iEs Iff0 wj.r C\2. ~ ~I " "' ZiSi;iirrtrii rHE ortVrSi U U lIcI F?SH:rTHE LlRAEYt c ADWARD A. BARNUI THE GIFT OF MRS. BARNARD PIERCE H MRS. CARL HAESSLER MRS. HOWARD LUCE MISS MARGARET KNIGHT,. _e. N - N& 11. I IL I I A CONTRACT BRIDGE I 0 I i SIDNEY S. LENZ SIMON & SCHUSTER NEW YORK I927 i I ---- - -ft - - IN Copyright, 1927, by SIMON & SCHUSTER, INC. M&ANUFACTURBD IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BY THE VAIL-SALLOU PRESS, INC., DINOHAXTOH, N. T. S- 3 -v / INTRODUCTION Whether Contract will supersede Auction Bridge remains to be seen. The outstanding feature of Contract is unquestionably a sound and vital improvement over Auction. It is entirely logical to deny the right to score towards game any points that a player is unwilling to bid for. To this innovation, however, other elements are appended that tend to bring about decided changes in the old form of game. Whist and Bridge players will have little difficulty in quickly grasping the fundamentals of Contract play. The new game more amply rewards the skilful player who is able to accurately estimate the trick valuation of a hand and then to play the cards for the maximum number of tricks that are obtainable. Should the player discover that Contract lacks something of the quick-action and simplicity that he finds in Auction and return to his first love, even then the study of the new game cannot help but be of material benefit in advancing the standard of his bidding and play. SIDNEY S. LENZ New York April, 1927 CONTENTS OHAPTER PASE I THE OFFICIAL LAWS..... 1 II SCORING ANALYSIS.......9 III BIDDING REQUIREMENTS.... 15 IV OPPOSING BIDS.........22 V BIDDING SLAMS AT CONTRACT BRIDGE..28 VI THE CHALLENGE....... 34 VII CO-ORDINATION......... 41 VIII BIDDING TWO-SUITERS...47 IX No TRUMP BIDDING...... 53 X TE SPARTAN.... 59 XI AGAINST THE BEST DEFENSE.. 66 XII VARIOUS SCORING SYSTEMS.....74 THE LAWS or AUCTION BRIDGEE... 91 I CHAPTER I THE OFFICIAL LAWS THE new game of Contract Bridge is not a new game at all. Over ten years ago it was acclaimed in these United States as the game of the century. At that time the authorities who made the official laws of Auction Bridge fully reviewed the advantages-and disadvantages-of the contract form of game and finally decided not to give it official recognition. Very much like our great artists of the operatic stage and the galleries, it was essential to obtain a European endorsement of this American game before it received much serious consideration at home. Taken up in France, England and in South America as an improved method of Bridge, it, as a matter of course, came home to roost and now is becoming exceedingly popular with many Auction devotees, especially among the society folk. That Contract will eventually supersede Auction is hardly likely. While it has many features of superiority, it also has its defects. Un1 2 CONTRACT BRIDGE doubtedly, it will have its vogue for a time and in some centers take the place of the older game, as did the ill-fated game of Mah Jongg, but Auction Bridge will probably be with us as long as the poor -and the poor players-endure. The principal points of differences between Contract and Auction are covered by three things. First: At Contract Bridge only the number of tricks that are bid may be scored towards winning the game. Second: When Little Slam or Grand Slam is bid and the contract is successful, the bonuses allowed run from 500 to 1500 points. Third: The Rewards and Penalties are greatly increased, and when a side wins one game, it becomes "vulnerable" and all penalties are doubled. For a time it appeared that Contract was doomed to perish miserably because of the many cooks who were tinkering with the broth. Players of good ability and players of limited experience "invented" pet counts and refused to play any method but their own. Over a dozen different systems of counting have been advocated and published, tending to greatly confuse players who would have been glad to study a single method that had the endorsement of an authoritative club. Having in view the object of a standard and universal system of counts, the Knickerbocker Whist Club of New York formulated and adopted the following rules of Contract Bridge. THE OFFICIAL LAWS 3 Official Rules of CONTRACT BRIDGE AS FORMULATED BY THE KNICKERBOCKER WHIST CLUB OF NEW YORK Adopted On January 25th, 1927 PREFACE Contract Bridge, as its name implies, is a variation of Auction Bridge, the chief difference being that the Declarer can score towards game only the number of tricks he contracts to win. Two Spades, bid and made, allows the Declarer to score two tricks only in the trick column, regardless of the number of tricks won. Should Declarer have bid two Spades and made four, the two contracted for are scored below the line in the trick column, the two additional tricks are scored above the line in the honor column. Contract has been played in Europe for the last ten years. In the United States it is comparatively new, and like all new games, it is not yet standardized. In framing the present code, the Card Committee gave careful consideration to the several American counts in vogue and also to the existing European count. The socalled Vanderbilt count of 20 points per trick for clubs and diamonds, 30 points for spades and hearts and 35 points for no trump, together with a game value of 100 points, had much to recommend it but, if adopted, it 4 CONTRACT BRIDGE..... z. -..............,,,u:-.... meant a new game rather than an added feature of the present game of Auction. By retaining the present Auction values for tricks and games the Committee feels that it has provided Contract players with a way to play their game without in any way detracting from the present game. As the code now reads, it makes Contract an added feature of Auction and one that can be learned and adopted by Auction players without much trouble. The bonus and penalty points have also followed those of Auction as closely as possible and wherever possible have been made consistent. The only changes made are those rendered necessary by the large premiums placed on slams. It has been found that players will take unusual chances to prevent a slam being made and to cure this "flag flying," the Committee increased the penalties very considerably after the third trick. The revoke penalty has also been changed to fit in with the larger values of the tricks. The "vulnerable" feature of the game may be omitted by agreement, if any particular group so decides. It undoubtedly adds much interest to the game and makes it much more exciting. Like all novelties, however, it may or may not take with the public. In conclusion, the Committee feels that the present code is the best possible under present conditions and recommends its adoption by Contract players generally. CARD COMMITTEE, KNICKERBOCKER WHIST CLUB. THE OFFICIAL LAWS s LAWS OF CONTRACT AUCTION BRIDGE Adopted, Issued and Copyrighted by the KNICKERBOCKER WHIST CLUB. (Copyright, 1927.) The Laws of Auction Bridge govern Contract Auction with the following amendments and exceptions: ODD TRICE VALUES. 1. Odd Trick values are the same as in regular Auction, viz.: No trump................ 10 Spades................ 9 Hearts....... 8 Diamonds 7 Clubs................... 6 Doubling doubles these values: redoubling multiplies them by four, as in regular Auction. 2. When Declarer fulfills his contract, his side scores in the trick column only the number of odd tricks named in his contract (whether undoubled, doubled, or redoubled). Tricks made in excess of his contract are scored in the honor column of his side. See Law 9. GAME. 3. As in regular Auction, 30 points in the trick column are required for a game. 6 CONTRACT BRIDGE GAME BONUS. 4. The winner of any game, whether first, second, or third, scores a bonus of 200 points in the honor column. RUBBER BoNUs. 5. As in regular Auction, when one side has won two games, the rubber is completed. The side which has won two games scores a bonus of 300 points in its honor score in addition to the bonuses for each of the two games it Las won. HONOR VALUES. 6. The following honor values are scored. As in regular Auction, honor values are unaffected by doubling or redoubling. At a trump declaration, four honors in one hand....100 " " l five honors in one hand.....150 At No Trump, four Aces in one hand.............150 "VULNERABLE" OR DANGER ZONE. 7. A side that has won a game on the rubber is said to be "vulnerable." When a vulnerable side assumes the contract, all penalty and bonus points are increased. See Laws 8 and 9. A side having no game on the rubber is said to be "invulnerable." When both sides are vulnerable, penalty and bonus points are increased for both sides. (The vulnerable feature of the game may be omitted by agreement.) THE OFFICIAL LAWS 7 BONUS FOR FULFILLING CONTRACT. 8. When Declarer fulfills his contract, he scores a bonus in the honor column, as follows: When invulnerable, if undoubled.............. 0 " 3if doubled................ 50 L" if redoubled..............100 When vulnerable, if undoubled................ 0 " if doubled..................100 6" if redoubled................200 BONUS FOR OVERTRICKS. 9. For any tricks made in excess of his contract, the Declarer scores a bonus in the honor column, as follows: When invulnerable, if undoubled, for each overtrick....... 50 t" if doubled " "........100 " if redoubled " ".......200 When vulnerable, if undoubled, for each overtrick..........100 if doubled..........200 " if redoubled " "..........400 PENALTY FOR UNDERTRICKS. 10. If Declarer fails to fulfill his contract, he scores nothing whatsoever except honors, if held, and the opponents score for undertricks as follows: If Declarer is invulnerable: If undoubled, for each undertrick.................. 50 If doubled, for first three undertricks (each)............ 100 If doubled, for fourth undertrick......................200 If doubled, for all subsequent undertricks (each).......400 8 CONTRACT BRIDGE If redoubled, for first three undertricks (each)............200 If redoubled, for fourth undertrick......................400 If redoubled, for all subsequent undertricks (each)........800 If Declarer is vulnerable: If undoubled, for each undertrick........................100 If doubled, for first three undertricks (each).............200 If doubled, for fourth undertrick........................400 If doubled, for all subsequent undertricks (each)........800 If redoubled, for first three undertricks (each)............400 If redoubled, for fourth undertrick......................800 If redoubled, for all subsequent undertricks (each)......1600 SLAM BONUS. 11. No bonus is allowed for a slam made but not bid. When a slam is bid and made, the Declarer scores a bonus as follows: When invulnerable, for Little Slam............ 500 <" for Grand Slam...........1000 When vulnerable, for Little Slam.............. 750 ". for Grand Slam............1500 These bonuses are the same whether the contract is undoubled, doubled, or redoubled. When Little Slam is bid and Grand Slam made, there is no extra bonus over the bonuses for Little Slam and for extra trick. If a Grand Slam is bid and a Little Slam is made, there is no bonus for the Little Slam. REVOKE PENALTY. 12. The penalty for the first revoke is two tricks, as in regular Auction. The penalty for each subsequent revoke is 100 points in the adverse honor column. CHAPTER II SCORING ANALYSIS T HAT the outstanding feature of Contract is the elimination of cheap Auction bargains, quickly dawns upon the new player. To stop short of bidding for game, when the cards warrant such a bid, is a lost opportunity that is bound to count heavily against the player. At Auction, if sufficient tricks are won, the game may be scored, irrespective of the number of tricks bid, while at Contract, only the number of tricks that are bid may be scored towards the game. Unquestionably, this innovation brings added interest into the game, especially on the hands that appear to have game possibilities and the hands that seem to be on the slam border-line. At Auction, the big hands that are good for slams, are the least interesting. Only rarely can the adversaries enter into the competition, and to the true sportsman, there is little fun in making a large score without any element of risk. It is very much like shooting tigers in a cage. In Contract play, the partner of the eventual Declarant has considerable more duties to perform than a 10 CONTRACT BRIDGE at Auction. To "jump" the partner's bid and sit back and watch him make a slam is a simple thing at Auction, while at Contract, with the tremendous bonuses for slam in prospective, it requires a nicety of judgment and a fine sense of card values to properly gauge a hand before venturing into the depths of slam bidding. When the rubber game is being played and the partnership happens to be the possessor of a big hand that is practically certain of game, the large reward for bidding slams often gives the meek enemy a chance, even without making a single bid, to not only save the rubber but to gather in a sizable penalty. The worst drawback of Contract is the premium it gives to the expert player. It is all very well to say platitudinously that that is as it should be, but a great many Auction lovers have not the time or the inclination to make a close study of Bridge and yet they succeed in holding their own because of their natural shrewdness and good, common sense. At Contract this will hardly be enough to carry them through, unless they seek their playing level in opponents, something rather difficult in Club play. A player whose game is fair, always seems to yearn for competition against the best players he can find. Another bad feature of Contract for Club play is the length of time it takes to play a rubber. It requires about twice the time to play a rubber than SCORING ANALYSIS 11 it does at Auction and when a player must wait an hour or more for the privilege of cutting into the game, it is apt to be disheartening. Whether the good qualities of Contract will be sufficiently strong to overcome its defects, can only be decided after the game has had a thorough trial. In analyzing and comparing the scoring, it will be noted that all overtricks are scored in the honor column, at the rate of fifty points for each trick made above the number bid for. If a player obtains the contract at "one Club," and succeeds in making eleven tricks, he scores six points towards game and two hundred points above the line for the four tricks won over the contract. If he made all thirteen tricks, the score below the line would still remain at six and three hundred would go in the honor column. The slam would be nil because it was not bid. When the player has won a game, so that winning another game will mean the rubber, he becomes vulnerable and all scores for overtricks and penalties are doubled. It is apparent that if only one side is a game in, that side becomes vulnerable, while the enemy is merely liable for single penalties and likewise receives but single bonuses. On the rubber game, both sides are vulnerable. Doubling and redoubling increase the score, bonus or penalty, double or quadruple, and the vulnerable feature is, in effect, similar to an extra automatic redouble. It might be well to point out here that it is not 12 CONTRACT BRIDGE necessarily the best procedure to obtain the contract at the highest bid that can be safely made. With an advanced score, it is especially advantageous to win the auction as cheaply as possible, provided the number of tricks bid will secure the game. Having a score of 24 on the rubber game, it would be advisable to refrain from overcalling the partner's bid of one Club, even with an exceedingly excellent hand. If the contract went to five Clubs and exactly eleven tricks could be won, the number of points that could be scored would be 30 for tricks, 200 for the game and 300 for the rubber. Played at one Club, 6 points only would go below the line, but as that would be sufficient to land the game, 200 and 300 would be scored as before and 400 points in addition for the four overtricks. This, to me, seems hardly an equitable arrangement and the scaling down of the bonus for overtricks would doubtless tend to improve the game. Unquestionably, as Contract is played more and more in this country, an early revision of the laws will be found necessary. It is far better to play a standard and universal code of laws, even if not wholly perfect, than to decide upon a method from the dozen or more that are played in different parts of the World and for this reason the new Laws of the Knickerbocker Whist Club will be a boon to Contract players everywhere. The graduated penalties inflicted for contracts SCORING ANALYSIS 13 that have been doubled are a necessary adjunct to the game of Contract. It is apparent that, without a curb of this kind, "flag-flying" would be rife. With a possible Grand Slam on the rubber game forecast by the bidding, the score for slam, game and rubber bonus alone is worth 2,000 points. This does not take into account the score for tricks and possible honors, together with the more important point of the chance remaining to win the saved rubber by the other side. Without penalties, that really "strafe," there would be no restraining wild bidders. To score a Grand Slam in a minor suit would be next to impossible. Even with the high penalties under the Knickerbocker Whist Club laws, a set of six tricks on a doubled, vulnerable contract, would be only 2600 points. This would possibly appear insufficient were it not that a Grand Slam contract is not assured merely because it is bid and if the slam were there, the penalty might be more than six tricks-at 800 points for each additional trick. When the contract is not doubled, then the penalties do not become increasingly more profitable. This is a fair rule, as it forces the player to emulate the Royal Mounted of Canada and go get his man. Penalties that accrue from misfit hands, rather than from the result of flagrant overbidding, should not be so heavily punished. With a game that runs into such large figures, it was not thought worth-while to bother with the honors, unless at least four were in // 14 CONTRACT BRIDGE one hand, for which 100 points are credited. Holding five honors in one hand, or the four Aces at No Trumps is worth 150 points. Lesser honors or four Aces divided are not scored at all, and slams that are made but not bid receive no official recognition. As 200 points are given for each game, it will be noted that there is a difference in winning the rubber in two games instead of three. When three games are necessary for the rubber, the losing side obtains 200 points for their game, so the winners net but 500 points. Winning the rubber in two games is worth 700 points, CHAPTER III BIDDING REQUIREMENTS ORIGINAL BIDS O the important features of Auction Bridge -that of winning the game and obtaining penalties-is added at Contract, the slambidding possibilities. Any novice may occasionally pick up a hand that is good for twelve or thirteen tricks, and without further ado bid the limit and succeed in making it. For every such hand, possibly twenty may be found that will produce the same result by scientific and strategical bidding, and with the minimum chance of incurring a loss. Much of the difference in bidding between Auction and Contract results from the slam contingency. The minimum requirements for an original bid at Auction are variously given by different authorities, as being from two to three quick tricks. At Contract, two and a half tricks should be the lowest starting point, except when extraordinary distribution seems to necessitate a preemptive bid. The original two bid, considered a bete noir at Auction, is doubtless the most important bid at Contract. 