Up Preface Contents Scope Index Elections ?No JavaScript


Contents

Promulgating Bodies

Preface to the North American Edition
Scope of the Laws
CHAPTER I - Definitions
CHAPTER II - Preliminaries
Law 1 - The Pack - Rank of Cards and Suits
Law 2 - The Duplicate Boards
Law 3 - Arrangement of Tables
Law 4 - Partnerships
Law 5 - Assignment of Seats
A. Initial Position
B. Change of Direction or Table

CHAPTER III - Preparation and Progression
Law 6 - The Shuffle and Deal
A. The Shuffle
B. The Deal
C. Representation of Both Pairs
D. New Shuffle and Redeal
E. Director's Option on Shuffling and Dealing
F. Duplication of Board
Law 7 - Control of Board and Cards
A. Placement of Board
B. Removal of Cards from Board
C. Returning Cards to Board
D. Responsibility for Procedures
Law 8 - Sequence of Rounds
A. Movement of Boards and Players
B. End of Round
C. End of Last Round and End of Session

CHAPTER IV - General Laws Governing Irregularities
Law 9 - Procedure Following an Irregularity
A. Calling Attention to an Irregularity
B. After Attention Is Called to an Irregularity
C. Premature Correction of an Irregularity
Law 10 - Assessment of a Penalty
A. Right to Assess Penalty
B. Cancellation of Payment or Waiver of Penalty
C. Choice after Irregularity
Law 11 - Forfeiture of the Right to Penalize
A. Action by Non-Offending Side
B. Irregularity Called by Spectator
C. Penalty after Forfeiture of the Right to Penalize
Law 12 - Director's Discretionary Powers
A. Right to Award an Adjusted Score
B. No Adjustment for Undue Severity of Penalty
C. Awarding an Adjusted Score
Law 13 - Incorrect Number of Cards
A. No Player Has Seen Another's Card
B. A Player Has Seen Another Player's Card(s)
C. Play Completed
Law 14 - Missing Card
A. Hand Found Deficient before Play Commences
B. Hand Found Deficient Afterwards
Law 15 - Play of a Wrong Board
A. Players Have Not Previously Played Board
B. One or More Players Have Previously Played Board
C. Discovered during Auction
Law 16 - Unauthorized Information
A. Extraneous Information from Partner
B. Extraneous Information from Other Sources
C. Information from Withdrawn Calls and Plays

CHAPTER V - The Auction
PART I - Correct Procedure
SECTION ONE - Auction Period
Law 17 - Duration of the Auction
A. Auction Period Starts
B. The First Call
C. Successive Calls
D. Cards from Wrong Board
E. End of Auction Period
Law 18 - Bids
A. Proper Form
B. To Supersede a Bid
C. Sufficient Bid
D. Insufficient Bid
E. Rank of the Denominations
F. Different Methods
Law 19 - Doubles and Redoubles
A. Doubles
B. Redoubles
C. Double or Redouble Superseded
D. Scoring a Doubled or Redoubled Contract
Law 20 - Review and Explanation of Calls
A. Call Not Clearly Heard
B. Review of Auction during Auction Period
C. Review after Final Pass
D. Who May Review the Auction
E. Correction of Error in Review
F. Explanation of Calls
Law 21 - Call Based on Misinformation
A. Call Based on Caller's Misunderstanding
B. Call Based on Misinformation from an Opponent
SECTION TWO - Auction Has Ended
Law 22 - Procedure After the Auction Has Ended
A. No Player Has Bid
B. One or More Players Have Bid
PART II - Irregularities in Procedure
Law 23 - Damaging Enforced Pass
SECTION ONE - Exposed Card, Auction Period
Law 24 - Card Exposed or Led during Auction
A. Low Card Not Prematurely Led
B. Single Card of Honor Rank or Card Prematurely Led
C. Two or More Cards Are Exposed
SECTION TWO - Changes of Calls
Law 25 - Legal and Illegal Changes of Call
A. Immediate Correction of Inadvertency
B. Delayed or Purposeful Correction
Law 26 - Call Withdrawn, Lead Penalties
A. Call Related to Specific Suit
B. Other Withdrawn Calls
SECTION THREE - Insufficient Bid
Law 27 - Insufficient Bid
A. Insufficient Bid Accepted
B. Insufficient Bid Not Accepted
C. Insufficient Bid out of Rotation
SECTION FOUR - Call out of Rotation
Law 28 - Calls Considered to Be in Rotation
A. RHO Required to Pass
B. Call by Correct Player Canceling Call out of Rotation
Law 29 - Procedure after a Call out of Rotation
A. Forfeiture of Right to Penalize
B. Out-of-Rotation Call Canceled
C. Call out of Rotation Is Conventional
Law 30 - Pass out of Rotation
A. Before Any Player Has Bid
B. After Any Player Has Bid
C. When Pass Is a Convention
Law 31 - Bid out of Rotation
A. RHO's Turn
B. Partner's or LHO's Turn
Law 32 - Double or Redouble out of Rotation
A. Made at Offender's Partner's Turn to Call
B. Made at RHO's Turn to Call
Law 33 - Simultaneous Calls
Law 34 - Retention of Right to Call
Law 35 - Inadmissible Call Condoned
A. Double or Redouble
B. Action by Player Required to Pass
C. Bid of More than Seven
D. Call after Final Pass
SECTION FIVE - Inadmissible Calls
Law 36 - Inadmissible Double or Redouble
Law 37 - Action Violating Obligation to Pass
Law 38 - Bid of More Than Seven
Law 39 - Call after Final Pass
A. Pass, or Call by Declaring Side
B. Other Action by Defender
SECTION SIX - Conventions and Agreements
Law 40 - Partnership Understandings
A. Right to Choose Call or Play
B. Concealed Partnership Understandings Prohibited
C. Director's Option
D. Regulation of Conventions
E. Convention Card

