Auction bridge up-to-date; containing the laws of auction bridge, as framed by a joint committee of the Portland and Bath Clubs, and approved and adopted by the committee of the Portland Club

Front matter

r"

PRESENTED

BY

Preface

This work was originally intended to appear as a second edition of “ Auction Bridge,” published in 1908; but, on going over that book for revision, I found it necessary to alter it so very materially, that it has been determined to publish a new book on the game, under the present title. A certain amount of the old book remains, but the chapters dealing with the declaration have been re-written entirely, and the principles of declaring now advocated are very different from, and in some cases diametrically opposed to, those recommended in my first book.

I make no apology for this change of front, because it is none of my doing. The change has been brought about, almost entirely, by the new Law limiting the loss on a declaration of “ One Spade” to 100 points. As long as the loss was unlimited, the best players adopted a certain line of play, which was fully described in my first book. On page 67 of “Auction Bridge” I said: “The new rule has not become law at the time of writing, so I can say nothing as to the operation of it.” It has since become law, and I can now speak as to the operation of it. It has transformed the methods of declaring rudimentally. The methods which were in vogue eighteen months ago are now out of date, and the new methods will be found fully described in the following pages.

W. DALTON.

LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE.

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THE LAWS

OF

AUCTION BRIDGE

Framed by a Joint Committee of the Portland and Bath Clubs, and approved and adopted by the Committee of the Portland Club (1909).

THE RUBBER.

1. The rubber is the best of three games. If the first two games be won by the same players, the third game is not played.

SCORING.

2. A game consists of thirty points obtained by tricks alone, exclusive of any points counted for Honours, Chicane, Slam, Bonus, or Under-tricks.

3. Every hand is played out, and any points in excess of the thirty points necessary for the game are counted.

4. When the declarer ( vide Law 50) makes good his declaration by winning at least as many

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THE LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE.

tricks as he declared to win, each trick above 6 counts : —

2 points when. Spades are trumps.

4* „ „ Clubs „

6 „ „ Diamonds „

8 „ „ Hearts „

12 „ „ there are no trumps.

These values become respectively 4, 8, 12, 16, and 24 when the declaration has been doubled; and 8, 16, 24, 32, and 48 when the declaration has been re-doubled ( vide Law 56).

5. Honours consist of ace, king, queen, knave, and ten of the trump suit. When there are no trumps they consist of the four aces.

6. Honours in trump suits are thus reckoned : — If a player and his partner conjointly hold —

I. The five honours of the trump suit, they score for honours five times the value of the trump suit trick.

II. Any four honours of the trump suit, they score for honours four times the value of the trump suit trick.

III. Any three honours of the trump suit, they score for honours twice the value of the trump suit trick.

THE TAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE. 3

If a player in his own hand holds —

I. The five honours of the trump suit, he and his partner score for honours ten times the value of the trump suit trick.

II. Any four honours of the trump suit, he and his partner score for honours eight times the value of the trump suit trick ; and if his partner holds the fifth honour, nine times the value of the, trump suit trick.

The value of the trump suit trick referred to in this law is its original value — e.g., two points in spades and six points in diamonds; and the value of honours is in no way affected by any doubling or re-doubling.

7. Honours, when there are no trumps, are thus reckoned : —

If a player and his partner conjointly hold —

I. The four aces, they score for honours forty points.

II. Any three aces, they score for honours thirty points.

If a player in his own hand holds — -

The four aces, he and his partner score for honours one hundred points.

These values are in no way affected by doubling or re-doubling.

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8. Chicane is thus reckoned : —

If a player holds no trump, he and his partner score for Chicane twice the value of the trump suit trick. The value of Chicane is in no way affected by any doubling or re-doubling.

9. Slam is thus reckoned : —

If a player and his partner make, independently

of any tricks taken for the revoke penalty —

I. All thirteen tricks, they score for Grand Slam forty points.

II. Twelve tricks, they score for Little Slam twenty points.

10. Honours, Chicane, Slam, Bonus, and points for JJnder-tricks are reckoned in the score at the end of the rubber.

11. At, the end of the rubber, the tofal scores for Tricks, Honours, Chicane, Slam, Bonus, and Under-t ricks obtained by each player and his partner are added up, two hundred and fifty points are added to the score of the winners of the rubber, and the difference between the two scores is the ' number of points won, or lost, by^ the winners of the rubber.