15 16 CONTRACT BRIDGE Holding four cards to the Ace-King, with an Ace on the side, or five to the Ace-King with a side King, should be an opening bid either first or second hand. With a less number than four cards of the suit, or a lesser quick-trick value, the hand does not warrant a bid. This is so because the partner, more so than the adversaries, will, in the endeavor to score game, get the side into difficulties. Contract players who persist in making weak opening bids against expeienced players, will continually be in hot water When the partner is not sufficiently strong to raise the bid to two, it should be apparent to a strong fourth-hand that something is wrong in Denmark, Bridgehampton and adjacent parts With an exceptional hand, the original bid would probably have been more than one; so, the way is clear for a leg on the rubber, or a couple of teeth from the enemy. And, it should always be remembered that at Contract the teeth grow as big as do the potatoes in Kansas. The original bid of two should only be used to show a dominating hand, one that will probably land the game, with only fair support from the partner and the opening wedge for a slam contract, if the cards happen to fit.With a six card suit to the AceKing and a side Ace, or a five-card suit headed by the four top honors and a side trick, two tricks in suit should be bid/Two No Trumps as an opening bid should be made when the hand is worth four BIDDING REQUIREMENTS 17 tricks with the distributional values that feature a bid of one No Trump. An opening bid of three or more is very much similar to the usual preemptive bid at Auction. The game going possibilities are based to a large extent upon the partner's holding. If the partner is a bit generous the game should be won, but when the partner's holding is of little value, then the probable penalty that will be incurred is compensated for by thegain made in saving the game. SHolding a seven card suit to the King-Queen, with a trick in side suit, seems to amply justify a preemptive bidy While a bid of this kind stands a good chance for the game when the partner can support it, the chance for a slam bid is not so great as with the two bid. This point should be stressed as the neophyte finds it difficult to understand why the higher bid should not be a better nucleus for slam bidding. fit usually requires an overwhelming hand to bid a slam over the partner's preemptive call, unless the Ace-x is held of partner's suit) THE PARTNER'S RESPONSE When the original one bid is not overcalled by the following player, the partner has three things to consider. He must pass, assist or shift to some other call. One duty that he is relieved of, that is a necessary part of Auction, is that of making a denial bid. 18 CONTRACT BRIDGE The mere routine passing is sufficient denial. Inability to raise the bid or make some other declaration shows that, as far as the partner is concerned, the game is practically hopeless on that deal. At a love score, with the game not possible, it is considerably more profitable to obtain the contract at one, than at two or three, as each overtrick above the line is worth 50 or 100 points, while the tricks below are worth but 10 points at the most. Shifting the partner's bid is, therefore, never made entirely on account of weakness in the suit bid by partner. In addition to such implied weakness, there should be top-card strength in the suit named, or general strength if No Trump is bid. When the partner's one-trick bid is assisted to two, then there is at least a glimmer of the hope that lies eternal in the hopechest. Naturally, more stuff is required than at Auction to make even one assist, because the partner, if he holds more than his bid has shown, will probably make another bid. When, by slow degrees, the partners arrive at a game contract, with both taking chances on minimum bids, possibly encouraged by the apparent timidity of the opponents, there is very apt to be a squall at the finish-followed by a squawk. It is not safe to put too much trust in the enemy, who at times, are passing strange. It is always well to bear in mind that, unless a rebid by the partner is really desired, a one trick call should not be supported. Should the player hold BIDDING REQUIREMENTS 19 cards that appear good for the game, an immediate raise of two or more tricks is essential. With a raise of one, the original bidder cannot continue, if he has little more than has been shown by the opening bid. If the bid is jumped two tricks, then, unless his bid was started on a minimum holding the chance for game may be taken. Should the player hold cards that offer a fair chance for a possible slam, a jump to five is the proper thing. Such a bid conveys the information that a small slam rests upon the ability of the original bidder to produce a trick more than his bid has promised and if the "produce business" is good the time to step out is at hand. The player who is afraid to venture at Contract is attempting to play the wrong game. A more suitable diversion for such players is, "A Ring around a Rosie." Responding to the partner's original two bid, is an entirely different matter. At a love score, it is practically certain that fourth-hand will not disturb such a bid, so it is incumbent upon third-hand to keep the ball rolling, unless his hand is distinctly negligible. Holding but one trick is sufficient to raise the declaration to three. Lelia Hattersley, the well known Contract teacher, aptly designates this as a "courtesy raise." Whether the partner has designs on a slam or merely hopes for the game cannot be determined until the bidding has progressed. Should the two bidder raise the declaration to four in another suit, then the slam sig 20 CONTRACT BRIDGE nals are waving An opening two Spade bid, raised to three by the partner and to four by the original bidder, should close the partnership bidding, unless an exceptional hand is with the partner. If, instead of four Spades, the declaration is shifted to four in any other suit, it does not show a two-suiter, but merely that the side tricks are in the second-suit. It is obvious that the partner can bid the four Spades just as well as the original bidder and the important information is given that the enemy cannot take an immediate trick in the second suit. Of course, if the partner has merely a courtesy raise, he immediately goes to four Spades and nothing has been won-or lost-by the slight diversion. Should, however, another suit be shown, then the hand at once enters into slam possibilities. This phase of the bidding will be more easily learned by following closely the illustrative hands. It must be borne in mind that, when a two trick bid has been supported, a subsequent shift by the original bidder does not show a two suiter, as might be the case with an original one trick call. Likewise, when the partner has assisted a two trick bid, a later bid may be made, even in the adversaries' suit, without desiring a change from the original suit. The endeavor is simply to show where the side tricks are located so that a slaih can be bid if the combined hands should fit in well. When the bidding starts with a preemptive bid of three or more, it does not necessarily mean a bet BIDDING REQUIREMENTS 21 ter chance for slams, than if the opening bid was only two. Preemptive bids usually lack the Ace of the suit bid, or very little quick-trick side strength. Holding three Aces, when the partner starts with a call of three Spades, would seem to warrant a bid of five Spades. The immediate raise to a small slam would require three to the Ace of Spades, with two side Aces and a second round stopper in the fourth suit. A missing suit with fair trump strength, is generally the best response to a preemptive bid from the partner. When the partner bids for game on the opening declaration, the opportunity for slams should not be overlooked. Holding excellent support for a one No Trump bid, five or six should be called if partner opens with three No Trumps. So, with an opening bid of five in a major suit, the inference is clear that the game is not enough on that deal, if the partner has his voice and-something more. CHAPTER IV OPPOSING BIDS AFTER an opening bid of one, Second Hand need not become wildly perturbed. While an overcall in this position does not show the quick-trick values of an original bid, it should denote considerably more than a similar bid in Auction. It rarely pays to take chances on weak hands, unless the enemy have a partial score on the game. When the adversaries are chronic overbidders, it is often good strategy to permit them plenty of bidding rope. At Auction, a one trick contract may happen to fit exactly right, and win the game, while at Contract the game cannot be won unless it is bid. To expect game on every hand that would land the game at double-dummy is asking too much, and yet many players are rendered perfectly miserable when they bid short of the game that they might have made. It is much better to lose an occasional hand than to be continually penalized in trying for games that are not in the cards. The Contract player who is able to pick eighty per cent df the games that might be made by double22 OPPOSING BIDS 23 dummy play, is getting his full quota of hits, and ought to be well satisfied with his batting average. Second Hand, after the dealer has passed, should require the same quick-trick values for an opening bid, as the dealer. The slight shading of values permitted in Auction in this position is hardly sound, because the dealer does not disclaim a holding of two tricks by his pass. An overcall of the dealer's onetrick bid can be made on a hand containing two tricks, especially when the hand is very weak in two suits. It may well be, that when the second opportunity to bid arrives, the Auction may be up to two or three No Trumps, the initial No Trump being bid by Third Hand. With the partner probably opening one of the worthless suits, a lost game seems certain, while a directive bid, before it became too expensive, might have saved it, either by choking off the No Trump or the immediate lead of the long suit. Bidding three No Trumps, after the adversaries have shown a suit, is quite different from bidding one, even when the contract of three can be fulfilled. Opening the bidding Fourth Hand without a fair chance of making game, does not seem like good tactics' The lucky shot may come off, but the 26 cards with the opponents against the 13 cards with the partner, make it bad odds to fight. When both adversaries have bid, and the partner has passed, it re 24 CONTRACT BRIDGE quires a real hand to enter the fray. In such circumstances a weak bid is very likely to be heavily penalized. Trying to save the rubber is very laudable, but a five-trick penalty, striking a vulnerable spot, means a matter of 1800 points. Hardly to be sneezed at, which might be interpreted as meaning that even slight colds should not be trifled with. An oft-occurring situation is where an opposing non-game-going bid is passed by Third Hand. The question is whether reopening the bidding, or saving the game by passing, is the best procedure of Fourth Hand. Holding proper cards for a sound bid, the player should not be frightened by the game losing bugaboo. The enemy have tried, but apparently their hands did not fit, and Fourth Hand should not hesitate to give the partner a chance. When, however, the question arises of bidding in this position on a doubtful hand, it is usually better to let well enough alone. To reopen the bidding and then have the opponents bid for game —and make it-shows poor generalship. This is especially so when the opening bid is a two-trick contract. A striking example of what a poor fourth-hand bid can accomplish was illustrated recently in a game where the dealer opened with a bid of two Clubs. Third Hand did not think that his hand was quite strong enough to give even one assist, but Fourth Hand, having no respect for sleep OPPOSING BIDS 25 ing dogs, ventured a bid of two Hearts. The dealer, who had started with hopes of a slam, was not hard put to rebid and now Third Hand assisted. Fourth Hand was quite through, but the impetus he was responsible for could not be stopped. The enemy went to a little slam, and had little difficulty inmaking it. ( An important phase of Contract is waiting in ambush for credulous players. The opportune time seems to come to Fourth Hand, when First Hand has opened with one in a minor suit, and Third Hand bids a No Trump. It is curious hib often such bidding develops into a contract of three No Trumps. If Fourth Hand, with fair cards, and the opening lead, has been able to restrain himself until doubling time arrives, the adversaries have little chance to extricate themselves. Of course, the fault lies mainly with the original bidder. The partners' oe No Trump should not be taken too seriously( Should Third Hand have bid two No Trump, the assist to three will rarely get in trouble if theopening bidder has more than shown by his first bid.) At Contract, the proper play of the cards is of the utmost importance, because a trick lost or won usually is the difference between taking a penalty or winning the game. On the following deal, it required good defensive play to save the game on a hand that was properly bid: 26 CONTRACT BRIDGE * A J 10 5 4 2 4 Q3 4 9 5 NOR4 2 95 J5J42 Y K 10 9 2 E GA | A8 53 * 8 6 3 S S * 9 7 4 8 7 54 SOUTH * AKJ2 4 A K 10 8 7 6 3 4 * KQ 10 9 6 North had the deal and passed, East bid a Club, South preempted with three spades, West passed and North's four Spade bid closed the Auction. It will be noted that South's three Spade bid, after East had bid, was vital to arrive at a game declaration in Contract, while at Auction it usually is proper not to preempt after an opposing bid. North would not have supported a bid of one spade, holding but a singleton in the suit. The opening lead was the four of Clubs, which was won with the Jack, and the King followed. South played the nine and ten, but West's lead of the low card, followed by a higher one showed ex OPPOSING BIDS 27 actly four in suit, as the two and three were in sight to East. If West had improperly led the eight of Clubs, instead of the four, it would have been impossible for East to obtain an accurate reading of the hand. The next lead was the Ace of Hearts, and West played the ten as a "come-on" card. As far as West knew, the only chance to defeat the contract was to make his King of Hearts, and if the declarant had held two Hearts, West's informative strategy might have been most helpful. To East, also, it seemed that the Heart lead would be a safe one to make, but East did not underestimate the difference at Bridge between seemingly good plays and certainties. The partner having shown exactly four Clubs, South must have a Club remaining, and the Ace of Clubs must be good for the pivotal trick, unless it is ruffed in the dummy. If the singleton Queen of trumps is forced to ruff, then East cannot be prevented from winning a trick with the twiceguarded Jack. Either the Heart or trump lead will win the game for the declarant, because the losing Club can be discarded on the solid Diamond suit. East's lead of the Ace of Clubs was the only sure way to save the game-and the familiar platitude"Who would have thought the Hearts would not go 'round twice?" CHAPTER V BIDDING SLAMS AT CONTRACT BRIDGE A LTHOUGH Contract Bridge opens up an entire new field of bidding, it does not place a high premium on this phase of the game at the expense of ability to play the cards perfectly. If anything, the importance of proper play is accentuated, because the contract to be made is usually higher than at straight Auction. Unless a player possesses the assurance that comes only from knowledge and experience, he hardly dare venture to bid the slams that help so materially towards a large score. Even five odd at a minor suit or four at the major seems venturesome to the average player, especially when the fearsome penalties that go with the game of Contract, always lurk, specter-like, ready to pounce upon the unwary. That little can be accomplished at Contract without sound judgment in bidding, is indubitably so. Most of us have heard the story of the Irishman who spent a year digging for gold, without being able to get his favorite dish of ham and eggs. When 28 BIDDING SLAMS 29, 1, _.. --,-.... Il.... I- II 1 a good fairy gave him "three wishes" he promptly "took" a big dish of ham and eggs. For his second wish he asked for "all the ham and eggs he could eat." For the third wish he thought he would take"another dish of ham and eggs." So, at Contract Bridge, the principal requirement is good judgment in bidding, followed by some more good judgment and then-a little more good judgment. Very many years ago when the Great, Great