CHAPTER VI - The Play
PART I - Procedure
SECTION ONE - Correct Procedure
Law 41 - Commencement of Play
A. Face-down Opening Lead
B. Review of Auction, and Questions
C. Opening Lead Faced
D. Dummy's Hand
Law 42 - Dummy's Rights
A. Absolute Rights
B. Qualified Rights
Law 43 - Dummy's Limitations
A. Limitations on Dummy
B. Penalties for Violation
Law 44 - Sequence and Procedure of Play
A. Lead to a Trick
B. Subsequent Plays to a Trick
C. Requirement to Follow Suit
D. Inability to Follow Suit
E. Tricks Containing Trumps
F. Tricks Not Containing Trumps
G. Lead to Tricks Subsequent to First Trick
Law 45 - Card Played
A. Play of Card from a Hand
B. Play of Card from Dummy
C. Compulsory Play of Card
D. Card Misplayed by Dummy
E. Fifth Card Played to Trick
F. Dummy Indicates Card
G. Turning the Trick
SECTION TWO - Irregularities in Procedure
Law 46 - Incomplete or Erroneous Call of Card from Dummy
A. Proper Form for Designating Dummy's Card
B. Incomplete or Erroneous Call
Law 47 - Retraction of Card Played
A. To Comply with Penalty
B. To Correct an Illegal Play
C. To Change an Inadvertent Designation
D. Following Opponent's Change of Play
E. Change of Play Based on Misinformation
F. Illegal Retraction
PART II - Penalty Card
Law 48 - Exposure of Declarer's Cards
A. Declarer Exposes a Card
B. Declarer Faces Cards
Law 49 - Exposure of a Defender's Cards
Law 50 - Disposition of Penalty Card
A. Penalty Card Remains Exposed
B. Major or Minor Penalty Card?
C. Disposition of Minor Penalty Card
D. Disposition of Major Penalty Card
Law 51 - Two or More Penalty Cards
A. Offender's Turn to Play
B. Offender's Partner to Lead
Law 52 - Failure to Lead or Play a Penalty Card
A. Defender Fails to Play Penalty Card
B. Defender Plays Another Card
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
B. Wrong Defender Plays Card to Declarer's Irregular Lead
C. Proper Lead Made Subsequent to Irregular Lead
Law 54 - Faced Opening Lead out of Turn
A. Declarer Spreads His Hand
B. Declarer Accepts Lead
C. Declarer Must Accept Lead
D. Declarer Refuses Opening Lead
Law 55 - Declarer's Lead out of Turn
A. Declarer's Lead Accepted
B. Declarer Required to Retract Lead
C. Declarer Might Obtain Information
Law 56 - Defender's Lead out of Turn
SECTION TWO - Other Irregular Leads and Plays
Law 57 - Premature Lead or Play by Defender
A. Premature Play or Lead to Next Trick
B. Offender's Partner Cannot Comply with Penalty
C. Declarer Has Played from Both Hands before Irregularity
Law 58 - Simultaneous Leads or Plays
A. Simultaneous Plays by Two Players
B. Simultaneous Cards from One Hand
Law 59 - Inability to Lead or Play as Required
Law 60 - Play after an Illegal Play
A. Play of Card after Irregularity
B. Defender Plays before Required Lead by Declarer
C. Play by Offending Side before Assessment of Penalty
SECTION THREE - The Revoke
Law 61 - Failure to Follow Suit - Inquiries Concerning a Revoke
A. Definition of Revoke
B. Right to Inquire about a Possible Revoke
Law 62 - Correction of a Revoke
A. Revoke Must Be Corrected
B. Correcting a Revoke
C. Subsequent Cards Played to Trick
D. Revoke on Trick Twelve
Law 63 - Establishment of a Revoke
A. Revoke Becomes Established
B. Attention Is Illegally Drawn
C. Revoke May Not Be Corrected
Law 64 - Procedure after Establishment of a Revoke
A. Penalty Assessed
B. No Penalty Assessed
C. Director Responsible for Equity
PART IV - Tricks
Law 65 - Arrangement of Tricks
A. Completed Trick
B. Keeping Track of the Ownership of Tricks
C. Orderliness
D. Agreement on Results of Play
Law 66 - Inspection of Tricks
A. Current Trick
B. Own Last Card
C. Quitted Tricks
D. After the Conclusion of Play
Law 67 - Defective Trick
A. Before Both Sides Play to Next Trick
B. After Both Sides Play to Next Trick
PART V - Claims and Concessions
Law 68 - Claim or Concession of Tricks
A. Claim Defined
B. Concession Defined
C. Clarification Required for Claim
D. Play Ceases
Law 69 - Acquiescence in Claim or Concession
A. When Acquiescence Occurs
B. Acquiescence in Claim Withdrawn
Law 70 - Contested Claims
A. General Objective
B. Clarification Statement Repeated
C. There Is an Outstanding Trump
D. Claimer Proposes New Line of Play
E. Unstated Line of Play (Finesse or Drop)
Law 71 - Concession Canceled
A. Trick Cannot Be Lost
B. Contract Already Fulfilled or Defeated
C. Implausible Concession

