your differences and compromise, as one cannot
play, say The Precision System and your partner, Standard
American.
It is permissible, however, to play different systems at various
times providing both members of the partnership play it at
the same time and the opponents are kept well advised. ie
you can play Precision when Vul, Standard when non Vul. Most
regulations will limit the number of differing systems or
conventions you can play, the general maximum is Four.
The
right to choose to make any call or play is generally the
reference point for psychic bids. Psyche's are an integral
part of the game with the definition as stated in the preamble
of the Laws, worth knowing, namely: 'A Deliberate and Gross
misstatement of honour strength or Suit Length'.
This would strongly suggest that a minor misstatement would
not fall under the umbrella of a psyche. ie, bidding a three
card suit or shading an opening by a couple of points. A destructive
misstatement is all very well providing partner is equally
fooled. Partnerships tend to become aquatinted with their
partners actions in certain circumstances and thus these would
become 'agreements' subject to the regulations of permitted
systems and conventions.
The WBF Code of Practice
makes mention of 'Disclosure of Psychic Tendances'
noting that a partnership may not defend itself by stating
that they took normal action in possible psychic situations.
Their opponents are entitled to know the possibility exists.
There are many Bridge Clubs
and Sponsoring Organisations that restrict psyche's of a certain
nature and very weak pre-empts, quoting the authority within
Law 40D 'Regulation of Conventions',
this law states that regulations may be made that by agreement,
permit the partnership's initial actions at the one level
to be made with a hand of a King or more below average strength.
A yardstick in simple terms
used quite frequently is the 'rule of 18' for opening bids
and 'rule of 15' for pre-empts, whereby one adds one's high
card points to the total number of the two longest suits.
Holding a 6 - 5 - 1 - 1, 7 points would be considered an acceptable
opening at the one level, and a 6 - 4 - 2 - 1, 5 points, acceptable
for a weak 2. It is strictly prohibited to have a 'Concealed
Partnership Understanding', Bridge is a game of a level
playing field with all players having the opportunity to know
what's going on.
Players are encouraged to give
a complete explanation to questions asked. If a players asks
for an explanation, the requirement of the responder is to
ensure that the reply relates to the intent of the
question. The Director has the authority of law to adjust
a score if he decides that a pair has been damaged through
the opponents failure to explain the full meaning of a call
or play by agreement.
During the auction,
any player may refer to their opponents convention card, not
their own, the same applies, except for Dummy, during the
play. A footnote to Law 40 gives
the sponsoring organisation the right to allow written defences
to opponents unusual methods and refer to them during both
the bidding and play. Such defences can only refer to the
unusual methods, not any other aspects. The footnote also
includes a prohibition of the use of 'aids to memory,
calculation or technique'.
|
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Chapter V
The Auction
PART I CORRECT PROCEDURE
SECTION ONE AUCTION PERIOD
LAW 17
- DURATION OF THE AUCTION
A. Auction Period
Starts The auction period on a deal begins for a side
when either partner looks at the face of his cards.
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 clockwise rotation.
D. Cards from Wrong Board If a player who has
inadvertently picked up the cards from a wrong board makes
a call, that call is cancelled. If offender's LHO has called
over the cancelled call, the Director shall assign artificial
adjusted scores (see Law
90 for penalty) when offender's substituted call differs
in any significant way from his cancelled call . If offender
subsequently repeats the cancelled 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 assign
artificial adjusted scores (see Law
90) when offender's call differs in any way from his
original cancelled call.
E. End of Auction Period The auction period ends when
all four players pass or when after three passes in rotation
have followed any call the opening lead is faced (when a pass
out of rotation has been accepted, see Law
34).
LAW 18
- BIDS
A. Proper Form A
bid names a number of odd tricks, from one to seven, and a
denomination. (Pass, double and redouble are calls but not
bids.)
B. To Supersede a Bid A bid supersedes a previous
bid if it names 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
immediately previous bid is a sufficient bid.
D. Insufficient Bid A bid that fails to supersede
the immediately previous 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 Zonal Organisations may
authorise different methods of making calls.
LAW 19
- DOUBLES AND REDOUBLES
A. Doubles
1. Legal Double A player may double only the last preceding
bid. That bid must have been made by an opponent; calls other
than pass must not have intervened.