Grandfather of Contract Auction was in vogue under the name of Whist, the play of the cards was the sole consideration. There was no struggle as to the choice of trump, as that important detail was decided by arbitrarily turning a card. Then Bridge came along and each player was given one chance to gamble on the choice of trump. The dealer declared, or asked his partner to do so, but the enemy were restricted to playing at the declared make, or doubling. The called make could not be altered. At Auction Bridge, the game was for the first time opened to continued competition. All the players had an equal chance to speculate and, instead of one guess each, the sky was the limit. It was, of course, advantageous to win the Auction as cheap as possible as nothing could be gained by a high bid except the strategical value of a possible shut-out of the opponent's bid. When most of the high cards were with one side, the Contract might easily be obtained 30 CONTRACT BRIDGE at a one trick bid and a Grand Slam won and scored. Contract Bridge, with its huge rewards for Little Slams and Grand Slams, together with the necessity of bidding for game before it may be scored, tends to greatly encourage the bidding by the partners, as well as the opponents. Hardly a hand is played where the speculative player is not given every opportunity to take his life in his hands-as well as his partner's-if he is so inclined. The shrewd player quickly recognizes that Contract is a game of Aces and Kings, even more so than at Auction. When it is possible to show a dominating suit by an unnecessarily high bid, or a rebid, then the importance of showing side Aces is of the utmost value in trying for slams. The bidding between partners should continue as long as information can be safely given. Only in this way is it possible to find out when twelve or thirteen tricks are in the combined hands. The final bid should be a Bradstreet's rating of the available assets of the firm, with credit sufficient for all the tricks that the contract calls for. When a member of the firm endeavors to obtain high credit on suits that are not headed by Aces, then bankruptcy is not far off. To know when the partner is denying a suit, or merely trying to show side tricks, requires a keen sense of discernment and is one of the essential factors that makes for an understandable game. It is not unusual for an expert partnership to bid the whole BIDDING SLAMS 31 _.. - " _ ' ~ ' -- - ~ - - - I JI LI I.. J LI four suits, without a peep from the adversaries, before settling upon a final declaration. The following interesting deal on the rubber game, illustrates a pretty bidding divertisement: QJ6 AK82 *84 4 A K9 7 NORTH 9 8 2 W E 44 764 B A I QJ93 * Q J 9 3 2 T * 10 7 6 5 * 10 5 SOUTH 4 Q 6 3 2 6 A K 10 7 5 3 V 10 5 * AK. J 8 4 North had the deal and bid one Club. East passed, South bid two Spades, West passed and North bid three Spades. East passed, South now called four Diamonds, West passed, North bid four Hearts, East passed and South bid six Spades. West passed and North then bid seven Spades. While this bidding will seem complex to the Auction player, it is really quite simple. The original bidder prefers to bid the Clubs instead of the Hearts, as a better chance for 32 CONTRACT BRIDGE getting into a No Trump. South bids two Spades instead of one to show that with normal support by partner, the game at Spades is the best chance. North must raise the Spade bid at once to show normal help in the suit. To bid the Hearts here would be a denial bid. South's bid of four Diamonds may seem puzzling but a moment's thought must clarify the situation. He has shown his dominating Spade suit, which has been supported by his partner. It is obvious that the deal will be played at four Spades or more. Bidding four Diamonds permits the partner to bid four Spades-unless he has something to show at Hearts. The four Heart bid is forthcoming and it should be apparent now that if North was not working towards a slam contract, he would have closed the bidding by calling four Spades. South is quite safe in his six Spade call and North's bid for the Grand Slam is justified. The only reason that the hand is not a lay-down is the extreme shortness of South's Diamond suit, which North could not know, although length in that suit was not assured by the bidding. It is on deals of this kind, where some feature of the hand is disappointing, that skilful play must take the place of unexpected distribution. Although the cards seem to be good for only twelve tricks, the Declarant can fulfill his contract and score fifteen hundred points for the slam bid, if he plays correctly. The deal offers a perfect squeeze position, regardless BIDDING SLAMS 33 of the opening lead made by West. In actual play, the Queen of Diamonds was led, won by the Iing, and three rounds of Spades took out the opposing trumps. Now the chance of dropping the Queen of Clubs in two leads failed to materialize, so the King of Hearts was led and South then got in with the Diamond and played three more rounds of trumps. On the last trump lead, South had remaining a Club and a Heart, North had the Ace and eight of Hearts and East the Queen-Jack of Hearts, the Queen of Clubs and a discard still to come on the last Spade. A good discard at this stage of the game could nicely accompany a rich man into the Kingdom of Heaven. CHAPTER VI THE CHALLENGE C ONTRACT BRIDGE, with its many subtle shadings of uncanny bidding and the importance of a fine sense of card valuation, would be more hurt than benefited by introducing into the game the Informatory Double. At Auction the use-and misuse-of this convention has been lauded and decried, understood and misunderstood, praised and damned, until it is a grave question whether it would not be for the best interests of the game to discard it altogether. It is a grievous thing that even with the most expert of players, each session of Bridge is usually started with the irritating preamble "how do you use the doubles?" When it is considered that at one New York club the "Doubles" are used fourteen different ways, it will be seen how confusing and perplexing such a convention can become. And it is not surprising at all. When the average person has a free choice of what is best to do under certain circumstances, he generally feels in duty bound to exercise his prerogative for all it is worth. It certainly is not American fair34 THE CHALLENGE 35 play or sound ethics for two players to use such a convention as the "Left and Right Double," even though it has been published, unless it is carefully explained to the adversaries. Recently, I played in a duplicate match with one of our leading players, who favored this convention. We agreed to explain what we were playing to each pair that came to our table. About the middle of the game, the first hand that fit came along, but the convention was taboo-we had forgotten to explain to the pair we were playing against. A double, meant to be informatory, means exactly the opposite of what it says. The player does not desire to play the hand at doubled value, but wishes the partner to name another suit. At No Trump, it also asks the partner to bid a suit. It did not take long to discover that when the partner of the doubler was very strong in the suit doubled or held fair support against the No Trump bid, that far the best results were obtained by refusing to bid and so turning the partner's informatory double into a business double. Originally, the informatory doubles were only used after a one-trick bid, but quick-witted players threw a wrench into the convention by starting off with a bid of two. This resulted in the informatory double being used by many players, even if the bid started with a call of three Spades. The difficulty today is, that very few players agree upon the number of 36 CONTRACT BRIDGE tricks they desire to double for business or the number for pleasure and how they wish their doubles interpreted after they, themselves, have bid. To expect Bridge Players in general to arrive at an agreement on this question is a bit visionary, when even our leading authorities hold decidedly different view-points. Undoubtedly, there are many hands where it is distinctly advantageous to double an original two or three-bid for penalties that must be lost to the informatory doubler, while the devotee of the business double in this position is just as badly off, when the cards favor the other system of doubles. Admitting that the object of the correctlyunderstood informatory double is not to double, but to challenge the opposing bid, why not then abolish this ambiguous misnomer, this organized hypocrisy and come out boldly and bravely with the simple statement of fact. To Challenge an opposing declaration would, in effect, be the same as the informatory double. Should the following hand pass, then the partner of the Challenger would be compelled either to bid or double. To be permitted to pass a Challenge, unless relieved by an intervening bid, would, of course, be unfair, because information would be received without incurring any obligation. All of the situations that the informatory double handles so prettily are taken care of equally well by the Challenge bid, with THE CHALLENGE 37 the added advantage of eliminating the daily pregame catechism, together with the more or less private conventions that tend to bewilder and disconcert the average player, who cannot be expected to remember all the many twists and turns given to the doubles by the individual player. But, more important still, is the quite simple solution of a large number of the many intricate problems that arise time and again at every session of Bridge. Take the instance where a player starts off with an initial bid of three Spades and the following hand doubles. What is the poor harassed partner of the doubler to understand? Is it business or pleasure? If we follow the advice of the eminent co-editors of the Auction Bridge Magazine, we find that Milton Work wants it informatory and Wilbur Whitehead says it's business. As a matter of fact, the question is so close that it is 99440oo per cent pure guess-work. And yet the entire success or failure of a match may depend upon how the players happen to be using the doubles. Again, we have the situation where a No Trump bid is overcalled by Second Hand and the partner of the No Trumper holds a low singleton of the suit bid together with three four-card suits each headed by a good honor. Going to two No Trump is out of the question, doubling for business is dangerous, and gambling on one of three suits needs the favor of the Gods. The informatory double, with such a hand, would be a perfect device and Work favors it, but 38 CONTRACT BRIDGE Whitehead does not. We must admit on the other hand, if the partner of the No Trump bidder happened to hold the balance of power in the suit bid, then a luscious penalty of four or five hundred, points would probably accrue to the business doub1) Every once in a while a freak deal comes along with a player making a preemptive bid of four in suit. To double four is always admittedly a business double. Mr. Work, in one of his lectures, tells of a hand where a player started with a bid of four Clubs and the following hand called five Clubs. To a thinking partner, such clever bidding would say: "partner, I hold everything but Clubs, you select the suit." But, if the partner happened to be wool-gathering, or his think-tank not working on six cylinders, what a wailing and gnashing of teeth! All such fancy bidding and double-entente is unnecessary with the adaptation of the Challenge bid. Any double, at any time, would mean exactly what it says. Even the poor Drib, who passes the partner's double of one Spade, because his cards were "absolutely worthless and too poor to bid on," would have his fangs removed. The comparison of a few positions where the Challenge bid replaces the double will show that it functions smoothly and easily. When a No Trump bid is doubled and the partner of the doubler passes, obviously holding cards that he believes will defeat the contract. With a Chal THE CHALLENGE 39 lenge bid in this situation, the partner of the challenger simply doubles. A play that appears a bit more involved is where a No Trump is bid, doubled and redoubled. Fourth Hand rescues with two Spades and the opening bidder, holding fair strength in Spades and knowing that his partner holds a strong hand, can safely insert a double, this time meaning business. With the Challenge bid, instead of the double, the two Spade rescue cannot be doubled because the opening bidder does not know of the strength held by his partner. The opportunity is, however, merely delayed, as Third Hand with redoubling strength, can now Challenge and then the First Hand will be in position for his double. It must be understood that a Challenge bid cannot be passed by the partner, unless there has been a bid made by the intervening player. Therefore, it usually is good tactics to pass the Challenge, unless it is of strategical value to try to prevent a forced responsive bid. Only when a player has a sound "jump bid" does it seem to be the time that a policy of watchful waiting would not be the best course to pursue. Should a Challenge bid be illegally passed by the partner of the Challenger, the player whose bid was challenged may elect whether he obtain the contract at his bid, either doubled or undoubted, or whether he reopen the Auction. 40 CONTRACT BRIDGE While this bid is not included in the official laws of Auction Bridge, it may be used to good advantage at Contract and will be found a great help in simplifying and clarifying the most complicated phase of the game. CHAPTER VII CO-ORDINATION NLESS the Contract player is able to obtain every trick that?erfect play can produce, he must necessarily be greatly hampered in his bidding. At Auction, most of the games won at the minor suits are the results of bids considerably short of five tricks. It requires something more than "nerve" to bid for the Slams or the high contracts that will land a game. The bravado of slam bidding will prove rather expensive unless it is backed by the ability to quickly recognize unusual situations and play the combined hands to the maximum. When a single trick is worth well over a thousand points, it behooves a player to fondle it like a stick of dynamite. One dropped trick may wreck a perfectly good game. On the following pretty deal, the spirited bidding was rather over-shadowed by the neat play. 41 42 CONTRACT BRIDGE 9 vJ52 *83 4 Q 8 7 4Jz * J 2 V K8643 * J 75 2 4 K 9 NORTH I Ir Q 10 7 A A Q 9 6542 SOUTH | *J A J 3 AK84 v 10 7 * A K Q 1064 * 10 '653 South dealt and started with two Diamonds. West passed, North went three Diamonds and East bid three Spades. South now called five Diamonds, West and North passed, but East doubled and South redoubled, which closed the bidding. North's assist of his partner's dominating bid of tio Diamonds was sound. East's over call was hardly open to criticism, as his hand held ample compensation for the meagerness of the Spade suit. South's five Diamonds was also proper, because his hand was too strong to expect further support from his partner. The double by East was pretty much of an even CO-ORDINATION 43 thing. While the partner probably has not one quick trick, it seems that East should take two tricks in one of his side suits. The redouble by South was a fair risk. With the trick shown by his partner's assist it appears that the contract will be made. Furthermore, if the redouble drives the enemy back to five Spades, South will cheerfully double the Spades, so that the adversaries will have a plentiful supply in digging themselves out. The play of the hand was marked, but only to the player who was looking for the marking. West led the nine of Spades, which was covered by the Jack and Queen. South won with the King and played two rounds of Diamonds, the Dummy winning the second round. Now the Spade was led through and the eight finessed. The bidding, aside from West's lead of the nine, places the ten of Spades in East's hand. South's next play is the Ace of Spades, upon which Dummy discards the nine of Clubs. Unguarding the King of Clubs appears suicidal but it was the outstanding play of the hand. East's double positively locates the two missing Aces with him and by utilizing this knowledge, the game must be won. South now leads the last Spade and trumps it in Dummy and the King of Clubs scuttles the ship for East. He is in the lead with the Ace and if he plays the Act of Hearts, the Dummy will have the good 44 CONTRACT BRIDGE King while the lead of either a Spade or a Club, permits South to discard one of his Hearts and Dummy makes his remaining trump. A hand recently played by Atmore Robinson at the Princeton Club, appeared to be a most hopeless affair and yet he succeeded in landing the game by taking the one chance that the hand afforded. A92 V 763 * KJ8 4 K Q 4 NORTH A 8 5 3 KQJ 107 V Q J 10 SS V A K 9 6 4 T 10 3 2 10 9 7 2 SO* I 8 5 464 V 9 8542 *AQ7 A 6 3 Playing the rubber game, with East and West having sixteen points on the score, East dealt and bid two Spades. South and West passed, but North, refusing to give up without a struggle, challenged. East at once jumped to three Spades, hoping to CO-ORDINATION 45 shut out South. Robinson, sitting South, was not to be squelched and intrepidly bid four Hearts, which bid closed the auction, the enemy not even venturing to double. The Spade was opened and after Dummy won with the Ace it appeared that a set of one trick was inevitable, while an uneven trump distribution would make the penalty more drastic. East doubtless held the Ace-King of Hearts to justify his bid of three, but if he had held three Hearts, it seems that he would have doubled South's bid of four. Should East hold the two high Hearts, and the Diamond suit split evenly, then the Declarant has a glimmer of hope. Therefore, the Diamonds were at once started and on the fourth round, East, knowing his partner could ruff, discarded a Club. South threw away the Spade, as he would have done if East had trumped, and West was forced to put up one of his valuable trumps. From that point, nothing could be done to prevent South from winning the game. The Spade was led which he trumped and led a