1 2 . If an erroneous score affecting Tricks, Bonus, or Under-tricks be proved, such mistake may be corrected prior to the conclusion of the game in which it occurred, and such game is not concluded until the last card of the following deal has been dealt, or, in the case of the last game of the rubber, until the score has been made up and agreed.

13. If an erroneous score affecting Honours, Chicane, and Slam be proved, such mistake may be corrected at any time before the score of the rubber has been made up and agreed

CUTTING.

14. The ace is the lowest card.

15. In all cases, every player must cut from the same pack.

16. Should a player expose more than one card, he must cut again.

FORMATION OF TABLE.

17. If there are more than four candidates, the players are selected by cutting, the first six in the room having the right of belonging to the table, which is complete with six players. The candidates who cut the next lowest cards have a prior right to any after-comer to enter the table.

THE LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE.

1 8. The four who cut the lowest cards play the first rubber ; they cut for partners, and the two lowest play against the two highest. The lowest is the dealer, and he has choice of cards and seats, and, having once made his selection, must abide by it.

19. Two players cutting cards of equal value, unless such cards are the two highest, cut again;

hould they be the two lowest, a fresh cut is necessary to decide which of those two deals.

20. Three players cutting cards of equal value cut again ; should the fourth (or remaining) card be the highest, the two lowest of the new cut are partners, the lower of those two the dealer ; should the fourth card be the lowest, the two highest are partners, the original lowest the dealer.

CUTTING OUT.

21. At the end of a rubber, should admission be claimed by one, or two candidates, the player who has, or the players who have, played a greater number of consecutive rubbers than the others is, or are, out ; but when all have played the same number, they must cut to decide upon the out-goers; the highest are out. *

THE LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE.

ENTRY AND RE-ENTRY.

22. A candidate, whether he has played or not, can join a table which is not complete by declaring in at any time prior to any of the players having cut a card, either for the purpose of commencing a fresh rubber or of cutting out.

23. In the formation of fresh tables, the candidates who have neither belonged to nor played at any other table have the prior right of entry ; the others decide their right of admission by cutting.

24. Any one quitting a table prior to the conclusion of a rubber may, with consent of the other three players, appoint a substitute in his absence during that rubber

25. A player joining one table, whilst belonging to another, loses his right of re-entry into the latter, and takes his chance of cutting in, as if he were a fresh candidate.

26. If any one break up a table, the remaining players have the prior right to him of entry into any other; and should there not be sufficient vacancies at such other table to admit all those candidates, they settle their precedence by cutting.

SHUFFLING.

27. The pack must neither be shuffled below the table nor so that the face of any card can be seen.

28. The pack must not be shuffled during the play of the hand.

29. A pack, having been played with, must neither be shuffled by dealing it into packets, nor across the table.

30. Each player has a right to shuffle once only (except as provided by Law 33) prior to a deal, after a false cut, or when a new deal has occurred.

31. The dealer’s partner must collect the cards for the ensuing deal, and has the first right to shuffle that pack.

32. Each player, after shuffling, must place the cards, properly collected and face downwards, to the left of the player about to deal.

33. The dealer has always the right to shuffle last; but should a card or cards be seen during his shuffling, or whilst giving the pack to be cut, he may be compelled to re-shuffle.

THE LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE.

THE DEAL.

34. Each player deals in his turn ; the order of dealing goes to the left.

35. The player on the dealer’s right cuts the pack, and, in dividing it, must not leave fewer than four cards in either packet ; if in cutting, or in replacing one of the two packets on the other, a card be exposed, or if there be any confusion of the cards or a doubt as to the exact place in which the pack was divided, there must be a fresh cut.

36. When a player, whose duty it is to cut, has once separated the pack, he cannot alter his cut; moreover, he can neither re-shuffle nor re-cut the cards.

37. After the pack has been cut, should the dealer shuffle the cards, the pack must be cut again.

38. The fifty-two cards shall be dealt face downwards. The deal is not completed until the last card has been dealt face downwards. There is no misdeal.

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THE LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE.

A NEW DEAL.

39. There must be a new deal—

I. If, during a deal, or during the play of a hand, the pack be proved to be incorrect or imperfect.

II. If any card be faced in the pack.

III. Unless the cards are dealt into four

packets, one at a time and in regular rotation, beginning at the player to the dealer’s left.

IV. Should the last card not come in its regular

order to the dealer.