2. Proper Form for Double In doubling, a player should not
state the number of odd tricks or the denomination. The only
correct form is the single word "Double".
3. Double of Incorrectly Stated Bid 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
- Unauthorised Information - may apply.)
B. Redoubles
1. Legal Redouble A player may redouble only the last
preceding double. That double must have been made by an opponent;
calls other than pass must not have intervened.
2. Proper Form for a Redouble 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. Redouble of an Incorrectly Stated Bid 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 - Unauthorised Information - may apply.)
C. Double or Redouble Superseded Any double
or redouble is superseded by a subsequent 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
Heard A player who does not hear a call distinctly may
forthwith require that it be repeated.
B. Review of
Auction during 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 in the restatement.
C. Review after Final Pass
1. Opening Lead Inquiry After the final pass either
defender has the right to ask if it is his opening lead (see
Law 47E and Law
41).
2. Review of Auction Declarer or either defender may,
at his first turn to play, require all4 previous calls to
be restated (see Law 41B
and C).
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 correction of errors in restatement (see Law
12C1 when an uncorrected review causes damage).
F. Explanation of Calls
1. During the Auction During the auction and before
the final pass, any player, at his own turn to call, may request
a full explanation of the opponents' auction (questions may
be asked about calls actually made or about relevant calls
available but not made); replies should normally be given
by the partner of a player who made a call in question (see
Law 75C).
2. During the Play Period After the final pass and
throughout the play period, either defender at his own turn
to play may request an explanation of opposing auction. At
his or dummy's turn to play, the declarer may request an explanation
of a defender's call or card play conventions.
LAW 21
- CALL BASED ON MISINFORMATION
A. Call Based on
Caller's Misunderstanding A player has no recourse if he has
made a call on the basis of his own misunderstanding.
B. Call Based on Misinformation from an Opponent
1. Change of Call Until the end of the auction period
(see Law 17E),
a player may, without penalty, change a call when it is probable
that he made the call as a result of misinformation given
to him by an opponent (failure to alert promptly to a conventional
call or special understanding, where such alert is required
by the sponsoring organisation, is deemed misinformation),
provided that his partner has not subsequently called.
2. Change of Call by Opponent Following Correction
When a player elects to change a call because of misinformation
(as in 1., preceding), his LHO may then in turn change any
subsequent call he may have made, without penalty (unless
his withdrawn call conveyed such information as to damage
the non-offending side, in which case the Director may assign
an adjusted score). (For unauthorised information from withdrawn
calls, see Law
16C.)
3. Too Late to Change Call When it is too late to change
a call, the Director may award an adjusted score (Law
40C may apply).
SECTION
TWO
AUCTION HAS ENDED
LAW 22
- PROCEDURE AFTER THE AUCTION HAS ENDED
After the auction period
has ended,
A. No Player Has Bid If no player has bid, the
hands are returned to the board without play. There shall
not be a redeal.
B. One or More Players Have Bid if any player
has bid, the final bid becomes the contract, and play begins.
PART II
IRREGULARITIES IN PROCEDURE
LAW 23
- DAMAGING ENFORCED PASS
Reference will be made to this
Law from many other Laws that prescribe penalties for auction-period
infractions. When the penalty for an irregularity under any
Law would compel the offender's partner to pass at his next
turn, if the Director deems that the offender, at the time
of his irregularity, could have known that the enforced pass
would be likely to damage the non-offending side, he shall
require the auction and play to continue and consider awarding
an adjusted score. (See Law
72B1.)
SECTION ONE
EXPOSED CARD AUCTION PERIOD
LAW 24
- CARD EXPOSED OR LED DURING AUCTION
When the Director determines,
during the auction, that because of a player's action 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 closes; and (penalty) if the offender subsequently
becomes a defender, declarer may treat every such card as
a penalty card (Law 50).
In addition:
A. Low Card Not Prematurely Led If it is a single
card below the rank of an honour and not prematurely led,
there is no further penalty.
B. Single Card of Honour Rank or Card Prematurely
Led If it is a single card of honour rank or is any card
prematurely led, (penalty) 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, (penalty) offender's partner must pass
when next it is his turn to call (see Law
23 when a pass damages the non-offending side).