trump. Another Spade was led, ruffed and the second round of trumps was the third and last trick the adversaries could win. That the game could have been saved by the defenders, if East had trumped the fourth Diamond is admitted, but it does not appear like good play to trump with the best trump when it is apparent that the partner can also trump. If East had held a losing trump, then it would have been bad play to permit 46 CONTRACT BRIDGE South to discard, but as the discard must come just the same, if East puts in his high trump, it seemed as though the passing of the thirteener was practically obligatory. At any rate, the strategy of this play was cleverly planned and deserving of success because it was the only way that the Spade trick could have been prevented from making and defeating the contract. CHAPTER VIII BIDDING TWO-SUITERS ONE of the most puzzling situations to the expert Auction Player, is the difficulty in showing a two-suited hand at Contract. This is particularly trying when the holding is so strong that there is always a likelihood of a low bid not finding sufficient high cards with the partner, to offer an assist. Starting with a bid of more than one, how is the partner to differentiate between a mere showing of side-tricks and a real two-suiter? To successfully bid a fair percentage of the Slamhands that are possible to make, the showing of quick-tricks in side-suits is almost indispensable. It is this disturbing element that renders it so awkward to distinguish between the dual meaning,4iat may be applied to bids of two or more suits. When the opening bidder starts with a bid of one and shifts to another suit either after an opposing overcall or the partner's assist, it must be construed as a twosuit showing. If the initial bid is for two or more tricks, then the shift should mean only a desire to show the sidetricks. )In the second situation the two-suiter can 47 48 CONTRACT BRIDGE -u!,..... '... -..... still be shown by making a jump bid in the second suit; that is, a bid of at least one trick more than necessary to overcall the contract On the following deal it was possible, not merely to show the probable number of tricks the cards were worth, but also the futility of trying for the Grand Slam. V Q 8 *9862 O* A 10 6 4 NORTH 8 2 wK * 9 7 V 5 3 A 10 6 4 * AJ 10 3: | Q754 * K 8 5 3 2 SOUTH Q J 9 7 4 A J 10 6 4 3 V A K J 9 7 2 VAKJ972 * K 4 -South had the deal and opened with a bid of two Hearts. West passed, North went to three Hearts, East passed, South jumped to four Spades, West passed, North assisted to five Spades, East passed, South now called six Clubs and North's six Spades BIDDING TWO-SUITERS 49 closed the Auction. That South's hand is much too powerful to open with a bid of one is obvious. The only question is, whether to open with a bid of two or four. The game seems assured with a minimum assist from partner, but a preemptive bid will probably shut out the chance for a Slam. Furthermore, a bid of four closes all avenues that lead to showing the two suits and the game may rest on the ability to play the deal at the best make for the combined hands. North, on the dominating bid of two, has a legitimate assist and now South shows the style of hands he holds by jumping the Spade bid. If he merely desired to show tops in Spades, the bid would have been three instead of four. North's bid of five Spades shows not only his preference for Spades over the Hearts, but a willingness for South to bid the Slam if he holds twelve cards in the two suits bid. North would have bid six Spades himself but is working towards the Grand instead of the Little Slam. The next bid by South is very illuminating It is obviously a demand that North bid the Grand Slam if he can win the first round of Diamonds. With the Ace of Clubs in North's hand, South must be void of the suit and is prevented from bidding the limit because his hand contains a losing Diamond. If North had held the Ace of Diamonds in lieu of the Ace of Clubs, he should have gone to seven Spades, unquestionably. His bid of six Spades denies pos 50 CONTRACT BRIDGE session of that important card and the one Diamond trick is all the enemy can make, provided they do not dally too long by the wayside. Perfect reading of Contract bidding would almost reduce the game to an exact science, but unfortunately, the bidding itself is not always perfect. Many hands that do not come up to the required standards are bid with an abandon that requires somewhat more than perfunctory playing ability to arrive at a successful culmination. A 9 3 2 V A54 * Q9874 9 3 NORTH I 8 4 w * 76 V 10 8 E A I V KQJ9 73 *J 6 5 3 2 * K 10 6 5 2 SOUTH | K Q J 8 ' AKQJ 10 5 62 * A 10 4 A 7 4 East dealt and bid two Hearts, South went to four Spades, West passed, North called five Hearts, BIDDING TWO-SUITERS 51 East passed, South bid six Spades, West and North passed. East doubled and all hands passed. The opening bid of East is a bit questionable. It would be less deceiving to the partner if the bid were three Hearts. If West held some of the missing Aces, he might get into a slam contract that could not be made, while the game would be a surety. South's four Spade bid seemed obligatory. After East has opened with a bid of two, it hardly appears that North will be able to support any bid by South. As a matter of fact, North's five bid was unsound. It is practically certain to drive South into a slam contract if he holds an exceptional hand, and with North's meager holding even the game is doubtful, if South has a minimum preemptive bid. North's only excuse was the ability to show the quick trick in the opposing suit. On his partner's raise, South's bid of six was a fair gamble and East's double was not open to criticism. West opened the ten of Hearts and when the Dummy went down, the contract looked like Milton's "Paradise Lost." Nevertheless, a lucky break coupled with neat play, turned dire distress into creditable success. The Ace of Hearts won the first trick and two rounds of trumps exhausted the adversaries. Now the Ace of Diamonds dropped the Kingl This piece of luck opened the way for the Declarant to show his skill. The ten of Diamonds was led, which West properly 52 CONTRACT BRIDGE declined to cover with the Jack. This did not deter Dummy from overtaking with the Queen and continuing with the nine, upon which South discarded his losing Heart. West won with the Jack and the Heart lead was ruffed with an honor so Dummy could reenter with the nine of Spades and give Declarant two Club discards on the two good Diamonds. CHAPTER IX NO TRUMP BIDDING THE Contract novitiate must be prepared to find many hands, particularly at No Trump, that are good for the game and yet appear too hazardous to bid, while an equal number may be bid that will fall short of the goal. In the first instance, the fault lies mainly with the partner of the initial bidder. A one-trick assist of a one-trick bid usually puts it up to the partner to take a chance, if he holds somewhat more than he has shown by the original bid. If a two-trick assist can be given immediately, it is poor strategy to vacillate. It should be apparent that the more top-card strength held by the assisting partner, the less chance there is of the opening bidder being able to continue. When a player persists in bidding the minimum No Trump calls that are so popular at Auction, then the partner with a border-line two-trick raise is in a quandary. Three No Trumps may be heavily set and two No Trumps will not show the actual value of the hand and thus prevent the partner from trying for the game. If a player wishes to shade the bidding re53 54 CONTRACT BRIDGE quirements at Contract, it will doubtless work out less disastrously at the suit-bids than at No Trumps. 862 K 10 9 * 53 * 64 54 Q 10 v Q 7 6 3 4 KQJ8 ' 954 * A10 6 2 4 A983 6 A 9 8 3 A Y A A K J 7 3 AKJ73 J 974 J 7 52 South had the deal and bid one No Trump. West passed and North's three No Trumps secured the contract. South with three Aces and three cards of the unguarded suit has a sound No Trump bid and North, holding nine of the twenty honors, is not straining too much in going after the game. It should be noted that if North had called two instead of three, South would not have had a sound raise to the extra trick NO TRUMP BIDDING 55 required for game. His hand is quite barren of forcing cards, after the Aces are taken out. Had this deal been played at Auction, the game would have been saved by East bidding the Spades for a lead. North could have jumped the bid to two No Trump but even that might not have shut out the Spade bid. Making the game on this deal depended not only in bidding all the cards were worth, but also playing for the best chance. The conventional opening lead of the five of Hearts, should, under ordinary circumstances, be ducked in Dummy. The Queen can hardly be lost, except if it is played at once and East happens to hold the King. Again, if the Club suit is evenly divided the nine tricks for game are in sight. On this deal, however, ordinary play is not enough. Favorable Club distribution need not be considered until the hand has developed further. On the fourth-best lead of the five, the rule of eleven shows six cards that are higher than the five. Dummy and Declarant hold all but one, so East has only one card that is higher than the card led. Hence, the chances are three to one that West holds any specific card, in this case the King. It is true that the one card higher than the five, that is held by East must be played if Dummy plays low, and Declarant can set up a second Heart trick immediately but the danger lies in the unprotected Spade suit. If the enemy obtain the lead, the switch to that suit is 56 CONTRACT BRIDGE marked and so the Queen of Hearts must be played at once. As a matter of note, close reading absolutely marks the King of Hearts in the West hand. If East's one high card were the King, then West's three cards higher than the card led would have been the Jack, ten, nine. With a sequence of this kind, the proper lead would have been the Jack instead of the five. A deal where skilful bidding and defense were necessary to save the game is the following: * 532 VKJ 8 *AKQ *K 95 A K98 AQ64 * J92 4 A 73 W. E A V 10 S S SOUTH QJ 7 4 V 752 * 8 7 6 3 876 2 462 A 10 6 10 9 3 54 Q J 10 8 4 West dealt and bid a No Trump, North challenged, East passed, and South called two Spades. NO TRUMP BIDDING 57 West now went to three Diamonds, North passed, East bid three No Trumps, which was passed all around. The bidding of this deal requires little comment, except the three No Trumps bid by East. This was in the nature of a psychological bid. North was diffident in supporting his partner's forced Spade bid and it seemed that West might hold something in the suit. Even the Jack of Spades would promote East's holding into two Spade stoppers. It is interesting to note that if North had not challenged, West must take in ten tricks at No Trumps with the conventional Heart opening. While it is quite possible that the contract would not have been raised by East, the three tricks over the contract of one would have counted three hundred points, as the sides were vulnerable. The play of this hand illustrates the necessity of,quick thought, if the close games are to be saved. (North led the King of Spades which was permitted -to hold the trick. If the final No Trump had been bid by West, then North would have led the lowest Spade, to hold the iTnor over West's possible second stopper in the suit. When leading through the hand that claims strength in the opposing suit, by raising a No Trump bid, nothing can be gained by a low lead in such a position. It is usually better, when holding less than four cards in the suit, to lead the best card so that 58 CONTRACT BRIDGE the partner knows what to expect. North continued with the nine of Spades, Dummy again played low, but South overtook with the Jack and switched to the seven of Hearts, the one play that could defeat the contract. Without a possible card of reentry to make the Spades, South must abandon his hand and play for the partner's. It is the only time that South will obtain the lead and unless he makes the most of it, his cause is hopeless. There was nothing the Declarant could do to save the situation. If he had taken the second round of Spades and set the Club suit he would probably not have fared any better, as now the adversaries would have made six tricksthree in Spades, two in Hearts and one in Clubs. CHAPTER X THE SPARTAN HE penalty for a revoke is two tricks. To waive the penalty for this serious breach of play is not even thought of, either by the players in error or their adversaries. And yet, many sessions at the Bridge-table are rendered painful on account of the breaking of a law, fully as damaging as the revoke, and for which a penalty is provided, but rarely exacted. A player is not permitted by the laws to give any information except by his bidding and play. When a player hesitates a long time, before passing, the meaning is plain that he is in doubt whether to pass or bid. No rule or law could force a player, who is naturally slow, to act more quickly. But for the partner to take advantage of this hesitancy and bid on a hand that he would not otherwise have done, is poor sportsmanship and decidedly unfair. The most flagrant violation of the laws that is usually slurred over, is where a player shows manifest dissatisfaction with the partner's lead. To twist 59 60 CONTRACT BRIDGE about and scowl ferociously may mean that a player is really very much pleased with his partner's lead, but the partner may not always understand it that way. It is so much simpler to remark: "Partner, my bid was Spades," or "Did it ever occur to you to lead up to the weak Spades?" Of course, law number fifty-four permits the adversaries to call a lead from either opponent for this offence, but rarely is the law enforced. The best procedure when inflicted with this sort of a partner is to refuse to lead the indicated suit when again in the lead, even though the play is now marked. In a game recently at one of the New York clubs, a hand was bid to four Hearts and then doubled with rather significant emphasis. The partner of the doubler pondered a moment and rescued with a bid of four Spades. This was now doubled by the opposition and the contract defeated one trick. Even before the deal was played, the Declarant's partner, who was void of Spades, aired his grievances and complained bitterly at his partner's lack of trust. "Had you permitted the double to stand, we would have beaten the hand to a frazzle," was the lament. "Why not take a penalty, when you have it, instead of being set yourself?" "That seems like good logic," was the response, "but I didn't think we could defeat the bid with my THE SPARTAN 61 cards. Let's see how many tricks we would have made." And then it developed that the four Hearts would have been made without question, the take-out actually saving several hundred points. To be stultified in this way should be a lesson to contentious players, but the real grouch forgets it before the rubber is over. In outstanding contrast to such players, the felicitous Gratz Scott, ever-amiable President of the Cavendish Club of New York, is a shining example. Gratz is so gracious in manner and mild in his rare criticisms that his partners are usually in doubt whether they are being complimented or otherwise. When a hand goes wrong, he is always ready with a plausible excuse for the partner's mistake. Playing at the Club, with a very charming lady for his partner, a heart-rending situation was handled by him with characteristic aplomb. 