V. Should a player have more than thirteen cards, and any one or more of the others less than thirteen cards.

VI. Should the dealer deal two cards at once, or two cards to the same hand, and then deal a third ; but if, prior to dealing that card, the dealer can, by altering the position of one card only, rectify such error, he may do so.

VII. Should the dealer omit to have the pack cut to him, and the adversaries discover the error prior to the last card being dealt, and before looking at their cards.

THE LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE.

II

40. If, whilst dealing, a card be exposed by either of the dealer’s adversaries, the dealer or his partner may claim a new deal. A card similarly exposed by the dealer or his partner, gives the same claim to each adversary. The claim may not be ihade by a player who has, or whose partner has,, looked at any of his cards. If a new deal does not take place, the exposed card cannot be called.

41. If however, in dealing, one of the last cards be exposed, and the dealer has completed the deal before there is reasonable time to decide as to a fresh deal, the privilege is not thereby lost.

42. If the dealer, before he has dealt fifty-one cards, look at any card, his adversaries have a right to see it, and may exact a new deal.

43. Should three players have their right number of cards, and the fourth have less than thirteen, and not discover such deficiency until he has played any of his cards, the deal stands good; should he have played, he is answerable for any revoke he may have made, as if the missing card, or cards, had been in his hand ; he may search the other pack for it, or them.

44. If a pack, during or after a rubber, be proved incorrect or imperfect, such proof does not alter any past score, game, or rubber ; that hand in which the imperfection was detected is null and void, and the dealer must deal again.

THE LAWS OF AUCTION ERIDGE.

45. Any one dealing out of turn* or with the adversaries’ cards, may be stopped before the last card is dealt, otherwise the deal stands good, and the game must proceed as if no mistake has been made.

46. A player can neither shuffle, cut, nor deal for his partner without the permission of his opponents.

DECLARING TRUMPS.

47. The dealer having examined his hand, must declare to win at least the odd trick, but he may declare to win more. He must declare whether the hand shall be played with or without trumps; in the former case, he must name which suit shall be trumps. The lowest declaration he can make is “One Spade” — /.<?., he declares to win at least one odd trick, spades being trumps.

48. After the dealer has made his declaration, each player in turn, commencing with the player on the dealer’s left, has the right to make a higher declaration, or to double the last declaration made, or to re-double a declaration which has been doubled, subject to the provisions of Law 56, or to pass the last declaration. A declaration of a greater number of tricks in a suit of lower value, which equals the last declaration in value of points, shall be considered a higher declaration— e.g., a declaration of “Two Spades” is a. higher declaration than “One Club,” and “Two Diamonds” is higher than “One No Trump.”

49. A player in his turn may overbid the previous declaration any number of times, and may also overbid his partner, but he cannot overbid his own declaration which has been passed by the other three players. When the final declaration has been made — i.e., when the last declaration has been passed by the other three players — the player who made such declaration (or in the case where both partners have made declarations in the same suit, or of “No Trumps,” the player who made the first of such declarations) shall play the combined hands of himself and of his partner, the latter becoming Dummy.

50. When the player of the two hands (hereinafter termed “the declarer”) wins at least as many tricks as he declared to do, he scores the full value of the tricks won (see Laws 2 and 4). When he fails, his adversaries score fifty points for each under-trick — i.e., each trick short of the number declared ; or, if the declaration has been doubled, or re -doubled, one hundred or two hundred re spectively for each under-trick ; neither the declarer nor his adversaries score anything towards the game.

51. The loss to the declarer on the declaration of “One Spade” shall be limited to one hundred points in respect of under-tricks, whether doubled or not, unless either he or his partner have re-doubled.

52. If a player make a declaration (other than passing) out of turn, the adversary on his left may demand a new deal, or may allow the declaration so made to stand, when the bidding shall continue as if the declaration had been in order.

53. If a player, in bidding, fail to declare a sufficient number of tricks to overbid the previous declaration, he shall be considered to have declared the requisite number of tricks in the bid which he has made, provided that the number of tricks shall not exceed seven; and his partner shall be debarred from making any further declaration, unless either of his adversaries make a higher declaration or double. If, however, such insufficient declaration be accepted by the next player passing it, or doubling it, or by making a higher declaration, no rectification can be made.

54. After the final declaration has been made, a player is not entitled to give his partner any information as to a previous declaration, whether made by himself or by either adversary; but a player is entitled to inquire, at any time during the play of the hand, wnat was the final declaration.

THE LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE.

DOUBLING AND RE-DOUBLING.