SECTION TWO
CHANGES OF CALLS
LAW 25
- LEGAL AND ILLEGAL CHANGES OF CALL
A. Immediate Correction
of Inadvertency Until his partner makes a call, a player
may substitute his intended call for an inadvertent call but
only if he does so, or attempts to do so, without pause for
thought. If legal, his last call stands without penalty; if
illegal, it is subject to the applicable Law.
B. Delayed or Purposeful Correction Until LHO
calls, a call may be substituted when Section A does not apply:
1. Substitute Call Condoned The substituted call may
be accepted (treated as legal) at the option of offender's
LHO ; then, the second call stands and the auction proceeds
without penalty. If offender's LHO has called before attention
is drawn to the infraction and the Director determines that
LHO intended his call to apply over the offender's original
call at that turn, offender's substituted call stands without
penalty, and LHO may withdraw his call without penalty (but
see Law 16C2).
2. Not Condoned If the substituted call is not accepted,
it is cancelled, and (a) First Call Illegal if the first call
was illegal, the offender is subject to the applicable law
(and the lead penalties of Law
26 may apply to the second call). (b) First Call Legal
if the first call was legal, the offender must either (1)
Let First Call Stand allow his first call to stand, in which
case (penalty) his partner must pass when next it is his turn
to call (see Law 23
when the pass damages the non-offending side), or, (2) Substitute
Another Call make any other legal call, in which case (penalty)
the auction proceeds normally (but offender's partner may
not base calls on information from withdrawn calls); the offending
side may receive no score greater than average minus (see
Law 12C1). (c) Lead Penalties In either case (b)
(1) or (b) (2) above, the offender's partner will be subject
to a lead penalty (see Law
26) if he becomes a defender.
LAW 26 -
CALL WITHDRAWN, LEAD PENALTIES
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 to a specified suit or suits and
1. Suit Specified if that suit was specified by the
same player, there is no lead penalty, but see Law
16C.
2. Suit Not Specified if that suit was not specified
in the legal auction by the same player, then declarer may
(penalty) either require the offender's partner to lead the
specified suit (or one particular specified suit) at his first
turn to lead, including the opening lead, or prohibit offender's
partner from leading the specified suit (or one particular
specified suit) at his first turn to lead, including the opening
lead, such prohibition to continue for as long as offender's
partner retains the lead.
B. Other Withdrawn Calls For other withdrawn
calls, (penalty) declarer may prohibit offender's partner
from leading any one suit at his first turn to lead, including
the opening lead, such prohibition to continue for as long
as offender's partner retains the lead.
SECTION
THREE
INSUFFICIENT BID
LAW 27 -
INSUFFICIENT BID
A. Insufficient
Bid Accepted Any insufficient bid may be accepted (treated
as legal) at the option of offender's LHO. It is accepted
if that player calls.
B. Insufficient Bid Not Accepted If an insufficient
bid made in rotation is not accepted, it must be corrected
by the substitution of either a sufficient bid or a pass.
1. Not Conventional and Corrected by Lowest Sufficient
Bid in Same Denomination (a) No Penalty If both the insufficient
bid and the bid substituted are incontrovertibly not conventional
and if the bid is corrected by the lowest sufficient bid in
the same denomination, the auction proceeds as though the
irregularity had not occurred (Law
16C2 does not apply to this situation, but see (b)
following). (b) Award of Adjusted Score If the Director judges
that the insufficient bid conveyed such information as to
damage the non-offending side, he shall assign an adjusted
score.
2. Conventional, or Corrected by Any Other Sufficient Bid
or Pass If either the insufficient bid or the lowest sufficient
bid in the same denomination may have been conventional or
if the bid is corrected by any other sufficient bid or by
a pass, (penalty) the offender's partner must pass whenever
it is his turn to call (apply Law
10C1 and see Law
23 when the pass damages the non-offending side; and
the lead penalties of Law
26 may apply).
3. Attempt to Correct by a Double or Redouble If the
offender attempts to substitute a double or redouble for his
insufficient bid, the attempted call is cancelled, and (penalty)
his partner must pass whenever it is his turn to call (see
Law 23 when the pass
damages the non-offending side, and the lead penalties of
Law 26 may apply).
C. Insufficient Bid Out of Rotation If a player makes an insufficient
bid out of rotation, Law
31 applies.