62 CONTRACT BRIDGE 9 VA9 *A83 * KQ6 4 V J 8 7 6 4 2 * 96542 4 J 10 2 SOUTH* 4 A K Q J 10 8.V KQ 10 * K Q * A KQ 4/.A7 765432 53 J 10 7 98 5 4 Scott had the deal in the West position and ventured one Club which was passed around to South who stepped in with four Spades. West and North pass but East, holding six Spades, and having in mind her partner's original Club bid, resented the affront by doubling. South promptly redoubled and the stage was set for the play. The King of Clubs was opened, won by the Ace, and the Declarant joyously remarked what a wonderful game Bridge was. He received a rude jolt when West faded at the second round of Spades and it dawned on him that the terrible trump distribution would be his utter ruin. Five rounds of trump were played, but South THE SPARTAN 63 considered it wise to retain the last one, to be able to interrupt the run of the Club suit. If West had but one card of reentry, this would have been effective play. On the four trump discards West had to make, he threw his three losing cards and the low Club. The King of Hearts was led next, West winning and leading the Queen of Clubs. The six of Clubs followed and it is obvious that should East discard the Heart, South can take but one more trick-the eight of trump. East, however, knew that her trump was a loser and the six was such a little card-so she played the trump. South overtrumped the seven with the eight, and the Heart suit in Dummy afforded discards for the King, Queen of Diamonds. Instead of taking a set of three tricks the Declarant made one over his contract on the vulnerable rubber game, a difference of 2444 points! For a moment the silence was oppressive and then: "Partner," spoke Gratz in humble apology, "it was entirely my fault. I could just weep with sorrow. If I only had led you the TOP Club you would NEVER have trumped it. Will you ever forgive me?" She looked at him reproachfully: "I quite forgive you, Mr. Scott. But, how-could -you?" At no card game other than Contract Bridge is the ability to understand what the partner is en 64 CONTRACT BRIDGE deavoring to portray of such great value. Many combinations lend themselves to the bidding of Little Slam with almost exactitude, but rarely can the player bid a Grand Slam without taking some chance. The following deal is a good example of constructive bidding: KQJ 97 *82 4 K92 4 A43 2 V Q 10 5 * QJ964 4 A NORTH 10 8 7 R! SOUTH 4 5 AKJ643 * AK 4 J 8 5 3 96 82 10 7 5 3 Q 10 7 6 4 South dealt and bid two Hearts, West overcalled with three Spades, North went to four Spades, East passed, South now bid five Diamonds, West passed, and North went the limit with seven Hearts. The original bid was conventional and West's preemptive bid was made with the willingness to THE SPARTAN 65 accept a penalty in saving the game. North bids the Spades to practically assure partner that no tricks in Spades would be lost. Unless North had a slam in view it is apparent that he would have bid four Hearts. South bids the Diamonds with the same object —North can always bid the five Hearts. The Grand Slam is called by North instead of the Little Slam because South's Diamond bid shows an exceptional hand and North's holding is too powerful to expect a six Club bid to be raised beyond six Hearts. Of course the contract is made without any difficulty. CHAPTER XI AGAINST THE BEST DEFENSE IN the play of a difficult hand, the Declarant usually endeavors to locate the missing high cards through the opposing bids. This valuable source of information is equally available to the adversaries but, as a general thing, many of the striking points appear to be lost to the players when they are not playing the combined hands. While it is too much to expect that every deal at Bridge can produce some spectacular play, it is nevertheless true that many lost games might be saved, if the players were always on the alert to grasp every opportunity that presented itself. Sometimes the situation is so well marked by the bidding, that a successful issue can be forced against perfect defense, while at other times the best that can be done is to make it so difficult for the enemy that there is always a fifty-fifty chance to make an error. The hand following illustrates the first position: 66 AGAINST THE BEST DEFENSE67 J65 VK3 * 92 4 10 9 Q98 v Q 10 8 6 2 * 763 * 72 NORTHi AV T T + 4 3 SOUTH 4 4 A K 7 4 VA54 *AJ 4 A J 8 5 10 J97 KQ 108 54 K Q6 North and South having a score of ten points on the rubber game, South dealt and bid two No Trumps. West and North passed, East bid three Diamonds, and South took a chance on three No Trumps. There was no further bidding and although South seems to have been a bit too much enthused over.his four Aces, most players would consider the big honor count that he holds as sufficient justification. The play of this deal appeared to be quite simple. West opened the nine of Diamonds, East played the Queen and South refused to put up the Ace as the bidding indicated that West could hardly hold more than two Diamonds. The second round 68 CONTRACT BRIDGE of Diamonds forced out the Ace and South led a low Spade to the Queen in Dummy and returned the eight of Hearts. East played the nine, South won with the Ace and West was stuck in with the King on the next lead. The Club was now played, but the Declarant took in nine tricks to fulfill his contract and win the game, before he relinquished the lead. Although it seems that luck was the deciding factor in the hand, inasmuch as everything hinged upon the location of the King of Hearts, West would have been able, by close application to the bidding, not only to save the game, but defeat the contract by two tricks. It should have been easy to read that South held the four Aces, as that could be the one excuse for bidding three No Trumps with but one stop in the adverse Diamond suit and no other suit that would seem to be established. It was also apparent that South held three Hearts or he would have been silly to take out the Queen of Spades in Dummy, which was a certain card of reintry, if the Hearts could be set up. The only object the Declarant could have, seems to be some sort of finesse in Hearts, hoping to put West in the lead. This play was prevented by East's covering the card led and forcing up the Ace. If South had held the Jack of Hearts, Dummy would undoubtedly have led a high Heart and finessed or if South held the seven of Hearts, Dummy would have had a better chance to slip through the lowest AGAINST THE BEST DEFENSE69 Heart. At any rate West should have seen that the game was lost unless East could obtain the lead before the Hearts were brought in, so the best chance was to have thrown the King of Hearts under the Ace. This clever play would have held the Declarant down to seven tricks, as the game was impossible unless the Hearts were made. A deal where the enemy was given a chance to make a mistake and swallowed hook, line and sinker: 4 10 3 V K J 10 8 2 * 10 5 * 9 7 3 2 49732 NORTH w E 2 TAT SOUTH 9 6 5 V 9 5 * A874 * K 10 6 *82 A764 * KQJ9 AQJ P. 4 4,; L* 6 AK QJ7 Q3 63 854 South had the deal and preempted with three Spades. West and North passed, East doubled and all passed. While South's bid would have been better 70 CONTRACT BRIDGE with seven Spades, the honor score compensated somewhat. East's double was sound tactics. When North cannot assist the bid to four it sems that the balance of strength lies with West(At Contract as at Auction, a preimptive bid is Usually two tricks over the actual value of the hand. West's opening lead of the nine of Hearts was about as good a guess as the Ace of Diamonds. East won and returned the suit. This seemed proper play because if Declarant held three Hearts, West could ruff and if the Hearts were divided the suit in Dummy appeared to be killed. At this point it looked as if the Declarant did not have a ghost of a chance to escape being set for two tricks. With five trumps against him and only two in Dummy, the best chance was to permit the enemy to make a trump and then trust that they would not run quick enough in cashing their winning cards. The Queen of Hearts was overtaken in Dummy and the Jack was led, South discarding a Diamond. West ruffed, led the Ace of Diamonds and his partner played the King as a "comeon" card. The Diamond continuation was trumped and the Ace followed by a low trump put Dummy in the lead with all the opposing trumps gone and two good Hearts remaining to afford discards for two losing Clubs. The lead of the second round of Diamonds by West, irrespective of the command of his partner, was not good play. That the Declarant would deliberately permit him to make a AGAINST THE BEST DEFENSE71 small trump on the Heart, to obtain a Diamond discard with only two in the Dummy, should indicate that there were never more than two cards of that suit to be made and while a Diamond discard by South might not effect a gain, it assuredly could not register a loss. West should immediately have switched to the King of Clubs and even then, unless East applied the same line of reasoning and made the three Club tricks, before trying for another trick in Diamonds, the Declarant's play would have saved a trick or two. In bidding for Slams, it is curious how often the high-water mark is plainly indicated to the discerning player. On the following deal, the danger point is manifest, if the contract is carried beyond a Little Slam. 72 CONTRACT BRIDGE AJ84 t J 6 5 3 vJ653 * _ * K 9 7 3 2 6K9732 NORTH K Q 5 WE 107 6 3 * AKQ 1083TT J 9 52 10 SOUTH * 64 9 2 AK 10 *764 AQ J 8 5 South was the dealer and bid one Club, West two Diamonds, North three Clubs, East passed, South four Clubs, West passed, and North four Diamonds. With the enemy's silence, South now went to four Hearts, North four Spades, and South six Clubs which closed the Auction. South was not quite strong enough for a dominating bid of two, but after West had shown the strong Diamonds, North could have made it simpler by bidding three Diamonds at once. South's rebid of Clubs was sound. With two worthless suits, North must be permitted to initiate the Slam possibilities. When North shows the void Diamond suit, South AGAINST THE BEST DEFENSE73 must bid the Hearts and North does better to show the Aces of Spades than to bid six Clubs. If South happened to hold the King of Spades, a Grand Slam would appear the logical bid. Without that important card South must be content with the Little Slam. In the play of this hand the Declarant took in thirteen tricks because West did not take full advantage of the bidding. The King of Diamonds was opened, ruffed, and after two rounds of trumps the ten of Hearts was finessed. This permitted a discard of the losing Spade on the thirteenth Heart. If West had properly followed the bidding, he should have known that North did not hold a Diamond. The King of Spades was the only correct lead, as with the Spade trick set against him the Declarant would not have dared a Heart finesse. The safe play for the contract would have been to set up the Jack of Spades and obtain a discard of the one doubtful trick-the ten of Hearts. CHAPTER XII VARIOUS SCORING SYSTEMS U NDER the Knickerbocker Whist Club laws the premiums allowed for tricks made above the number bid and the penalties for defeating the contract are as follows: TRICKS MADE OVER CONTRACT: Undoubled Doubled Redoubled Contract 0 50 100 1 Over 50 150 300 2 Over 100 250 500 3 Over 150 350 700 4 Over 200 450 900 5 Over 250 550 1100 6 Over 300 650 1300 FAILURE IN FULFILLING CONTRACT:' Undoubled Doubled Redoubled 1 Down 50 100 200 2 Down 100 200 400 3 Down 150 300 600 4 Down 200 500 1000 5 Down 250 900 1800 6 Down 300 1300 2600 When a side is vulnerable all these figures are doubled. 74 VARIOUS SCORING SYSTEMS 75 A system of scoring that is favorably thought of by many good contract players, completely changes the trick values of the different suits. When the hand is played at Clubs or Diamonds each trick is scored at twenty points. Hearts and Spades are worth thirty points, while No Trumps are put down at thirty-five points. Instead of the game being thirty points, it is put at one hundred points, although in bidding the suits rank as in Auction. Thus, four Clubs will over call three No Trumps. It will be noted that five odd tricks are still needed to make the game at Clubs and Diamonds, four odd at Hearts and Spades, while No Trumps reaches the goal with the same old three odd tricks. In this method of scoring each game is worth two hundred points and the rubber is three hundred. Of course, as two hundred points go with the rubber game, it really counts five hundred points. The overtrick premiums and undertrick penalties are the same as the Knickerbocker count, except that when a contract is doubled, the first four tricks set, count one hundred points penalty for each trick, the fifth trick counts two hundred points, and each subsequent trick counts four hundred points per trick. When vulnerable all premiums and penalties are doubled. Little Slam bid and made counts five hundred and seven hundred fifty when vulnerable. Grand Slam bid and made counts seven hundred fifty and fifteen hundred when vulnerable. 76 CONTRACT BRIDGE This manner of scoring, accredited to that excellent Contract player, Harold Vanderbilt, is an evident endeavor to equalize things below the line. With overtricks worth fifty or a hundred points, it seems that tricks scored below the line should be worth more than from six to ten points. The Canadian system of scoring, devised by G. H. Levy of 'Hamilton, Canada, one of the finest bridge players in America, is quite simple and has many commendable features. It has been played in Canada for over ten years and in 1921, A. E. Manning Foster, the well-known English expert, said that he thought the Canadian scoring method would probably make a better game than the one generally played in England. Briefly, the Canadian game allows one hundred points for each game and three hundred points for the rubber. Tricks score as in Auction, six, seven, eight, nine and ten. Below the line is scored the number of tricks bid and overtricks are scored at only ten for each trick. When the contract is defeated and declarant loses: 50 for the first trick 100 for the second trick 150 for each succeeding trick Doubles and Redoubles as at Auction, but Declarant VARIO.US SCORING SYSTEMS 77 winning double takes fifty for making contract and fifty for each additional trick, the trick score below the line doubling as in Auction. Little Slam declared and made scores 250. Grand Slam declared and made scores 500. Honors are scored only when four or five are held in one hand and four Aces in one hand. The vulnerable feature of the game is not played. The outstanding point of this style of game is the small bonus allowed for overtricks. But, why should the player be given hundreds of points merely because he is dealt most of the high cards and refuses to bid above the minimum? The pretty part of Contract Bridge is compelling the player to bid all that he may score toward the game and I am in accord with the Canadian policy of limiting the reward for unearned increment. Under the present official rules a player having an advanced score may win the rubber game on a big hand and receive an overtrick bonus of four hundred points entirely by virtue of the cards he holds. To eliminate the bonus altogether would not better the game, because then there would be no object in playing out a hand after the contract was made, as the overtricks would be of no use. The Canadian count of ten points hardly seems worth while, but it is far better than the excessive premium of a hundred points allowed on the rubber game. The 78 CONTRACT BRIDGE ideal figure would probably be twenty-five points, which should not be increased, even though the score be vulnerable. Should the adversaries venture to double the contract, then of course the bonus should be doubled, if the contract prove successful. As long as the Contract laws remain as they now are, a player must be fully prepared to take advantage of the vital importance of obtaining an advanced score. It is obvious that with a score of twenty on the rubber game, a big hand should net about two hundred points more than it would at a love score. If the contract is secured at a low figure, each overtrick is worth a hundred points and should the enemy try to force up the bid, then the opportunity for a luscious penalty should not be overlooked. Having a part score unquestionably tends to draw the enemy out of their shells and produces spirited bidding. A player needs be timid indeed to permit the Auction to close at a one trick bid, when that is sufficient to win the game. While Contract Bridge is a game that requires close study and the ability to make quick and shrewd deductions if outstanding success is looked for, it is not a game that the average good bridge player should find overdifficult to master. Any system of bidding that is well understood by the players will show better results than a more perfect system that is not so well understood. It might, therefore, be VARIOUS SCORING SYSTEMS 79 wiser and more profitable to follow the old line of bidding than to attempt slam bidding, unless the players are versed in the new game. In the long run, Contract Bridge with its added scientific features, will doubtless prove too great a handicap for the indifferent player who just manages to get by at Bridge. After all, the luck of the cards and the game is a big factor in the popularity of any game and when the skill overshadows the luck beyond the alibi point, then many very nice Auction players will pass up Contract Bridge with disdain. LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE (Revised to April, I926) Reprinted by permission of the WHIST CLUB OF NEW YORK COPYRIGHT, 926, by THE WHIST CLUB NEW YORK All Rights Reserved At a meeting of the Board of Managers of The Whist Club, the following laws applicable to Auction Bridge were approved and adopted, to become effective April 5, 1926. NEW YORK, FEBRUARY, 19Z6. In offering its 1926 code to the Auction Bridge players of the world, the Card Committee of The Whist Club acknowledges with appreciation the assistance of the Committees of the American Whist League and the Knickerbocker Whist Club. CONTENTS PAGE FOREWORD..................................... 89 THE LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE.........9.................. 9 PLAYERS..................................... 9t CARDS................................................. 9 RANK OF CARDS......................................... 91 RANK OF SUITS IN DRAWING.............................. 92 T HE DRAW.......................................... 92 FORMING TABLES....................................... 92 MEMBERS LEAVING A TABLE.............................. 92 PLAYERS LEAVING A TABLE................................ 93 DRAWING FOR PARTNERS AND DEAL........................ 93 THE SHUFFLE.................................... 94 HAND..9............................ 94 THE CUT............................................ 94 T HE D EAL.............................................. 95 CARDS TOUCHED DURING DEAL........................... 95 NEW DEAL (COMPULSORY)..................... 95 NEW DEAL (OPTIONAL)................................... 96 THE AUCTION........................................... 96 BID........................... 97 RANK OF BIDS.......................................... 97 INSUFFICIENT BID................................ 97 IMPOSSIBLE BID........................................... 98 BID OR DOUBLE OUT OF TURN............................. 98 PA................................................... 99 PASS OUT OF TURN.................................... 99 DOUBLES AND REDOUBLES..........o.................... t0O ILLEGAL DECLARATIONS................................ oo CHANGING DECLARATION................................. 1Or CARDS EXPOSED DURING THE AUCTION...................... 02 THE CONTRACT...................................... 02 THI DUMMY........................Q..2....*.,,.. 10a 88 CONTENTS LEAD AND PLAY................................... 1 04 CARDS EXOSED DURNG PLAY.............................. 04 PENALTY FOR EXPOSED CARDS............................. 105 LEADS OUT OF TURN AND CARDS PLAYED IN ERROR........... 05 TRICKS......................... 107 ODD TRICKS............................. o................. ODD TRICK VALUES...................................... 109 UNDERTRICKS..............9...................... 109 HONORS.............................. o09 HONOR VALUES....................................... 109 SLAMS........................................ REFUSE AND RENOUNCE.............................. 110 THE REVOKE....................................... xx REVOKE AVOIDED......................................... RENOUNCE PENALTY............................... 112 REVOKE PENALTY......2............................... I2 TIME LIMITATION OF REVOKE CLAIM....................... 113 CLAIMING TRICKS....3................................ 