55. The effect of doubling and re-doubling is that the value of each trick over six is doubled or quadrupled, as provided in Law 4 ; but it does not alter the value of a declaration— <?.£•., a declaration of “Two Clubs” is higher than “One Heart,” although the heart declaration has been doubled.

56. Any declaration can be doubled and re-doubled once, but not more ; a player cannot double his partner’s declaration, or re-double his partner’s double, but he may re-double a declaration of his partner’s which has been doubled by his adversaries.

57. The act of doubling, or re-doubling, re-opens the bidding. When a declaration has been doubled, or re-doubled, any player, including the player whose declaration has been doubled, or whose double has been re-doubled, can in his proper turn make a further declaration of higher value.

58. When a player whose declaration has been doubled, makes good his declaration by winning at ieast the declared number of tricks, he scores a bonus which consists of 50 points for winning the number of tricks declared, and 50 points for each additional trick he may win. If he or his partner have re-doubled, the bonus is doubled.

THE LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE.

59. If a player double out of turn, the adversary on his left may demand a new deal.

60. When the final declaration has been made (see Law 49), the play shall begin, and the player on the left of the declarer shall lead.

61. A declaration once made cannot be altered, except as provided by Law 53.

'DUMMY.

62. As soon as a card is led by the eldest hand, i.e.j the player on the left of the declarer, the declarer’s partner shall place his cards face upwards on the table, and the duty of playing the cards from that hand, which is called Dummy, and of claiming and enforcing any penalties arising during the hand, shall devolve upon the declarer, unassisted by his partner.

63. Before placing his card's upon the table, the declarer’s partner has all the rights of a player, but after so doing shall take no part whatever in the play, except that he has the right : —

(a) To ask the declarer whether he has any

of a suit which he may have renounced ;

(b) To call the declarer’s attention to the

fact that too many or too few cards have been played to a trick ;

(c) To correct the claim of either adversary

to a penalty to which the latter is not

entitled ;

(d) To call attention to the fact that a trick

has been wrongly gathered by either side ;

(e) To participate in the discussion of any

disputed question of fact, or of law ;

(/) To correct an erroneous score.

If he call attention to any other incident in the play of the hand, in respect of which any penalty might be exacted, the fact that he has done so shall deprive the declarer of the right of exacting such penalty against his adversaries

64. If the declarer s partner, by touching a card, or otherwise, suggest the play of a card from Dummy, either of the adversaries may, but without consulting with his partner, call upon the declarer to play or not to play the card suggested.

65. When the declarer draws a card, either from his own hand or from Dummy, such card is not considered as played until actually quitted.

66. A card once played, or named by the declarer as to be played from his own hand or from Dummy, cannot be taken back, except to save a revoke.

67. The declarer’s partner may not look over his adversaries’ hands, nor leave his seat for the purpose of watching his partner’s play.

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68. Dummy is not liable to any penalty for a revoke, as his adversaries see bis cards. Should he revoke, and the error not be discovered until the trick is turned and quitted, the trick stands good.

69. The declarer is not liable to any penalty for an error whence he can gain no advantage. Thus, he may expose some, or all of his cards, without incurring any penalty.

EXPOSED CARDS.

70. If all the cards have been dealt, and before the final declaration has been made, any player expose a card from his hand, the adversary on his left may demand a new deal. If the deal be allowed to stand, the exposed card may be taken up and cannot be called.

71. If, after the final declaration has been made, and before a card is led, the partner of the player who has to lead to the first trick exposes a card from his hand, the declarer may, instead of calling the card, require the leader not to }ead {he suit of the exposed card.

CARDS LIABLE TO BE CALLED.

72. All cards exposed by the declarer’s adversaries are liable to be called, and must be left face upwards on the table ; but £ card is not an exposed card when dropped on the floor, or elsewhere below the table.

73. The following are exposed cards: —

I. Two or more cards played at once.

II. Any card dropped with its face upwards, or in any way exposed on or above the table, even though snatched up so quickly that no one can name it.

74. If either of the declarer’s adversaries play to an imperfect trick the best card on the table, or lead one which is a winning card as against the declarer and his partner, and then lead again, without waiting for his partner to play, or play several such winning cards, one after the other, without waiting for his partner to play, the latter may be called on to win, if he can, the first or any other of those tricks, and the other cards thus improperly played are exposed cards.