CHAPTER VII - Proprieties
Law 72 - General Principles
A. Observance of Laws
B. Infraction of Law
Law 73 - Communication between Partners
A. Proper Communication between Partners
B. Inappropriate Communication between Partners
C. Player Receives Unauthorized Information from Partner
D. Variations in Tempo or Manner
E. Deception
F. Violation of Proprieties
Law 74 - Conduct and Etiquette
A. Proper Attitude
B. Etiquette
C. Violation of Procedure
Law 75 - Partnership Agreements
A. Special Partnership Agreements
B. Violations of Partnership Agreements
C. Answering Questions on Partnership Agreements
D. Correcting Errors in Explanation
Law 76 - Spectators
A. Conduct during Bidding or Play
B. Spectator Participation

CHAPTER VIII - The Score
Law 77 - Duplicate Bridge Scoring Table
Law 78 - Methods of Scoring
A. Matchpoint Scoring
B. International Matchpoint Scoring
C. Total Point Scoring
D. Special Scoring Methods
Law 79 - Tricks Won
A. Agreement on Tricks Won
B. Disagreement on Tricks Won
C. Error in Score

CHAPTER IX - Tournament Sponsorship
Law 80 - Sponsoring Organization
A. Tournament Director
B. Advance Arrangements
C. Session Times
D. Conditions of Entry
E. Special Conditions
F. Supplementary Regulations
G. Appeals

CHAPTER X - Tournament Director
SECTION ONE - Responsibilities
Law 81 - Duties and Powers
A. Official Status
B. Restrictions and Responsibilities
C. Director's Duties and Powers
D. Delegation of Duties
Law 82 - Rectification of Errors of Procedure
A. Director's Duty
B. Rectification of Error
C. Director's Error
Law 83 - Notification of the Right to Appeal
SECTION TWO - Rulings
Law 84 - Rulings on Agreed Facts
A. No Penalty
B. Penalty under Law
C. Player's Option
D. Director's Option
E. Discretionary Penalty
Law 85 - Rulings on Disputed Facts
A. Director's Assessment
B. Facts Not Determined
SECTION THREE - Correction of Irregularities
Law 86 - In Team Play
A. Average Score at IMP Play
B. Non-balancing Adjustments, Knockout Play
C. Substitute Board
Law 87 - Fouled Board
A. Definition
B. Scoring the Fouled Board
SECTION FOUR - Penalties
Law 88 - Award of Indemnity Points
Law 89 - Penalties in Individual Events
Law 90 - Procedural Penalties
A. Director's Authority
B. Offenses Subject to Penalty
Law 91 - Penalize or Suspend
A. Director's Power
B. Right to Disqualify

CHAPTER XI - Appeals
Law 92 - Right to Appeal
A. Contestant's Right
B. Time of Appeal
C. How to Appeal
D. Concurrence of Appellants
Law 93 - Procedures of Appeal
A. No Appeals Committee
B. Appeals Committee Available
C. Appeal to National Authority

Index

Elections by the ACBL Board of Directors
 
About this Document . . .

Top of pageUp Preface Contents Scope Index Elections ?
Chapters:  I - Definitions   II - Preliminaries   III - Preparation and Progression   IV - General Laws Governing Irregularities   V - The Auction   VI - The Play   VII - Proprieties   VIII - The Score   IX - Tournament Sponsorship   X - Tournament Director   XI - Appeals
Last modified: Mon Apr 13 17:48:43 1998