113 CONCEDING TRICS...4................................. 114 GAME.............................................. x14 RUBBER......................................... 14 SCORING................................................ z 5 CONSULTATION AND SELECTION OF PENALTIES................ I6 INFORMATION.................6.............. l 6 ETHICS AND ETIQUETTE................................. 117 INDEX TO LAWS.........1..9.......t.............. 119 FOREWORD For the benefit of the many players who have recently taken up Auction Bridge, the following explanation is made: Laws are not drafted to prevent dishonorable practices; that they cannot accomplish. Ostracism is the only adequate remedy. The real object of the laws is to define the correct procedure and to provide for the situations which occur when a player through carelessness gains an unintentional, but nevertheless an unfair advantage. Consequently, penalties when provided are moderated to a minimum consistent with justice. A player guilty of an offense should earnestly desire to pay the full penalty and thus atone for his mistake. When this essential principle is thoroughly understood, penalties are paid graciously and cheerfully, improper claims are not presented, arguments are avoided, and the pleasure of the players is materially enhanced, THE LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE PLAYERS I. The game of Auction Bridge is played by four persons: two play as partners against the other two, each pair constituting a side. CARDS 2. (a) Two packs of playing cards with different backs are used. (b) A correct pack contains fifty-two cards divided into four suits of thirteen cards, one card of each denomination to a suit. (c) A perfect pack is one in which no card is torn, soiled, or otherwise so marked that it may be identified from its back. (d) Any player may demand two new packs to replace correct and perfect packs, provided he do so at the end of a hand and before the ensuing cut. The opponents of the player demanding them shall have the choice of packs, unless the demand be made at the beginning of a rubber, in which case the dealer has the choice. RANK OF CARDS 3. The cards of a suit rank: Ace '(highest), King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 (lowest). 9x 92 CONTRACT BRIDGE Wm RANK OF SUITS IN DRAWING 4. In the draw, as between cards of equal rank, the suits rank: Spades (highest), Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs (lowest). High wins. THE DRAW 5. For the purposes of the draw, a shuffled pack shall be spread face down on the table. Each player draws by lifting a card from the spread pack and showing its face. If a player show more than one card, or one of the four cards at either end of the pack, it is a misdraw by that player and he must draw again. FORMING TABLES 6. (a) A complete table consists of six members. In forming a table, candidates who have not played rank first and in the order in which they entered the room. Candidates who have played, but are not members of an existing table, rank next. Candidates of equal standing decide priority by the draw; high wins. (b) Before the beginning of a rubber, a candidate may enter any incomplete table by announcing his desire to do so. Such announcements, in the order made, entitle candidates to places as vacancies occur. MEMBERS LEAVING A TABLE 7. If a member leaves a table, he forfeits all his rights at said table, unless he leaves to make up a table that cannot be formed without him and, when leaving, announces his intention of returning when his place at the new table can be filled: in which case his place at the table he left must be reserved for him. When a mem LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE 93 ber leaves a table to make up a new table which cannot be formed without him, and does not claim the right to retain his membership in the old table, he shall be the last to draw out of the new table. When two members leave a table pursuant to this law, the law applies to both. PLAYERS LEAVING A TABLE 8. (a) A player leaving a table may, with the consent of the other three players, appoint a substitute to play in his absence. Such appointment becomes void upon return of said player, or upon conclusion of the rubber; in any case, the substitute, when released, regains all his previous rights. (b) A player who breaks up a table by withdrawing from a table of four at the end of a rubber; or who, after availing himself of the privileges of paragraph (a), fails to return before the end of the rubber, cannot claim entry elsewhere as against the other three players from that table. DRAWING FOR PARTNERS AND DEAL 9. (a) A table having been formed, the members draw. He who draws highest becomes the first dealer and has choice of packs and seats; he may consult his partner before choosing, but, having chosen, must abide by his decision. He who draws second highest is dealer's partner and sits opposite him. The third highest has choice of the two remaining seats; fourth highest takes the vacant one. The members, if any, who draw lower than fourth, remain members of the table but do not play in the current rubber. (b) If, at the end of a rubber, a table consist of five 94 CONTRACT BRIDGE or six members, those who have played the greatest number of consecutive rubbers are the first to lose their places as players, but do not lose their standing as members. The draw decides between players of equal standing. (c) At the beginning of every rubber, the players draw for partners and for choice of seats and packs. THE SHUFFLE io. (a) After the players are seated at the beginning of a rubber, the player on the dealer's left shuffles the pack which dealer has chosen. All players have the right to shuffle, dealer having the right to shuffle last. (b) During each deal the still pack is shuffled by dealer's partner, who then places it face down at his right (at the left of the next dealer). (c) The pack must be shuffled thoroughly in view of all the players, but not so as to expose the face of any card. (d) If any provision of this law be violated, any player, before the deal starts, may demand a new shuffle. HAND xi. A hand begins with the cut and ends when the last card is played to the thirteenth trick; or when any or all of the remaining tricks have been conceded by either side. THE CUT 12. (a) Dealer, immediately before the deal, places the pack before his right hand opponent, who lifts off the top portion and places it beside the bottom portion toward dealer, who then places the bottom portion on top. This constitutes the cut. (b) If the cut leave fewer than four cards in the top LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE 95 or bottom portion; or any card be faced or displaced; or there be any doubt as to where the pack was divided, or as to which was the top and which the bottom portion; or any but the proper player cut; or any but dealer complete the cut; or any player shuffle after the cut, a new shuffle and a new cut may be demanded by any player. THE DEAL 13. (a) The deal begins after the cut, and ends when the last card has been placed in turn in front of the dealer. Dealer distributes the cards one at a time, face down: the first card to the player on his left, and so on until all fifty-two cards are dealt, the last one to dealer. (b) Except at the beginning of a rubber, the player to deal is the one on the left of the last previous dealer. CARDS TOUCHED DURING DEAL I4. If any player, except dealer, touch a card during the deal and thereby cause a card to be faced, making a new deal compulsory, the side opposed to the offender may add fifty points to its honor score. NEW DEAL (Compulsory) IS. I. There must be a new deal by the same dealer with the same pack: (a) If the cards be not dealt to the proper players into four distinct packets of thirteen cards each. (b) If, during the deal, any card be found faced in the pack, or be exposed on, above, or below the table. (c) If, before play begins, it be discovered that more than thirteen cards were dealt to any player. 96 CONTRACT BRIDGE (d) If, during the hand, one player hold more than the proper number of cards and another less. II. There must be a new deal by the same dealer with a correct pack if, during the hand, the pack be proved incorrect. The current hand is void, but all previous scores stand. The pack is not incorrect on account of a missing card if found in the still pack, among the tricks, below the table, or in any place which makes it possible that such card was part of the pack during the deal. Any player may search for it; if it be not found, there must be a new deal by the same dealer with A correct pack. NEW DEAt (Optional) I6. During the deal, any player who his not looked at any of his cards may demand a new deal: (a) If the wrong player deal; if the dealer omit the cut, or deal with the wrong pack. (b) If the pack be imperfect. In (a), the new deal is by the proper dealer with his own pack; in (b), by the same dealer with a perfect pack. If no legal demand for a new deal be made under this law before the end of the deal, it stands and the player on the left deals next with the still pack. THE AUCTION x7. (a) The auction begins when the deal ends, and ends after a declaration that three players in proper succession have passed. The first legal act of the auction is a bid or pass by the dealer. Thereafter, each player in turn to the left must pass; bid, if no bid have been made; make a higher bid, if a bid have been made previously; double the last bid made by the opponent, or redouble an op LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE 97 ponent's double, provided no bid has intervened. Each pass, bid, double or redouble is a declaration. (b) When all four players pass, no bid having been made, the hand is 'abandoned and the next dealer deals the still pack. BI I8. A bid is made by specifying any number from one (I) to seven (7) inclusive, together with the name of a suit or No Trump, thereby offering to contract that with such suit as trump, or with No Trump, the bidder will win at least the specified number of odd tricks. RANK OF BIDS }9. A bid of a greater number of odd tricks ranks higher than a bid of a less number. When two bids are of the same number, they rank: No Trump (highest), Spades, Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs (lowest). INSUFFICIENT BID 20. (a) A bid, unless it be the first bid of the hand, is insufficient if it be not higher than the last previous bid. (b) A player having made an insufficient bid, may correct it without penalty if he do so before another player has called attention to the insufficiency, or has declared; in which case an insufficient suit-bid must be made sufficient in the same suit; an insufficient No Trump bid, in No Trump. (c) If the player on the left of the insufficient bidder declare before attention has been called to the insufficiency, the insufficient bid stands and is treated as if sufficient. 98 CONTRACT BRIDGE (d) If any player, other than the insufficient bidder, call attention to the insufficiency before the insufficient bidder has corrected his bid and before the next player has declared, the bidder must make his bid sufficient and his partner is barred from further participation in the auction. In such case, the bid may be made sufficient by substituting any higher bid in any suit or No Trump. IMPOSSIBLE BID 21. If a player bid more than seven, the bid is void, the offender and his partner are barred from further participation in the auction, and either opponent may: (a) Demand a new deal. (b) Require the declaration to be played by the offending side at seven (undoubled or doubled). 3(c) Direct that the auction revert to the last legitimate declaration and be continued by his side from that point. BID OR DOUBLE OUT OF TURN 22. An out-of-turn bid is void, unless the opponent on the left of the offender declares before either the in-turn bidder declares, or before any player calls attention to the offense. When the out-of-turn bid is void, the auction proceeds from the declaration of the proper bidder, and the partner of the offender is barred from further participation in the auction; but the offender may declare thereafter in his proper turn. When the partner of the offender is the inturn bidder, such turn passes to the next bidder. When the opponent on the left declares before the in LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE 99 -. ii i i iii i turn bidder, and before attention is called to the out-ofturn bid, the auction continues from that declaration and there is no penalty. A double or redouble out of turn is subject to the same provisions and penalties as a bid out of turn, except when it is the partner's turn to declare, for which Law 26 (g) provides. PASS 23. When, in his proper turn in the auction, a player does not bid, double or redouble, he must pass; he should do so by saying "Pass" or "No Bid," and the turn to declare is thereby transferred to the next player on the left, unless such pass ends the auction. PASS OUT OF TURN 24. (a) If no bid have been made: A pass out of turn is void; the proper player declares, and the offender may not bid, double, or redouble until the first bid has been overbid or doubled. (b) If a bid have been made: A pass out of turn is void; the proper player declares, and the offender may not bid or double until the declaration he passed is overbid or doubled. In either (a) or (b): if the player at the left of the offender declare before attention is called to the offense, the pass becomes regular, the auction proceeds, and the offender may declare in turn. In either (a) or (b): if it be the turn to declare of the player on the right of the offender, a declaration by the in-turn player made before his partner declares, is regular and calls attention to the offense. 100 CONTRACT BRIDGE ---- ----- ~~-- — --- ~I -- DOUBLES AND REDOUBLES 25. During the auction and in proper turn, a player may double the last previous bid, if made by an opponent, or redouble an opponent's double. A double doubles the trick value of the last previous bid; a redouble multiplies by four the trick value. Doubling or redoubling does not change bidding values, nor values of honors or slams. A bid which has been redoubled may not again be doubled or redoubled. A double of an opponent's double is a redouble; X redouble of an opponent's bid is a double. ILLEGAL DECLARATIONS 26. (a) A double or redouble, made before a bid has been made, is a double or redouble out of turn, for which Law 22 provides the penalty. (b) If a player bid, double or redouble, when barred from so doing, either opponent may decide whether or not such bid, double or redouble shall stand; and, in any such case, both the offending player and his partner must thereafter pass. (c) A bid, double or redouble, made after the auction is ended, is void. It is not penalized if made by Declarer or his partner, but if made by an adversary, Declarer may call a lead from the partner of the offender the first time it is the turn of said partner to lead. (d) A pass made after the auction is ended, is void: no penalty. (e) A double or redouble of a redouble is void, and either opponent of the offender may demand a new deal, or add one hundred points to the honor score of his side. (/) A double of a partner's bid, or a redouble of a LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE 101 partner's double is void. Penalty: the opposing side may add fifty points to its honor score. (g) If a player double or redouble when it is his partner's turn to declare, the opponents may consult before declaring further, and elect: (I) To call the bid made before the offense the final bid. (2) To call the doubled or redoubled bid the final bid. (3) To demand a new deal. (h) A player is not required to name the bid he is doubling or redoubling, but if he do so and name any bid other than the one he might legally double or redouble, his declaration is void; he must declare again, and his partner is barred from further participation in the auction. CHANGING DECLARATION 27. A player who inadvertently says "No Bid" when meaning to say "No Trump," or vice versa; or who inadvertently names one suit when meaning to name another, may correct his mistake before the next player declares. A change in the number of odd tricks bid (except to make a bid sufficient), or from Pass to any bid, may not be made. By "inadvertently" is meant a slip of the tongue, not a change of mind. Except as above provided, a player may not change his declaration: and if he attempt to do so, the second declaration is void and may be penalized as a bid out of turn* 102 CONTRACT BRIDGE CARDS EXPOSED DURING THE AUCTION 28. If, during the auction, a player lead or expose a card, it must be left face up on the table: and if it be a Ten or higher card, the partner of the offender is barred from further participation in the auction. If the offender become Declarer or Dummy, the card is no longer exposed; but if the offender become an adversary, the card, regardless of its rank, remains exposed until played. If the player at the left of the offender become Declarer he may, before the Dummy is exposed, prohibit the partner of the offender from leading the suit of the exposed card. When two or more cards are exposed by the same player, all are subject to the provisions of this law; but the Declarer may not forbid the lead of more than three suits. THE CONTRACT 29. At the end of the auction the highest bid becomes the contract. The partners who secure the contract undertake to win at least six tricks (the book), plus the number of tricks named in the contract. The partners who secure the contract become respectively Declarer and Dummy. The player who first, for his side, named the suit or No Trump of the contract, becomes Declarer; his partner, Dummy. The partners who do not secure the contract become the adversaries: the one on Declarer's left hereinafter termed Senior; the one on Declarer's right hereinafter termed Junior.. THE DUMMY 30. (a) After the end of the auction, the play begins, and continues until the last card is played to the thirteenth' LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE 103 trick. Senior leads; Dummy places his cards face up on the table and Declarer plays Dummy's cards in addition to playing his own. (b) During the play, Dummy may not: (I) Warn Declarer that he is about to lead from the wrong hand, nor tell him which hand has the lead. Penalty: either adversary may name the hand from which the lead shall be made. (2) Suggest a lead or play by touching or naming a card, or otherwise. Penalty: either adversary may direct that Declarer make such lead or play such card (if legal) or refrain from doing so. (c) Except as provided in (b), Dummy has all the rights of a player, unless he intentionally sees the face of a card held by Declarer or either adversary. (d) If Dummy have intentionally seen any such card, he may not call Declarer's attention to: () Any legal right. Penalty: forfeiture of such right. (2) A card exposed by an adversary. Penalty: the card is no longer exposed. (3) An adverse lead out of turn. Penalty: the adversaries, after consultation, may decide which of them shall lead. (4) An adverse revoke. Penalty: the revoke may not be claimed. (5) The fact that he has refused a suit by asking whether he have any or none of it. Penalty: Declarer may not change his play and is liable for any revoke resulting therefrom. 