NEW
LAWS OF BRIDGE.
A THREE-NATION CODE
MANY DIFFERENCES RECONCILED
The following explanation of the changes in the Laws of Bridgo, which have been promulgated by the Portland Club and uame into operation on November 7, is published with the club's authority. The author-baa-taken-a-large-part-in-the-negotiations, extending over three years, of which the agreed code is a result.
The explanation was published last month in "The Times," and we give the following extracts from the article by Mr. A. Carron Roberts..
are
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HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1932.
more
2 Amuch
important chang Touching for the purpas of play takes the place of 'quitting in determining when the play of a eard from the exposed hand becomes irrevocable (21 (2) a). This is also an adoption of the American rule, and it will probably serve to abate A considerable, nuisanon
Prometatutos a mi oposed sard has been both extended (b and f.) def. xxvi.) and curtailed (c. of that definition). --4--In-the-laws open to variation
(Part VIII.) it is provided:-
J. That the order of entering the room shall govern precedence as between those who, have not yet. played (from American law). players, to see how largely new ii. That special privileges shall meinber of a pure be extended to features predominate over adoptions from other codes. The table who comments to make up latter, wich include some distinct another table which cannot be form- acknowledged i od without him (from American improvements, in the paragraphs where they are Inw).
Arguing put the rea announced. pective advantages of different treatments has revealed many pos- better, abilities of finding This is particularly true of the scoring system and the penalty code, which are dealt with respec tively in subsequent sections of this article.
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A code of Bridge Laws agreed and promulgated by the Portland Club, the Whist Club of New York, and the Commission Francaise du Bridge may fairly be entitled s these three "' International,” bodies are respectively responsible for the only Bridge Laws hitherto isaued (with possibly one excep- tion). The new code applies to the Auction, Contract, and Plafond games. Apart from the scoring Jaws, which necessarily differ, identical Inwa will be in force for each game except that for Auction the value rule will still govern the A definition clause is now includ bidding and the remedy for an-uned, giving the meanings of the 31 derbid will be different.
expressions which are used in a more or less technical sense. The Probably few players know how only new terms are," rotation" and widely the English, French, and denomination," which have the American lawa bave differed. same meanings as "l'ordre établi Confining attention to differences and "couleu have had in the which could reverse the result of French definition clause.
"Con- a rubber, a comparison of the tract "takes the place of "declara English and American laws pro- tion," and "premium core" of duces at least 30 and a compari-scorp almve the line." son of the American, and French
ii. That while there are oply seven in the room the membership of the only table shall include seven instead of six, and that three shall retire at the end of each rubber.
B. A duty to shuffle is imposed i on the player on the left of the first dealer (from American law). 4. The right to have the calls restated is open to any player be tween the close of the auction and the playing of the lead (from French law), but during the auction it is confined to the player whose turn it ja to call (17).
Behaviour,
The supplement is an attempt to secure observance of the ! proprio ties of the game," Experiente goei to show that much more onbe done on the side of behaviour by providing a list of things which must be avoided than by prescrib ing penalties. A "black listto. which attention can be drawn, with that degree of lightness or solemni- ty which the cocasion appoare to demand, can be more potent than any scheme of sanctions: There are few players who will not-find some thing to take to heart on the list quoted below. A good many of its items have been culled from the French laws.
:
Undue delay in making ' cali when there is no need to con sider any other call, Calling with special emphasis, in-
flection or intonation. Varying the formulag used in
calling. Exceptional haste, or reluctance
in passing or in doubling. An unnecessary request for a re view of the calls already made in the auction..
In any way attracting attention to the score, except when neces ary to do so for his own in- formation.
Carelessly passing or playing out
of turn.
Giving by word, manner or ges-
ture any indication of the pa- į ture of the hand held,
Any remark, question or gesture from which an inference may be drawn.
Calling attention to the number of tricks needed to complete or to defeat the contract or to the fact that it has already been Fulfilled.
