Bridge Axioms and Laws
Discouragement should make the player more resolute.
Preserve us from the bore who insists on turning conversation into argument.
It is the critical who are most sensitive to criticism.
The best way to deal with bad luck is to bear it gracefully.
The best players are always patient with the novice.
There are those who teach one Bridge because they play so badly.
Many people are so busy playing that they don't pause to think how they are playing.
Many call "bad luck" that which is only neglect to improve opportunity.
He who is too busy to consider his faults will never take time to mend them.
Those who think the least have the most time to criticise.
The expertness of the player who is at the pains to announce it may be doubted.
Some people ask for criticism but grow angry if it is adverse.
It is not so much your Bridge knowledge, but the use you make of it, that counts.
The novice plays before he thinks, the expert thinks before he plays.
The silent player, like the dog that bites without growling, gets the best hold on the game.
There are people so absorbed in their own Bridge perfection that it is impossible for them to see merit in anyone else.
A good way to succeed in Bridge is to observe what is most successful with others.
THE LAWS OF BRIDGE
Revised 1907
THE RUBBERThe partners first winning two games win the rubber. If the first two games be won by the same partners, the third game is not played.
A game consists of thirty points obtained by tricks alone, exclusive of any points counted for honours, Chicane, or Slam.
Every hand is played out, and any points in excess of thirty points necessary for the game are counted.
Each trick above six counts two points when spades are trumps, four points when clubs are trumps, six points when diamonds are trumps, eight points when hearts are trumps, and twelve points when there are no trumps.
Honours are ace, king, queen, knave, and ten of the trump suit; or the aces when no-trump is declared.
Honours are credited to the original holders and are valued as follows:
If a player and his partner make thirteen tricks, independently of any tricks gained by the revoke penalty, they score Grand Slam and add forty points to their honour count.
Little Slam is twelve tricks similarly scored, and adds twenty points to the honour count.
Chicane (one hand void of trumps) is equal in value to three honours, i. e., if partner of player having Chicane scores honours he adds the value of three honours to his honour score, while, if the adversaries score honours, it deducts an equal value from their honour score. Double Chicane (a player and his partner both void of trumps) is equal in value to four honours, and the value thereof may be deducted from the total honour score of the adversaries.
The value of honours, Slam, Little Slam, or Chicane, is in no wise affected by doubling or re-doubling.
At the conclusion of a rubber the scores for tricks, honours, Chicane, and Slam, obtained by each side, are added, and one hundred points are added to the score of the winners of the rubber. The difference between the completed scores is the number of points won or lost by the winners of the rubber.
If an erroneous score affecting tricks be proven, such mistake must be corrected prior to the conclusion of the game in which it has occurred, and such game shall not be considered as concluded until the following deal has been completed and the trump declared, unless it be that the game is the last one of the rubber, – then the score is subject to inquiry until an agreement between the sides (as to the value of the rubber) shall have been reached.
If an erroneous score affecting honours, Chicane, or Slam be proven, such mistake may be corrected at any time before the score of the rubber has been made up and agreed upon.
In cutting, the ace is the lowest card and, as between cards of otherwise equal value, the lowest is the heart, next the diamond, next the club, and highest the spade.
In all cases every player must cut from the same pack.
Should a player expose more than one card, he must cut again.
The prior right of playing is with those first in the room. If there are more than four candidates for seats at a table, the privilege of playing is decided by cutting. The four who cut the lowest cards play first.
After the table is formed, the players cut to decide on partners; the two lowest play against the two highest. The lowest is the dealer, who has choice of cards and seats, and who, having once made his selection, must abide by it.
Six players constitute a full table, and no player shall have a right to cut into a game which is complete.
When there are more than six candidates, the right to succeed any player who may retire is acquired by announcing the desire to do so, and such announcement shall constitute a prior right to the first vacancy.
At the end of a rubber, should admission be claimed by one or two candidates, the player or players having played a greater number of consecutive rubbers shall withdraw; but when all have played the same number, they must cut to decide upon the outgoers; the highest are out.
A candidate desiring to enter a table must declare such wish before any player at the table cuts a card, either for the purpose of beginning a new rubber or of cutting out.
In the formation of new tables, those candidates who have neither belonged to nor played at any other table have the prior right of entry. Those who have already played decide their right of admission by cutting.