104 CONTRACT BRIDGE LEAD AND PLAY 3I. When a player places a card face up on the table, his act is a play. The first play to a trick is a lead. A lead or play is completed: (a) By an adversary, when the card is so placed or held that his partner sees its face. (b) By Declarer, when the card is quitted face up on the table. (c) By Dummy, when Declarer touches or names the card. If, in touching a card, Declarer say "I arrange," or words to that effect; or if he be manifestly pushing one or more cards aside to reach the one desired, touching the card does not constitute a lead or play. CARDS EXPOSED DURING PLAY 32. During the play the following are exposed cards: (a) When two or more cards are led or played simultaneously, the offender may designate which one is led or played, and the others are exposed, except any one so covered that its face is completely concealed. (b) A card dropped face upward on the table, even if picked up so quickly that it cannot be named. (c) A card dropped elsewhere than on the table, if the partner sees its face. 1(d) A card so held by a player that his partner sees any portion of its face. (e) A card mentioned by either adversary as being in his own or in his partner's hand. LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE 105 (I) If an adversary who has played to the twelfth trick, shows his thirteenth card before his partner plays his twelfth, the partner's two cards are exposed. (g) If an adversary throw his cards face up on the table, they are exposed, unless such act follows a claim by Declarer of a certain number, or the rest of the tricks. (h) A card designated by any law as "exposed." PENALTY FOR EXPOSED CARWS 33. (a) There is no penalty for a card exposed by Declarer or Dummy. (b) A card exposed by an adversary must be left face up on the table and Declarer may call it (i. e., require its owner to lead or play it) whenever it is the owner's turn to lead or play, unless playing it would cause a revoke. (c) Declarer may not prohibit the lead or play of an exposed card, and its owner may lead or play it whenever he can legally do so: but until played, Declarer may call it any number of times. LEADS OUT OF TURN AND CARDS PLAYED IN ERROR 34. (a) After the auction ends and before Senior leads, should Junior lead or expose a card, Declarer may treat it as exposed, or require Senior (the proper leader) to lead a card of a suit named by Declarer. Dummy may call attention to the offense; but should Declarer and Dummy consult regarding the penalty, it is canceled. Should Dummy show any of his cards before the penalty is selected, Declarer may call the exposed card, but may not call a lead. 106 CONTRACT BRIDGE If an adversary lead out of turn during the play, Declarer may call the lead of a suit as soon as it is the turn of either adversary to lead, or may treat the card so led as exposed. (b) Should the adversaries lead simultaneously, the correct lead stands and the other is an exposed card. (c) Should Declarer lead out of turn either from his own hand or Dummy, such lead shall stand, unless an adversary call attention to the error before he or his partner plays. When attention is called to the error in time, Declarer must lead from the proper hand; and, if that hand have a card of the suit led from the wrong hand, he must lead that suit. (d) Should any player (including Dummy) lead out of turn, and next hand play, the lead stands as regular. If an adversary lead out of turn, and Declarer play next, either from his own hand or Dummy, the adverse lead stands as regular. (e) Should an adversary who has played a card which is a winner as against Declarer and Dummy, lead another or several such winning cards without waiting fot his partner to play, Declarer may require said adversary's partner to win, if he can, the first or any of these tricks, after which the remaining card or cards thus led are exposed. (I) After a lead by Declarer or Dummy, should Fourth player play before Second, Declarer may require Second player to play his highest or lowest card of the suit led, or to win or lose the trick. If he have none of the suit led, Declarer may call his highest of any designated suit; if he hold none of the suit called, the penalty is paid. (g) Should Declarer lead from his own hand or Dummy, and play from the other hand before either ad LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE 107 versary plays, either adversary may play before the other without penalty. (h) If a player (not Dummy) omit playing to a trick and then play to a subsequent trick, Declarer or either adversary (as the case may be) may demand a new deal whenever the error is discovered. If no new deal be demanded, the surplus card at the end of the hand is considered played to the imperfect trick, but does not constitute a revoke therein. (j) Whenever it is suspected that any of the quitted tricks contain more than four cards, any player may count them face downward. If any be found to contain a surplus card, and any player be short, either opponent of the player who is short may face the trick, select the surplus card, and restore it to the player who is short; but this does not change the ownership of the trick. The player who was short is answerable for any revoke as if the missing card had been in his hand continuously. Should the side in whose tricks the surplus card is found, have failed to keep its tricks properly segregated, either opponent of such side may select a card from the tricks improperly gathered and restore such card to the player who is short. TRICKS 35. (a) A player may lead any card he holds; after each lead, each player in turn to the left must follow suit if he can. A player having none of the suit led, may play any card he holds. (b) A trick consists of four cards played in succession, beginning with a lead. (c) A trick containing one trump-card or more, is won by the player who plays the highest trump-card. A trick 108 CONTRACT BRIDGE containing no trump-card, is won by the player who plays the highest card of the suit led. (d) Declarer gathers all tricks won by himself or Dummy; either adversary may gather all tricks won by his side. All tricks gathered by a side should be kept together and so arranged that the number thereof may be observed, and the identity of each trick readily established. A trick gathered by the wrong side may be claimed by the rightful owners at any time prior to recording the score for the current hand. (e) A quitted trick may be examined upon demand of any player whose side has not led or played to the following trick. (f) The winner of each trick leads to the next, until the last trick is played. ODD TRICKS 36. (a) Odd tricks are tricks won by Declarer after he has won six tricks. The first six tricks won by Declarer constitute his book and have no scoring value. If Declarer fail to win the number of odd tricks called for by his contract, his side scores nothing for tricks; but if he fulfill his contract, his side scores for all odd tricks, including any won in excess of his contract. (b) When Declarer fulfills a doubled contract, his side scores the doubled value of his odd tricks in its trickscore; and, for making his contract, a bonus of fifty points in its honor-score. If he make more than his contract, his side scores an additional bonus of fifty points for each extra trick. When the contract has been redoubled, each bonus is one hundred points instead of fifty, and the odd tricks count four times their normal value in the trickscore. LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE 109 -- - ------- -- - - ---- -- -- ---— I —` ODD TRICK VALUES 37. Each odd trick counts in the trick score: With No Trump.............. xo points With Spades trumps......... 9 " With Hearts trumps.......... 8 " With Diamonds trumps........ 7 With Clubs trumps............ 6 Doubling doubles these values; redoubling multiplies them by four. UNDERTRICKS 38. (a) The book of the adversaries is seven minus the number of odd tricks named in Declarer's contract; when the adversaries win a trick or tricks in addition to their book, such tricks won are undertricls. (b) The adversaries score in their honor-score for all undertricks; fifty points for each undertrick when the contract is Irndoubled, one hundred points when the contract is doubled, and two hundred points when the contract is redoubled. HONORS 39. In a No Trump contract, the honors are the four Aces; in a suit contract, the honors are the Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten of that suit. HONOR VALUES 40. Honors are scored in the honor score of the side to which they are dealt; their value is not changed by doubling or redoubling. All honors held by either side are scored according to the following table: 110 CONTRACT BRIDGE Trump Honors o in one hand, 3 in the other, count 30 points I 1 2 44 c9 30 i I~ cc ft9 4~ 4~ 444 404i 2 1 it 3 4ti 0 I 2 cc 44it cc4~ ~ 44 I 2 ti 40 3 cc 500 No Trump Honors 0 in one hand, 3 in the other, count 30 points I ti t 2 i ( c 30 i I 4C4I 44 ~4Cit $44 $ 40 i I it " ' 2 ~4 4~ cc '9 40 0 c I 1 c C 4 100 One or two honors held by a side are not counted. SLAMS 41. Either side winning thirteen tricks scores one hun-~ dred points for Grand Slam. Either side winning twelve tricks score fifty points for Small Slam. Slam points are added to the honor-score. When Declarer's contract is seven and he wins six-odd, he counts fifty for Small Slanm although his contract fails. RXEFUSE AND~ RENOUNCE ~.To fail to follow suit 'is to refuse:- to refuse when able to follow suit is to renounce. LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE 111 I I - -......, LL 1 IIII l U. I IlLI.. THE REVOKE 43. (a) A renounce becomes a revoke: (i) When a renouncing player or his partner, whether in turn or otherwise, leads or plays to the following trick. (2) When the renouncing player or his partner claims the remaining tricks, or any of them. (b) When one side claims a revoke, if either opponent mix the cards before the claimant has had reasonable opportunity to examine them, the revoke is established. (c) When a player has incurred a penalty requiring him to play the highest or lowest of a suit, or to win or lose a trick, or to lead a certain suit, or to refrain from playing a certain suit, and fails to act as directed when able to do so: he is subject to the penalty for a revoke. (d) When any player (except Dummy) is found to have less than his correct number of cards, and the other three have their correct number, the missing card or cards, if found, belong to the player who is short and he is answerable for any revoke or revokes as if said card or cards had been in his hand continuously. REVOKE AVOIDED 44 A renouncing player is not penalized for revoke under the following circumstances: (a) A renounce by Dummy must be corrected if discovered before the lead to the next trick. After such lead, the renounce may not be corrected. There is no penalty in either case. (b) Should Dummy leave the table, Declarer cannot 112 CONTRACT BRIDGE be penalized for revoke, unless an adversary call the renounce to his attention in time to enable him to correct it. (c) When a player refuses, any other player may ask whether he has any or none of the suit led; and if he admit that he has renounced before his renounce has become a revoke, he shall be subject to the penalty for a renounce, but not to the penalty for a revoke. Dummy may not ask the above question, if he have intentionally seen a card of another player. RENOUNCE PENALTY 45. A renounce made by any player (except Dummy) may be corrected by such player at any time before he or his partner has led or played to the following trick. In that case there is no revoke penalty; but the player, if an adversary, may be required to play his highest or lowest card of the suit led. Declarer, instead of calling the highest or lowest, may treat the card played in error as exposed. A Declarer who has renounced may be required by either adversary to play his highest or lowest, if the adversary on his left have played after the renounce. Any player who has played after a renounce, may, if it be corrected, withdraw his card and, without penalty, substitute another; if an opponent have led to the next trick, that lead may be changed. REVOKE PENALTY 46. The revoke penalty for either side is: Two tricks for its first revoke; One trick for each subsequent revoke (if any). These tricks are taken at the end of the hand from the LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE 113 tricks of the revoking side and added to the tricks of the other side. They count exactly as if won in play and may assist Declarer to make his contract or to go game; or may assist the adversaries to defeat the contract, in which case they carry full bonus values. If they make the total twelve or thirteen tricks for either side, they carry the proper slam bonus. If the contract be doubled or redoubled, they count at the doubled or redoubled value in the trick-score of the Declarer, and carry their full bonus (if any) in the honor-score of either side. After surrendering these tricks, the revoking side may score for its remaining tricks as it would if it had not revoked. If the revoking side have not enough tricks to pay the penalty in full, surrendering all it has pays the penalty: if it have no trick, there is no penalty. TIME LIMITATION OF REVOKE CLAIM 47. No revoke penalty may be claimed after the next ensuing cut; nor, if the revoke occur during the last hand of the rubber, after the score has been agreed upon; nor, if there have been a draw for any purpose in connection with the next rubber. CLAIMING TRICKS 48. If Declarer claim the remaining tricks or any number thereof, either adversary may require him to place his cards face up on the table and to play out the hand. In that case, Declarer may not call any cards either adversary has exposed, nor refuse to trump a doubtful trick when able to do so, nor take any finesse unless: (a) He announces his intention to do sQ when making his claim; or 114 CONTRACT BRIDGE (b) The adversary on the left of the finessing hand had refused the suit before the claim was made. CONCEDING TRICKS 49. (a) Declarer may concede one or more tricks unless Dummy promptly objects; but if Dummy have intentionally seen a card in the hand of a player, he may not object. If, after a concession by Declarer and before objection by Dummy, an adversary face his cards, they are not exposed. (b) Either adversary may concede one or more tricks to Declarer, unless the other adversary promptly objects; but if the conceding adversary face his cards, they are exposed. GAME 50. A game is won when one side makes a trick-score of thirty (30) or more points. A game may be completed in one hand or more; each hand is played out, and all points won are counted, whether or not they are needed to make game. No trick-points are carried over from one game to the next; each side starts a new game with a trick-score of zero. RUBBER 5i. (a) A rubber begins with the draw and is completed when one side has won two games; when one side wins the first two games, the third game is not played. The side which has won two games adds a bonus of 250 points to its honor-score. The side then having the greater total of points wins the rubber. (b) When a rubber is started with the agreement that LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE 115 the play shall terminate (i. e., no new hand shall commence) after a specified time, and the rubber is unfinished at that time, the score is made up as it stands, I25 points being added to the honor-score of the winners of a game. A hand, if started, must be played out; but if a player refuse to finish it, his opponents may elect whether it be thrown out or counted at their estimate of the probable result. (c) If a rubber be started without any agreement as to its termination, and before its conclusion one player leave; or if, after an agreement, a player leave before the specified time, and in either case fail to appoint an acceptable substitute, the opponents have the right to consult and decide whether the score of the unfinished rubber be canceled or counted as in (b). SCORING 52. (a) Each side has a trick-score, in which are recorded only points earned by winning odd tricks; and an honor-score, in which all other points are recorded. (b) At the end of the rubber, the total points of a side are obtained by adding together its trick-score and its honor-score, including the 250-point bonus if it have won two games. Subtracting the smaller total from the greater gives the net points by which the rubber is won and lost. (c) A proved error in the honor-score may be corrected at any time before the score of the rubber has been made up and agreed upon. (d) A proved error in the trick-score may be corrected at any time before the next auction begins: or, if the error occur in the final hand of the rubber, before the score has been made up and agreed upon. 116 CONTRACT BRIDGE (e) A proved error in addition or subtraction may be corrected whenever discovered. CONSULTATION AND SELECTION OF PENALTIES 53. Laws that give "either partner," "either opponent," etc., the right to exact a penalty do not permit consultation. (a) If either partner suggest or name a penalty, he is deemed to have selected it. (b) If either direct the other to select a penalty, the latter must do so; and, if an attempt be made to refer the privilege back, the penalty is canceled. (c) If either say (in effect): "Which of us is to select the penalty?" the penalty is canceled. (d) A proper penalty once selected may not be changed. (e) If a wrong penalty be selected, the selection must be corrected upon request of either opponent. (f) If a wrong penalty be selected and paid without challenge, the selection may not be changed. (g) A reasonable time must be allowed for the selection of a penalty. (h) If, instead of exacting a penalty at the proper time, either opponent of the side in error declare or play, no penalty may be exacted. INFORMATION 54. (a) During the auction, information must be given concerning its details; but, after it is ended, should either adversary or Dummy inform his partner regarding any detail of the auction, except the contract, Declarer or either adversary (as the case may be) may call a lead the next time it is the turn of the offending side to lead. At any time during the play, any player inquiring must be LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE 117 told the final bid, and whether it was doubled or redoubled; but no information may be given as to who doubled or redoubled. (b) Any player (except Dummy) may, before a trick is turned and quitted, demand that the cards so far played be indicated by their respective players; but should either adversary, in the absence Jf such demand, in any way call attention to his o-ra card or to the trick, Declarer may require the Partner of the offender to play his highest or lowest card of the suit led, or to win or lose the trick. (c) Either adversary, but not Dummy, may call his partner's attention to the fact that he is about to play or lead out of turn; but if, during the play, an adversary make any unauthorized reference to any incident thereof, or to the location of any card, Declarer may call a lead when it next becomes an adversary's turn to lead. Any such reference by Dummy may be similarly penalized by either adversary. (d) If, before or during the auction, a player give any unauthorized information concerning his hand, his partner may be barred from further participation in the auction. ETHICS AND ETIQUETTE Offenses against the ethics and etiquette of the game are unpardonable, as they are not subject to prescribed penalties. The only redress is to cease playing with those who habitually disregard the following: I. Declarations should be made simply, without emphasis, and without undue delay. 