Giving during the hand mau- thorized information as to any incident of the auction,
Indicating in any way approval
Undertrick - Penalties,
Detaching & card from his hand "It is outside the scope of this tion gamo, bolishing the made before it is his turn to lead or Supplement, to refer to dishonour contact premium level this balines play, eg, a lend hold ready whip note, such as using an undis- for vulnerable contracts and before the partner has played | close or recrtè convention; but, to proves it materially for other conf to the current trick, may indi- | remove any possible doubt, it is tracts. cate a desire to be left with the stated here that no player should Iosal; and a lead held ready deliberately infringe any law oven after leading & ord may in- when prepared to pay the penalty, form the partner that the card and that this includes making led, though not the highest, is a winner, And may be utili: mere informatire when the second lead in from a different suit.
Volunteering information which can only he given in reply to a question.
For other reasons it is necessary, to avoid with special- care:-
Tilting eards upwards in the get
of dealing or otherwise allow ing any of them to be sen., This may cast upon another player a duty which it is not desirable to imposa upon him.
The scales governing undertrick penalties have hitherto "advanced second revoke to conceal one that in jerka at arbitrary stages. · Tak- has been made sevidentally,
bing the volumu play-listuti-metik- The authors of this Supplement pernities for contracts which are are well aware that they expose() not vulnerable and undoubled themselves to endless chaff by these (ii) ant vulnerable and doubled, admonitions as do all thoss who, (ii) vulnerable and undoubled, venture to write on Behaviour or (iv) vulnerable and doubled, etiquette. They can only hope that we find in (1.) ng advance; in it will be rond with a son of (i) two 100 per cent. advances, fone in the third and ons in the bumour,
fifth line; in (iii) one such advance The Scoring System.
in the second line;'und in (iv) one also in the second line. In the re The Auction and Plafond scoring vised table--In (i.) there is no ad systems remain unaltered. Five vance; in (ii) (iii) and (iv) there. changes have been made in the Con- is continuous advance in perfect tract system: for these the Whist arithmetical progression. Club and Portland Club are solely
Using any convention in calling responsible. To bring these changes As will be soon from the cumulat which has not been announced: to the reader's attention a copy of | tivo - figures given (Below, thin The term convention " is the new Contract scoring table is revision does not materially affect hore used to cover any calling appended to this article,
designed to convey an arbitary "or artificial' meaning or used by
a player with the assurance that His partner will not accept
Trick Values.
| the weight of the pensifies; for two three, or four undertricks in “câm
(ii) they are rather, heavier, anil? in all cases the wildly impossible. To the odd tricks won in a no-bid is punished more severely
ib in its natural sense, Obvi-trump contract alternate values of namely, when the-not-vulnerable ously, it is necessary that a con-30 and 40 have been allotted. Ex- fall by móts than eight tricks, or vention so used should be fully cept in one case so rare na to be | the vulnerable by more than four. understood by the other side, negligible-namely, three successive and players using any conven-contracts of one in no-trumps or tional call should be ready to two in no-trumps and one in reply to reply fully to a proper inquiry by an opponent as to its meaning or u59. Handling or moving the other pack at the end of a hand when not the next 'dealer. Failing to keep the tricks in cor- rect order and distinct from one another or allowing some to be placed on the opposite side of the table.
When the declarer's partner, in
sproting the doclarer's. hand after the auction is closed, or leaving the table to watch the declarar play the hand.
It is not wrong, except as speci
The new scales are definitely superior in crits and logical The elimination of major suit this will never alter the symmetry, number of tricks needed for reach jorks at arbitrary stages and tho ing a game score. Although it adds complete assimilation of nonles an item to the table and there a (li) and (iii) remove all difficul. pears slightly complicating, it will ties for the memory and all need actually make the keeping of the for printed, schedules. The only score simpler and easier; and it objection which can B5 raised in opens the door for shedding the that some players will And it more Snal rare in overy entry. Why, diffenle to calculate the antries to then, do the new lawa retain these be made on the score sheat. The zeros Simplf because it is known entries to be made in case (1.) res that the hig figures have played a main unaltered; the corresponding- large part in making the game entries in cases ·(ii,)(iif.) and popular (shall we say f) among the (iv), for undertricks up to five, ladies and that dropping them are might alienate their affections,
Made-Contract Premium.