A player who cuts into one table while belonging to another shall forfeit his prior right of re-entry into the latter, unless by doing so he enables three candidates to form a fresh table. In this event he may signify his intention of returning to his original table, and his place at the new one can be filled.
Should any player quit the table during the progress of a rubber, he may, with the consent of the other three players, appoint a substitute during his absence; but such appointment shall become void with the conclusion of the rubber, and shall not in any way affect the substitute's rights.
If anyone break up a table, the remaining players have a prior right to play at other tables.
SHUFFLINGThe pack must neither be shuffled below the table nor so the face of any card be seen.
The dealer's partner must collect the cards for the ensuing deal and he has the first right to shuffle the cards. Each player has the right to shuffle subsequently. The dealer has the right to shuffle last, but should a card or cards be seen during his shuffling, or whilst giving the pack to be cut, he must re-shuffle.
Each player, after shuffling, must place the cards properly collected and face downward to the left of the player next to deal.
THE DEALEach player deals in his turn; the order of dealing goes to the left.
The player on the dealer's right cuts the pack, and in dividing it he must not leave fewer than four cards in either packet; if in cutting or in replacing one of the two packets a card be exposed, or if there be any confusion of the cards or a doubt as to the exact place in which the pack was divided, there must be a fresh cut.
When the player whose duty it is to cut has once separated the pack he can neither re-shuffle nor re-cut the cards.
Should the dealer shuffle the cards, after the pack is cut, the pack must be cut again.
The fifty-two cards shall be dealt face downward. The deal is not completed until the last card has been dealt face downward.
THERE IS NO MISDEAL.
There must be a new deal —
a If the cards be not dealt into four packets, one at a time, and in regular rotation, beginning at the dealer's left.
b If, during a deal, or during the play of a hand, the pack be proven incorrect or imperfect.
c If any card be faced in the pack.
d If any player have dealt to him a greater number of cards than thirteen.
e If the dealer deal two cards at once and then deal a third before correcting the error.
f If the dealer omit to have the pack cut and the adversaries call attention to the fact prior to the conclusion of the deal and before looking at their cards.
g If the last card do not come in its regular order to the dealer.
There may be a new deal —
a If the dealer or his partner expose a card. The eldest hand may claim a new deal.
b If either adversary expose a card. The dealer or his partner may claim a new deal.
c If, before fifty-one cards are dealt, the dealer should look at any card. His adversaries have the right to see it, and the eldest hand may exact a new deal.
d If, in dealing, one of the last cards be exposed by the dealer or his partner, and the deal is completed before there is reasonable time for the eldest hand to decide as to a new deal. But in all other cases such penalties must be claimed prior to the completion of the deal.
The claim for a new deal by reason of a card exposed during the deal may not be made by a player who has looked at any of his cards. If a new deal does not take place, the card exposed during the deal cannot be called.
Should three players have their right number of cards, and should the fourth, not being dummy, have less than thirteen and not discover such deficiency until he has played any of his cards, the deal stands good; should he have played, he is answerable for any revoke he may have made as if the missing card or cards had been in his hand. The other pack may be searched for the missing card or cards.
If during the play of a deal a pack be proven incorrect or imperfect, such proof renders only the current deal void, and does not affect any prior score. The dealer must deal again.
Any one dealing with the adversaries' cards must be corrected before the play of the first card, otherwise the deal stands good. If any one deals when it is the turn of an adversary, such error must be corrected before the cards are dealt for the following deal.
A player can neither shuffle, cut, nor deal for his partner without the permission of his adversaries.
The trump is declared. No card is turned.
a The dealer may either make the trump or pass the declaration to his partner.
b If the declaration be passed to partner, he must make the trump.
Should the dealer's partner make the trump without receiving permission from the dealer, the eldest hand may demand,
1st. That the trump shall stand, or
2d. That there shall be a new deal.
But if any declaration as to doubling, or not doubling, shall have been made, or if a new deal be not claimed, the declaration wrongly made shall stand. The eldest hand is the player on the left of the dealer.
Should the dealer's partner pass the declaration to the dealer, it shall be the right of the eldest hand to claim a new deal or to compel the offending player to declare the trump; provided, that no declaration as to doubling has been made.
If either of the dealer's adversaries make or pass the declaration, the dealer may, after looking at his hand, either claim a new deal or proceed as if no declaration had been made.