2. A player who has looked at his cards, should not indicate by word, manner, or gesture, the nature of his 118 CONTRACT BRIDGE hand; nor his approval or disapproval of a bid, double or play; nor call attention to the score. 3. A player should not allow any hesitation or mannerism of his partner to influence his own declaration or play. 4. If a player demand that the bidding be reviewed, or that the cards played to a trick be indicated, he should do so for his own information 'and not to call his partner's attention to any bid or play. 5. An adversary should not lead until the preceding trick has been gathered; nor, having led a winning card, should he draw another from his hand before his partner has played to the current trick. 6. A card should not be played with empliasis, nor in such manner as to draw attention to it; nor should a player detach one card from his hand and subsequently play another. 7. No player should hesitate unnecessarily in his play, in order to create a wrong impression regarding his hand. 8. Dummy should not leave his seat to watch Declarer play. 9. Except when permitted by law, a player should not look at a trick that has been turned and quitted. o1. A player should not purposely incur a penalty, even though willing to pay it; nor make a second revoke to conceal a first. INDEX TO LAWS Adversary (ies). -'s book, 38 (a). - calls attention to renounce, 44(b)'. - completes lead or play, 3:1(a). - concede tricks, 49(b). - correct renounce, 45. - defined, 29q. exposes cards, 34(g). - gathers tricks, 335(d). " —" is opponent of declarer, 29. - lead simultaneously, 34(b). - leads out of turn, 34. - leads several winning cards, 34(e4. - mentions card, 32 (e). -'a undertricks, g8 (a), 38(b). -shows 13th card, 32(f). - suggests "playing it Out," 49(b). Agreement to terminate rubber, 5x b). "Asking" about renounce, 30(d-5), 44(c). Auction. - begins and ends, 17(a). Information regarding-, 54(a). Barred from further participation in auction, 2o(d), 2!, 22, 26(g), aS, 54(d). Bid. Changing -, 20, 27. "Declare" includes "~-," 17 (4). -defined, 17 (a). Higher - defined, 19. -, how made, z8. Impossible- 23i. Insufficient- 20. -is declaration, 317 (a). -made after declaration ends, 26 (c). I 19 120 CONTRACT BRIDGE made when under compulsion to pass, 26(1.). "no -" changed to "no trump,." 27. -fover seven, 2!. out of turn, 22. Seven the highest possible-, 2!..-penalized, 22z, 26(1.), 26(c). Bonus (es).- counted in honor-score, 52z(a). -for doubled and redoubled contract, s6(b):, - for revoke, 46. -for rubber, 5-x(a), 52(b). - for undertricks, 38(1.). Book. Adversaries' -, 38 (a). Declarer's-, 29, 36(a). Breaking up a table, 8 (b). Canceling score, Si (c). Candidate (s). -for entry at table, 6. Priority among -, 6. Card(s). See also Pack. Adversary leads several winning-, 34(e). Backs of -must be different, 2. Calling exposed-, 3o(d-2), 33, S4(a), 34(1), 45, 49(4) 49(1.). Calling highest or lowest-, 34(f), 45, 54(1.). Correct -, 2z(b). -dealt into four packets, xS (a). Declarer plays Dummy's-, go(a). -displaced in the cut, x2(b). Drawing-, 5, 6(a), 9(c). -dropped, 32(1.), 32(c), 32(g). -exposed, xo(e),!4, i1(b aS2, 32, 33. -faced in the cut, irz(b). -- faced in the deal, irs(b). - faced in deal, 14. - faced in the auction, 28. Four -in cut, ia(1.) -improperly dealt, 15, i6. Laying down-, 30 (a), 32 (9), 48, 49. -led or played simultaneously, sz(a)'. LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE 121 Leaving four —in draw, 5. Marked-, 2(c). - mentioned by adversary, 32 (e). Missing-, 15 II, 34(j), 43(d). Mixing the -when revoke is claimed, 43(b). More than thirteen -held, i S (). Perfect-, 2(c). Placing-, 54(b). -played in error, 34. Player holds too few or too many-, z5(c), zS(d). Quitted trick contains too few-, 34(h). Rank of-, 3. - replaced, z(d). Soiled-, 2(c). Substituting-, 2(d). Torn -, 2(c). -touched by declarer, 3t(c). — touched by dummy, 30(b). — touched during deal, 14. Two packs of - used, 2(a). — withdrawn following renounce, 45. Changing declaration, 27. Choice. -of packs, 9(a), 9(c). -of seats, 9(a), 9(c). Claiming "the rest," 43(a-2), 48. Complete table, 6(a). Conceding tricks, 49. Consultation 9(a), 3o(d-3), 34(a), 53 -Contract. -bonus for double and redouble, 36(b). -defined, 29. Failing to make-, 36(a). Giving information regarding-, 54(a). Highest bid becomes-, 29. - lost by revoke, 46. Odd tricks and-, 36. Slams and-, 4x. Winning-, 36. - won by revoke, 46. 122 CONTRACT BRIDGE' Correct pack,:z(b), r15 II. "Courtesies of the table," 44(b). Cut. - completed by dealer, xz (a). Deal begins after-, 13(a). - described, z2 (a). Improper -, iz (b). Must-four cards, I2(b). New-, sz2b). No shuffle after-, iz(b). Wrong player-s, iz:(b). Cutting for deal and partners, 5, 9. Cutting out. - at beginning of rubber, S. - at end of rubber, 9 (b). Deal. - after cut, I 3(a). - by wrong dealer, x6 (a). Cards faced or exposed in -, 14, z15(b)?. Cards touched in -, 14. - described, 13. Drawing for-, 9 (a). Irregular-, 15, 3[6. Looking at cards during-, 14. New-, 315, z6, 21, 26(e), 26(#-3)". -out of turn, x6(a). "passed out," 317(b). Players -in turn to left,:[3. - stands, 6 (b). When-begins and ends, 13. -with imperfect or incorrect pack, 15 II, i6(b). - with wrong pack, z 6(a). Dealer. -completes cut, 12(a). -deals out of turn, x6(a). - deals with wrong pack, z6 (a). First-, how selected, 9(a). New-deals, i6(a), 17(b). -omits cut, i6(a). -'s partner 9(a). LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE 123 Same-deals, 15 I, 15 II, I6(b). -shuffles last, xo(a). Declaration. See also Declare. -changed, 27. Inadvertent -, 27. Irregular-, 26. "-" includes "bid," "pass," "double" and "redouble," 17(a). — made when under compulsion to pass 26(b). Declarations out of turn. Bid after end of auction, 26(c). Bid by barred player, 26(b). Bid condoned, 22. Bid penalized, 22. Bid void, 22. Double after end of auction, 26(c)'. Double by barred player, 26(b). Double made before bid, 26(a), Double penalized, 22, 26(g). Pass after end of auction, 26(d). Pass condoned, 24(b). Pass made before bid, 24(a). Pass penalized, 24(a), 24(b). Pass void, 24(a), 24(b). Redouble after end of auction, 26(c). Redouble by barred player, 26 (b). Redouble made before bid, 26(a). Redouble penalized, 22, 26(g). Declare(s). See also Declaration. - ing and changing, 27. - defined, 29. "-" includes "bid," "pass," "double," and "redouble," 17(a). Declarer. "Adversary" is-'s opponent, 29. -and contract, 29, 36(a). - and dummy, 29. -'s bonus for double and redouble, 36(b). -'s book, 29, 36(a). -claims or concedes tricks, 48, 49(a). -completes lead or play, 31(b). -condones lead out of turn, 34. 124 CONTRACT BRIDGE -defined, 29. -gathers tricks, 3s(d), - leads from wrong hand, 34 (). -leads out of turn, 34 -— makes contract by adverse revoke, 46. -may not forbid lead of exposed card, 33(c). — may not forbid lead of more than three suits, 28. -not liable for exposed cards, 33(a). Only- scores for odd tricks, 36(a). -'s partner exposes hand, 34(a). Partner who first names suit is —, 29. -plays dummy's cards, 30(a). -plays out of turn, 34(c), 34(g). — scores slam on losing contract, 41. -taking finesse, 48. -touching card, 3 (c). Definitions. Adversary, 29. Auction, z7. Auction Bridge, z. Bid, IS. Bid out of turn, 22. Book, 36(a), 38(a). Contract, 29. Correct pack, 2. Cut, 12. Deal, 13. Declaration, 17(a). Declare, 17(a). Declarer, 29. Double, 25. Drawing, 9. Dummy, 29. Exposed cards, 32. Following suit, 35(a). Game, 50. Hand, i. Higher bid, 19. Honor-score, 40. Honors, 39. Imperfect pack, 2. Impossible bid, 21. Insufficient bid, o2. Lead, 31. Member, 6. Net points, 52(b). Odd tricks, 36(a). Partners, i. Pass, 23. Play, 30, 31. Redouble, 25. Refuse, 42. Renounce, 42. Revoke, 43. Rubber 5 (a). Shuffle, io. Side, i. Slam, 41. Total points, Sz(a). Trick, 35(b). Trick score, 52(a). Undertricks, 38. Winning rubber, 51(a). Demanding new cards, a. Deuce low, 3. Double. - after auction ends, 26(c). -before a bid is made, 26(a). Bidding values not changed by -, 25. Bonus for-d contract, 36(b), 38(b). "Declare" includes " —", 17(a). - defined, 25. Honor values not changed by -, 25. LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE 125 - of a -, 25. -of designated suit, 26(h). - of opponent's -, 25. -of partner's bid, 26(f). -of redouble, 26(e). -out of turn, 22, 26. Slam values not changed by -, 25. Trick values doubled by-, 25, 36(b). -when turn of partner, 26(g). -when under compulsion to pass, 26(b)) Draw(ing). All - from same pack, 5. - for cutting out, 7. -'for deal, 9(a). -for entry, 6(a). -for partners; 9(a), 9(c). -, how conducted, 5. - more than one card, 5. - two cards, must draw again, 5. Dummy. -completes lead or play, 31(c). -corrects renounce, 44(a). Declarer plays —'s cards, 30(a). - defined, 29. -leads out of turn, 34(c). -leaving table, 44 (b). -'s limitations (conditional), 30(d), 44(c), 49(a). -'s limitations (unconditional), 30(b). -not liable for exposed cards, 33(a). -not liable for revoke, 44(a). -'s rights, 3o(c), 34(a). -suggests "playing it out," 49 (a). -touching cards, 30(b). Touching cards in-, 3I(c). Entry at table, 6, 8(b). Error. Cards played in -, 34. -in addition and subtraction, S2(e). - in dealing, i5, I6. -in honor-score, 2 (c). 126 126CONTRACT BRIDGE - in trick score, 52z(d). Ethics and Etiquette, Following Law, 54. Exposed cards. Calling, 3o(d-2z), 33, 34(a), 34(e), 45, 49(a), 49(b).- cannot force renounce, 33(b). Declarer and dummy not liable for-, 33(a). - defined, 3:2. - during auction, as. -during deal, 14, 15(b). - during play, 3Z. - during shuffle, xo(c). Penalty for -, 33. - may be called several times, 33(,c). -. may be played, 3 3(c).Two or more -, 28. Exposed Ten, 28. Failing. - to play directed, 43(c). Finesse must not be taken, 48. Following suit, 35(a). Forming tables, 6. Fourth hand plays before second, 34(t). Game(s). All - points counted, So. -,defined, i, 50. how played, I. how won, 50. -starts at zero, 50. Thirty points to a -, 5o. Two -win rubber, 5I (a)r. when completed, 50. -won by revoke, 46. Gathering tricks, 35(d). Giving information, 54 Grand Slam, 41. Hand. -begins and ends, xr. -defined, x x. Each -played out, 50, 5z b). One - or more to a game, So. LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE 127 Played Out-, 48, 50, 51(b). Higher bid. Bid, 'if not-, 'is insufficient 2o(a). defined, '9. -must be made, 17(a). "Highest" -bid is contract, 29. Calling-or lowest, 34(f), 45, 54(b).Honor(s). -count as dealt, 40. -count in the-~score, 52(a). -described, 39. - not affected by double or redouble, 40. One or two - not counted, 40. - score, 5gz(d).Slams counted as -, 52(a). IUndertricks counted as-, 3S(b). -values, 40. "Iarrange," 31 (c). Imperfect pack. -causes new deal, x6 (by. -defined, 2 (C). Impossible bid, 21. "'Inadvertently" defined,:27. Incomplete table, 6 (b). Incorrect pack. -causes new deal, 3i5, 11, x6(a)'. -defined, 2 (b). Indicating cards, 54(b). Information, 54. Initial lead, 30(a). Insufficient bid. -condoned, 20o(C) -corrected,:20(b), 2o(d). -defined, 20 (a). -made sufficient in same suit,:zo(b). -penalized, 20(d). junior. -defined, 29. -leads out of turn, 34(a). 128 CONTRACT BI3RDGE Laying down cards, 30 (a), 32 (g), 48, 49. Lead. Adversaries -several winning cards, 34(r)'. by partner of proper leader, 34. Calling a -, 30, 33, 34, 54. - completed by adversary, 31(a). -completed by declarer, 31(b). -completed by dummy, 3z(c). -~defined, 31. establishes revoke, 43 (a-i). from wrong hand, 30(b-I). Inital -by Senior, 30(a). -of several winning cards, 34(e)'. -out of turn, 30(d-3), 34, 54(C). simultaneously, 34 (b).Which player.-s, 30(a), 3S(1). Leaving. -four cards in draw, S. -table, 7, 8(a), 44.(b), Sz(c). Looking at quitted tricks, x 5 II, 3 5(e), 43 (b)'. Making up tables, 7. Members. -draw for partners and deal, 9(a). -leaving tables, 7. -of table, 6 (a), 7. Six.- make complete table, 6 (a). Misdeal, '5, i 6. Misdraw, 5. Missing cards, 15 II, 34(j), 43(d). Naming doubled or redoubled bid, a,6(h)'. New. -cards, 2. -cut, 112(b). -shuffle, zo(d), t2(b). New deal. Compulsory -, z5. for card faced or exposed, 3x5(b). -for cut omitted, z6(a). -for deal by wrong dealer z6(a). -for deal out of turn, z6 (a). LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE 129 for dealing with wrong pack, x 6 (a). -for illegal double or redouble, z6(e), 26(g-3). f or imperfect pack, i6 (b). for impossible bid, 2x (a). -for improper number of cards dealt, 15 (c). for improper number of cards held, x5 (d). for incorrect pack, 15 IL. -for irregular deal, x5, x6. for missing cards, xg II. for omitting cut, 16(a). -for omitting playing to trick, 34(h). Optional -, i6. -~when four players pass, 17(b). "No bid" (same as Pass"). cc-" changed to "No Trumps," 27'. No trump. Iti' changed to "no bid," 2z7. defined, x S. -highest in auction, x9. honors, 39, 40. -tricks count ten, 37. Odd tricks. -defined,3 36(a). -in auction, is, 19. not counted when contract fails, 36 (ar., -,values, 37. -,when counted, 36. -,where scored, 52(a). One or two honors not counted 40. Pack (s). All draw from same -, 5. Backs of - must be different, 2. Choice of -, 9 (a). Correct -, 2z(b). Cutting the -, 12. New -, 2z(d). Perfect -,:z(c). Soiled-, z2(c). Still -, zo (b). Two -used, a2(a). 130 CONTRACT BRIDGE Wrong- dealt, z6(a). Pass. "Declare" includes "-"17 (d). -defined, 23. - ends auction, 23. Four players -in succession, 17(b). -mxade after auction ends, 26(d). - out of turn, 24. Penalty. Reasonable time for selecting-, 53(g)'. Selecting wrong-, 53(e), 53(f). Penalty applied. Barred from auction,:2o(d), 21x, 22, 26(g), 28, 54(d). B~idding errors, 22, 2z6. Breaking up table 8 (b), Si (c). Calling exposed card, 30(d-2), 33, 34(a), 34(e), 45, 49(a), 49(b). Calling or prohibiting card, lead, suit, highest or lowest, lose or win, etc., 23, 3o(b-I), 30(b-2), 33(b), 33(c), 34(a), 34(C), 34(e), 34(1), 45, 48 54. Consultation, 53. Contract failure, 38(b). Cut omitted, i6(a). Cutting wrong, 12(b). Dealing errors, r5, z6. Declaration errors,:20, 22, 24,:z6, 27. Doubling errors, 26. Exposed cards, 33. Failure to play to trick, 34(h). Improper information, 54. Insufficient bid, 20(d). Irregular bid, 2:2, 27. Irregular double, 22, 26. Irregular pass, 2-4. Irregular redouble, 2z6. Lead out of turn, 30(d-3), 34(4)o Leaving table, 8, 51(c). Pass out of turn, 24. Redoubling errors, 26. Renounce, 44(c), 45. LAWS OF AUCTION 13RIDGE 131 Revoke, 3o (d-4), 30(d-5), 34(j), 46. Shuffling errors, io(d. Wrong number of cards held, x5(c), zS(d). Perfect pack, 2(C). Placing cards, 54(b). Play. - begins and ends, 30(a). - completed by adversary, 31(4). -completed by declarer, 31(b). - completed by dummy, 31(c). - defined, 311. - establishes revoke, 43 (a-i). Failing to -as directed, 43 (c). Fourth hand -s before second, 34(1)'. -ing highest or lowest. See Calling. -ing out of turn, 34(c). -ing out the hand, 48, 50, 51(b) -ing to a trick, 35S. Order Of-, 3 5(a).Terminating - by agreement, SI b) Player (s). -cutting out, 6 (a), 9. -first naming suit is declarer, 29. Four - in game, x. -leaving tables, 7, 8(a), 44(b), SI(c). Priority among-, 9(b). Playing cards, 2. Points. All game -counted, So. Net-in rubber, 52(b). -not carried forward, 50. Scoring -, 52. Thirty - to game, 5o. Total-in rubber, Sir(a), S2(b). Priority. -among candidates, 6. -among members, 9(b). -among players, 9(b). "'Protection from revokes," 44(b). Quitted. I I I THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIAN GRADUATE LIBRARY DUE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN I3 9015 02535 2801i /o, DO NOT REMOVE OR MUTILATE CARD U'lw - - - -M — 1i 4- -I-.,, — tul