Old-(ii.)
100 900 400 000 1,000. (lit.) 100 300
500 700 900. (iv.) 900 400 1,000 1,400 1,800
The Scope of the Laws, As is stated in a foreword, the laws are designed to define correct The last part, which is prefaced procedure and to provide an ade- at least 50; and the minor differ by the words " These laws shall be quate romedy in all cases where a ences are much more numerous in force where no variation or re-player accidentally, carelessly or The English and French laws have solution to the contrary has been inadvertently disturbs the proper differed more in form that in sub-promulgated or agreed by the course of the game or gains an un- atance,
players concerned," deals with cer- intentional, but nevertheless un- in preliminaries and other mat- fair, advantage. The laws are not ters which some clubs may desire designed to prevent dishonourable to order differently. Otherwise the practices; consequently there ar structure is unchanged. Mere draft-no penalties to cover intentional violations either of the laws of the ing changes are nos noted here.
game er of the principles set out in the supplement. It suffices to warn players against any of the careless words or acts which trans- grose those strict principles of 1. The most conspicuous, though propriety which all playeis should not the most important, is that the observe, for, when no penalty is American drawing rule has been prescribed, the moral obligation of accepted. This menu that the compliance in strongest. Ostracisın eards rank as in our Auction law is the ultimate remedy where in- (pot as in our Contract law), with tentional offences are repeated." | the are as the highest card. It also The principle that the code should means that the player who draws be addressed only to honourable the higher card has precedence or
and choice (law 3). The sacrifice of this rather than punishments, has pawn brought ample reward. No governed throughout. The strict tion has been an aim; nid it is other justification for abandoning rules in Part III. are directed Preparing to gather a trick before or law, except when requested to attractive features which it should the appropriate use of terms) are
It has taken three years of dili- remove these gent discussion Lo differences. Few international treaties have heca so intensively considered, and it is hoped that the cfforts devoted to 'this one will secure a greater monsure of satis faction than has sometimes resulted. The Portland Club hope that any body representing the players, of any other country will appreciate that wider consultation would have made, the work a task of many years. They wish also to thank the other London clubs whose repre- sentatives have assisted on previous occasions.
Structural Changes, Improvement as well ha assimila surprising, on reviewing the changes which have to be announced to our
Rules of Procedure. Outside the scoring and penalty laws few changes have been made
players, provide remedies.
The "bonus" for making con-New-(ii) 100 250 450 700 1,000 or disapproval of his partner'sally provided in the case of the tract when doubled has been abo- dummy, to warn a partner against lished. No doubt some players will call or play.
infringing any rules of the game, get the loss of this reward "for Allowing his partner's hesitation,g, against calling, leading, or playing well," but the reasons for remark or manner to influence playing out of turn. Nor is its omission are sound reasons. his call or play.
Hitherto the dice have been so wrong to keep silent in regard to a heavily loaded against the player revoke by one's own side except Any unnecessary request to place where it is a revoke in the twelfth
trick. the cards played to a trick. Playing a card with special em
phasia. Undue delay in playing to a trick when the play does not need consideration.
all four hands" have played to
ur time-honoured practice is, or against loose handling of the cards
-not against dishonourable acts. can be, offered.
St.
Bystanders or members not play ing should not when watching the play at a table call attention to any irregularity or mistake in the auc- tion or play or to any point of fact
give an opinion.
(L.) 100 250 450 700 1,000, (iv.) 200 600 ·900 1,400 2,000" Memoria Techsien (250+450m700). The progressive increase of pea alty has not been extended to case (Ly The smallness of these penal who doubles a game bid with an ties has added an attractive fea aven chance of breaking the contract ture to the game: it gives to the that experienced players have learnt side which have not yet wom & to avoid these doubles. The aver game some interesting advantages age loss which such a double in in defence. The bids made to force volves when it just fails has been the vulnerable beyond their more than twice no great se the strength, and the bids made to corresponding gain; thus an ill deter them from reaching game balanced sooring system was robbing contracts (termed "psychio” bigs the Contract gume of one of the by some who have scant regard for possess in common with the Aus (Continued on next page);
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