A declaration once made cannot be altered.
The effect of doubling, re-doubling, and so on, is that the value of each trick above six is doubled, quadrupled, and so on.
After the trump declaration has been made by the dealer or his partner, their adversaries have the right to double. The eldest hand has the first right. If he does not wish to double, he may ask his partner, "May I lead?" His partner shall answer, "Yes," or "I double."
If either of their adversaries elect to double, the dealer and his partner have the right to re-double. The player who has declared the trump shall have the first right. He may say, "I re-double" or "Satisfied." Should he say the latter, his partner may re-double.
If the dealer or his partner elect to re-double, their adversaries shall have the right to again double. The original doubler has the first right.
If the right-hand adversary of the dealer double before his partner has asked "May I lead?" the declarer of the trump shall have the right to say whether or not the double shall stand. If he decide that the double shall stand, the process of re-doubling may continue as described above.
The process of re-doubling may be continued indefinitely.1 The first right to continue the re-doubling on behalf of a partnership belongs to that player who has last re-doubled. Should he, however, express himself satisfied, the right to continue the re-doubling passes to his partner. Should any player re-double out of turn, the adversary who last doubled shall decide whether or not such double shall stand. If it is decided that the re-double shall stand, the process of re-doubling may continue as described in this and foregoing laws. If any double or re-double out of turn be not accepted, there shall be no further doubling in that hand. Any consultation between partners as to doubling or re-doubling will entitle the maker of the trump or the eldest hand, without consultation, to a new deal.
If the eldest hand lead before the doubling be completed, his partner may re-double only with the consent of the adversary who last doubled; but such lead shall not affect the right of either adversary to double.
When the question, "May I lead?" has been answered in the affirmative, or when the player who has the last right to continue the doubling expresses himself satisfied, the play shall begin.
Should the eldest hand lead without asking permission, his partner may double, but only if the maker of the trump consent.
Should the right-hand adversary of the dealer ask permission to lead, the eldest hand does not thereby lose his right to double. Should the right-hand adversary of the dealer double before his partner has asked "May I lead?" the maker of the trump shall have the right to say whether or not the double shall stand. If he decide that the double shall stand, the process of re-doubling may continue.
If the right-hand adversary of the dealer lead out of turn, the maker of the trump may call a suit from the eldest hand, who may only double if the maker of the trump consent.
A declaration as to doubling or re-doubling once made cannot be altered.
DUMMYAs soon as the eldest hand has led, the dealer's partner shall place his cards face upward on the table, and the duty of playing the cards from that hand shall devolve upon the dealer, unassisted by his partner.
Before exposing his cards, the dealer's partner has all the rights of a player, but after his cards have been shown the dealer's partner takes no part whatever in the play, except that he has the right —
a To ask the dealer whether he has none of the suit in which he may have renounced.
b To ask the dealer when called upon to play his highest or lowest card whether he has conformed to the penalty.
c To call the dealer's attention to the fact that a trick has not been completed.
d To correct the claim of either adversary to a penalty to which the latter is not entitled.
e To call attention to the fact that a trick has been erroneously taken by either side.
f To participate in the discussion of any disputed question of fact which may arise between the dealer and either adversary.
g To correct an erroneous score.
Should the dealer's partner call attention to any other incident of the play, in consequence of which any penalty might be exacted, the fact of his so doing precludes the dealer exacting such penalty.
If the dealer's partner, by touching a card or otherwise, suggest the play of a card from dummy, either of the adversaries may, but without consultation, call upon the dealer to play or not to play the card suggested.
Dummy is not liable to the penalty for a revoke; and if he should revoke and the error be not discovered until the trick is turned and quitted, the trick stands good.
A card from the dealer's hand is not played until actually quitted; but should the dealer name or touch a card from the dummy hand, such card is considered as played, unless the dealer in touching the card or cards says, "I arrange," or words to that effect.
If, after the deal has been completed and before the trump declaration has been made, either the dealer or his partner expose a card from his hand, the eldest hand may, without consulting with his partner, claim a new deal.
If, after the deal has been completed and before a card is led, any player shall expose a card, his partner shall forfeit any right to double or re-double which he otherwise would have been entitled to exercise; and in case of a card being so exposed by the leader's partner, the dealer may either call the card or require the leader not to lead the suit of the exposed card.