75. Should the declarer indicate that all or any of the remaining tricks are his, he may be required to place his cards face upwards on the table; but they are not liable to be called.

76. If either of the declarer’s adversaries throws his cards on the table face upwards, such cards are exposed, and liable to be called by the declarer.

77. If all the players throw their cards on the table face upwards, the hands are abandoned, and the score must be left as claimed and c 2

THE LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE.

admitted. The hands may be examined for the purpose of establishing a revoke, but for no other purpose.

78. A card detached from the rest of the hand of either of the declarer’s adversaries, so as to be named, is liable to be called ; but should the declarer name a wrong card, he is liable to have a suit called when first he or his partner have the lead.

79. If a player, who has rendered himself liable to have the highest or lowest of a suit called, or to win or not to win a trick, fail to play as desired, though able to do so, or if when called on to lead one suit, lead another, having in his hand one or more cards of that suit demanded, he incurs the penalty of a revoke.

80. If either ot the declarer’s adversaries lead out of turn, the declarer may call a suit from him or his partner when it is next the turn of either of them to lead, or may call the card erroneously led.

81. If the declarer lead out of turn, either from his own hand or from Dummy, he incurs no penalty ; but he may not rectify the error after the second hand has played, unless called upon by either adversary to do so.

82. If any player lead out of turn, and the other three have followed him, the trick is complete, and the error cannot be rectified; but if only the second, or the second and third, have played to the false lead, their cards, on discovery of the mistake, can be taken back ; and there is no penalty against any one, excepting the original offender, and then only when he is one of the declarer’s adversaries.

83. In no case can a player be compelled to play a card which would oblige him to revoke.

84. The call of a card may be repeated until such card has been played.

85. If a player called on to lead a suit have none of it, the penalty is paid.

CARDS PLAYED IN ERROR, OR NOT PLAYED TO A TRICK.

86. Should the third hand not have played, and the fourth play before his partner, the latter (not being Dummy or his partner) may be called on to win, or not to win, the trick.

87. If any one (not being Dummy) omit playing to a former trick, and such error be not discovered until he has played to the next, the adversaries may claim a new deal; should they decide that the deal stands good, or should Dummy have omitted to play to a former trick, and such error

THE LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE.

be not discovered till he shall have played to the next, the surplus card at the end of the hand is considered to have been played to the imperfect trick, but does not constitute a revoke therein.

88. If any one play two cards to the same trick, or mix a card with a trick to which it does not properly belong, and the mistake be not discovered until the hand is played out, he (not being Dummy) is answerable for all consequent revokes he may have made. If, during the play of the hand, the error be detected, the tricks may be counted face downwards, in order to ascertain whether there be among them a card too many : should this be the case they may be searched, and the card restored ; the player (not being Dummy) is, however, liable for all revokes which he may have meanwhile made.

THE REVOKE

89. Is when a player (other than Dummy), holding one or more cards of the suit led, plays a card of a different suit.

90. The penalty for each revoke shall be : —

(a) When the declarer revokes, his adversaries shall score 150 points in addition to any penalty which he may have incurred for not making good his declaration.

THE LAWS OF AUCTION' ERIDGE.

(/>) When either of the adversaries revoke, the declarer may score 150 points, or may take three tricks from his opponents and add them to his own. Such tricks taken as a penalty may assist the declarer to make good his declaration, but they shall not entitle him to score any bonus in the case of the declaration having been doubled or re-doubled.

The penalty of 150 points is not affected by doubling or re-doubling.

In no circumstances can partners score anything except for honours or Chicane on a hand in which one of them has revoked.

91. A revoke is established, if the trick in which it occurs has been turned and quitted — -i.e. 9 the hand removed from that trick after it has been turned face downwards on the table — or if either the revoking player or his partner, whether in his right turn or otherwise, lead or play to the following trick.

92. A player may ask his partner whether he has not a card of the suit which he has renounced ; should the question be asked before the trick is turned and quitted, Subsequent turning and quitting does not establish the revoke, and the error may be corrected, unless the question be answered in the negative, or unless the revoking player or his partner have led or played to the following trick.

93. At the end of the hand, the claimants of a revoke may search all the tricks.

94. If a player discover his mistake in time to save a revoke, any player or players who have played after him may withdraw their cards and substitute others, and their cards withdrawn are not liable to be called. If the player in fault be one of the declarer’s adversaries, the declarer may call the card thus played in error, or may require him to play his highest or lowest card to that trick in which he has renounced.