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 Cancelling Call Out of
Rotation A call is considered to be in rotation when made
by a player whose turn it was to call, before a penalty has
been assessed for a call out of rotation by an opponent; making
such a call forfeits the right to penalise the call out of
rotation, and the auction proceeds as though the opponent
had not called at that turn, but Law
16C2 applies.
LAW 29
- PROCEDURE AFTER A CALL OUT OF ROTATION
A. Forfeiture of
Right to Penalise Following a call out of rotation, offender's
LHO may elect to call, thereby forfeiting the right to penalise.
B. Out-of-Rotation Call Cancelled Otherwise,
a call out of rotation is cancelled (but see A preceding),
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 penalty under Laws 30,
31 or 32.
C. Call Out of Rotation Is Conventional If a
call out of rotation is conventional, the provisions of Laws
30, 31
and 32 shall apply
to the denominations specified, rather than the denominations
named.
LAW 30
- PASS OUT OF ROTATION
When a player has passed out
of rotation (and the call is cancelled, as the option to accept
the call has not been exercised - see
Law 29):
A. Before Any Player Has Bid When a player has
passed out of rotation before any player has bid, (penalty)
the offender must pass when next it is his turn to call and
Law 72B1 may apply.
B. After Any Player Has Bid
1. At RHO's Turn to Call After any player has bid,
when a pass out of rotation is made at offender's RHO's turn
to call, (penalty) offender must pass when next it is his
turn to call (if the pass out of rotation related by convention
to a specific suit, or suits, thereby conveying information,
the lead penalties of Law
26 may apply).
2. (a) Action Required of Offender After any player
has bid, for a pass out of rotation made at the offender's
partner's turn to call, (penalty) the offender must pass whenever
it is his turn to call, and Law
72B1 may apply. (b) Action Open to Offender's Partner
Offender's partner may make any sufficient bid, or may
pass, but may not double or redouble at that turn, and Law
72B1 may apply.
3. At LHO's Turn to Call 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 a Convention When the
pass out of rotation is a convention, Law
31, not this Law, will apply. A pass is a convention
if, by special agreement, it promises more than a specified
amount of strength, or if it artificially promises or denies
values other than in the last suit named.
LAW 31
- BID OUT OF ROTATION
When a player has bid out of
rotation (and the bid is cancelled, as the option to accept
the bid has not been exercised - see Law
29):
A. RHO's Turn When the offender has bid (or
has passed partner's call when it is a convention, in which
case section A2(b) applies) at his RHO's turn to call, then:
1. RHO Passes If that opponent passes, offender must
repeat the call out of rotation, and when that call is legal
there is no penalty.
2. RHO Acts If that opponent makes a legal bid, double
or redouble, offender may make any legal call; when this call
(a) Repeats Denomination repeats the denomination of his bid
out of rotation, (penalty) offender's partner must pass when
next it is his turn to call (see Law
23). (b) Does Not Repeat Denomination does not repeat
the denomination of his bid out of rotation, the lead penalties
of Law 26 may apply,
and (penalty) 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, (penalty)
offender's partner must pass whenever it is his turn to call
(see Law 23 when
the pass damages the non-offending side), and the lead penalties
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 29),
except that an inadmissible double or redouble may never be
accepted (see Law 35A
if the opponent next in rotation nevertheless does call).
If the illegal call is not accepted, it is cancelled, the
lead penalties of 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, (penalty) the offender's
partner must pass whenever it is his turn to call (see
Law 23 when 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 at offender's RHO's
turn to call, then:
1. RHO Passes If offender's RHO passes, offender must
repeat his out- of-rotation double or redouble and there is
no penalty unless the double or redouble is inadmissible,
in which case Law 36
applies.
2. RHO Bids If offender's RHO bids, the offender may
in turn make any legal call and (penalty) offender's partner
must pass whenever it is his turn to call (see Law
23 when the pass damages the non-offending side).
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 subsequent call.
LAW 34
- RETENTION OF RIGHT TO CALL
When a call has
been followed by three passes, the auction does not end when
one of those passes was out of rotation, thereby depriving
a player of his right to call at that turn. The auction reverts
to the player who missed his turn. All subsequent passes are
cancelled, and the auction proceeds as though there had been
no irregularity.
