Do’s and Don’t’s
at the Bridge Table
DON”T
--Give
unsolicited advice to your partner or to your opponents
--Discuss
the hand just played. ACBL law prohibits
discussing played hands while the game is in progress as people at other tables
may overhear you.
--Pass
your hand to anyone at the table for any reason or get up from the table to
look at declarer’s hand when you are dummy.
--Detach
a card from your hand until it is your turn to play a card. This often gives unauthorized
information to your partner – and to your opponents.
--Move
to the next table or pass the boards until the director calls the move.
--Make
any comments, including facial expressions, when dummy’s hand is laid on the
table.
--Comment
on how many tricks have been taken or how many tricks still are needed to make
the contract. Don’t comment on the vulnerability during bidding.
--Ask
to see the cards played to the last trick after all 4 cards have been placed
face down. As long as your have not placed your card face down, however, you
may ask to see any cards played to the current trick. Although this rule is
often overlooked in social games, expect it to be enforced at a tournament or
high-level club duplicate game.
--Humorous
as it may sound, you are not allowed to bid without looking at your hand.
DO
--Be
mindful that many clubs practice Zero Tolerance for bad manners and all
tournaments definitely do.
If you do not know what Zero Tolerance
means, please ask!!
--Remember
that North is in charge of the table and will move the boards to the next
table, be sure the boards are played in the proper order, and north is
responsible for recording the scores.
--Do
remember to check the score (east/west)that North
enters into the electronic scoring devices. If you accept the score and it is
wrong, you are equally responsible and the director may be unable to adjust it
at a later time and the score will stand.
--Remember
that one may ask to review the bidding prior to the opening lead or at any
point in the hand when it is his or her turn to play a card. The review must be
given by an opponent in its entirety, your partner is not permitted to speak
unless the review is inaccurate.
--Do
remember that the red stop card is used before you make a bid higher than the
required minimum. It is to alert your opponents that you are about to make a “skip”
bid. You place the stop card face up on the table, make your bid, pause
approximately 10 seconds and then remove the stop card. The next person may not
bid until the card is removed.
--Do
remember to ask, “Any questions, partner?”
before making the opening lead. You must select
a card and hold it face down before asking the question; you may not change it
if partner asks a question. What is the reason for this? You are alerting
partner that you are about to lead, and a common response is, “It’s not your
lead.” In that case, you put the unexposed card back in your hand and allow the
correct person to lead. This also gives partner an opportunity to ask any
questions he or she may have about the bidding.
Do
call the director if someone makes a lead out of turn. The opponents have a
number of options.
Do
call the director if an insufficient bid is made. The opponents have options,
as well as you. You do NOT have to make it sufficient.
--When
your partner does not follow suit, do remember to ask, “No spades (or the
appropriate suit), partner?” If partner has inadvertently failed to follow
suit, the remedies are simple. If you do not discover a failure to follow suit
(known as a revoke or renege) until later in the game, it will have a much more
significant impact on you and your partner. If someone fails to follow suit,
call the director. There may be lead restrictions later in the hand.
--Do
call the director if anyone at the table is making it uncomfortable for you to
play or if you suspect there may have been an inadvertent violation of the
rules. A courteous statement is, “I’m not sure whether that was allowed. I
would like to call the director so we can all find out.
--Remember
the appropriate way to call the director. Say, “Director, please.” Raise your
hand and keep it raised until the director acknowledges that he or she has seen
you.
--Try
your best to take bathroom or refreshment breaks when you have finished a round
early. Avoid waiting until the move for the next round is called and the
opponents at the next table are waiting for you.
--Remember
that a good partner is your most valuable asset. Compliment your partner
whenever possible.