LAW 35 -
INADMISSIBLE CALL CONDONED
When, after any inadmissible
call specified below, the offender's LHO makes a call before
a penalty has been assessed, there is no penalty for the inadmissible
call (the lead penalties of Law
26 do not apply), and:
A. Double or Redouble If the inadmissible call
was a double or redouble not permitted by Law
19, that call and all subsequent calls are cancelled.
The auction reverts to the player whose turn it is to call,
and proceeds as though there had been no irregularity.
B. Action by Player Required to Pass If the
inadmissible call was a bid, double or redouble by a player
required by law to pass, that call and all subsequent legal
calls stand, but, if the offender was required to pass for
the remainder of the auction, he must still pass at subsequent
turns.
C. Bid of More than Seven If the inadmissible
call was a bid of more than seven, that call and all subsequent
calls are cancelled; the offender must substitute a pass,
and the auction proceeds as though there had been no irregularity.
D. Call after Final Pass If the inadmissible
call was a call after the final pass of the auction, that
call and all subsequent calls are cancelled without penalty.
SECTION
FIVE
INADMISSIBLE CALLS
LAW 36
- INADMISSIBLE DOUBLE OR REDOUBLE
Any double or redouble not
permitted by Law 19
is cancelled. The offender must substitute a legal call, and
(penalty) the offender's partner must pass whenever it is
his turn to call (see Law
23 when the pass damages the non-offending side);
the lead penalties of Law
26 may apply. (If the call is out of turn, see Law
32; if offender's LHO calls, see Law
35A.)
LAW 37
- ACTION VIOLATING OBLIGATION TO PASS
A bid, double or redouble
by a player who is required by law to pass is cancelled, and
(penalty) each member of the offending side must pass whenever
it becomes his turn to call (see Law
23 when the pass damages the non-offending side).
The lead penalties of Law
26 may apply. (If offender's LHO calls, see Law
35B.)
LAW 38 -
BID OF MORE THAN SEVEN
No play or score at a contract
of more than seven is ever permissible. A bid of more than
seven is cancelled, and (penalty) each member of the offending
side must pass whenever it becomes his turn to call (see Law
23 when the pass damages the non-offending side).
The lead penalties of Law
26 may apply. (If offender's LHO calls, see Law
35C.)
LAW 39
- CALL AFTER FINAL PASS
A call made after the final
pass of the auction is cancelled, and:
A. Pass or Call by Declaring Side If it is a
pass by a defender, or any call by the future declarer or
dummy, there is no penalty.
B. Other Action by Defender If it is a bid,
double or redouble by a defender, the lead penalties of Law
26 may apply. (If offender's LHO calls, see Law
35D.)
SECTION
SIX
CONVENTIONS AND
AGREEMENTS
LAW 40
- PARTNERSHIP UNDERSTANDINGS
A. Right to Choose
Call or Play A player may make any call or play (including
an intentionally misleading call - such as a psychic bid -
or a call or play that departs from commonly accepted, or
previously announced, use of a convention), without prior
announcement, provided that such call or play is not based
on a partnership understanding.
B. Concealed Partnership Understandings Prohibited
A player may not make a call or play based on a special partnership
understanding unless an opposing pair may reasonably be expected
to understand its meaning, or unless his side discloses the
use of such call or play in accordance with the regulations
of the sponsoring organisation.
C. Director's Option If the Director decides
that a side has been damaged through its opponents' failure
to explain the full meaning of a call or play, he may award
an adjusted score.
D. Regulation of Conventions The sponsoring
organisation may regulate the use of bidding or play conventions.
Zonal organisations may, in addition, regulate partnership
understandings (even if not conventional) that permit the
partnership's initial actions at the one level to be made
with a hand of a King or more below average strength. Zonal
organisations may delegate this responsibility.
E. Convention Card
1. Right to Prescribe The sponsoring organisation may
prescribe a convention card on which partners are to list
their conventions and other agreements and may establish regulations
for its use, including a requirement that both members of
a partnership employ the same system (such a regulation must
not restrict style and judgement, only method).
2. Referring to Opponents' Convention Card During the
auction and play, any player except dummy may refer to his
opponents' convention card at his own turn to call or play,
but not to his own .
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