| Promulgating Bodies | ||||
| Preface to the North American Edition | ||||
| Scope of the Laws | ||||
| CHAPTER I - Definitions | ||||
| CHAPTER II - Preliminaries | ||||
| Law 1 - The Pack - Rank of Cards and Suits | ||||
| Law 2 - The Duplicate Boards | ||||
| Law 3 - Arrangement of Tables | ||||
| Law 4 - Partnerships | ||||
| Law 5 - Assignment of Seats | ||||
| A. Initial Position | ||||
| B. Change of Direction or Table | ||||
| CHAPTER III - Preparation and Progression | ||||
| Law 6 - The Shuffle and Deal | ||||
| A. The Shuffle | ||||
| B. The Deal | ||||
| C. Representation of Both Pairs | ||||
| D. New Shuffle and Redeal | ||||
| E. Director's Option on Shuffling and Dealing | ||||
| F. Duplication of Board | ||||
| Law 7 - Control of Board and Cards | ||||
| A. Placement of Board | ||||
| B. Removal of Cards from Board | ||||
| C. Returning Cards to Board | ||||
| D. Responsibility for Procedures | ||||
| Law 8 - Sequence of Rounds | ||||
| A. Movement of Boards and Players | ||||
| B. End of Round | ||||
| C. End of Last Round and End of Session | ||||
| CHAPTER IV - General Laws Governing Irregularities | ||||
| Law 9 - Procedure Following an Irregularity | ||||
| A. Calling Attention to an Irregularity | ||||
| B. After Attention Is Called to an Irregularity | ||||
| C. Premature Correction of an Irregularity | ||||
| Law 10 - Assessment of a Penalty | ||||
| A. Right to Assess Penalty | ||||
| B. Cancellation of Payment or Waiver of Penalty | ||||
| C. Choice after Irregularity | ||||
| Law 11 - Forfeiture of the Right to Penalize | ||||
| A. Action by Non-Offending Side | ||||
| B. Irregularity Called by Spectator | ||||
| C. Penalty after Forfeiture of the Right to Penalize | ||||
| Law 12 - Director's Discretionary Powers | ||||
| A. Right to Award an Adjusted Score | ||||
| B. No Adjustment for Undue Severity of Penalty | ||||
| C. Awarding an Adjusted Score | ||||
| Law 13 - Incorrect Number of Cards | ||||
| A. No Player Has Seen Another's Card | ||||
| B. A Player Has Seen Another Player's Card(s) | ||||
| C. Play Completed | ||||
| Law 14 - Missing Card | ||||
| A. Hand Found Deficient before Play Commences | ||||
| B. Hand Found Deficient Afterwards | ||||
| Law 15 - Play of a Wrong Board | ||||
| A. Players Have Not Previously Played Board | ||||
| B. One or More Players Have Previously Played Board | ||||
| C. Discovered during Auction | ||||
| Law 16 - Unauthorized Information | ||||
| A. Extraneous Information from Partner | ||||
| B. Extraneous Information from Other Sources | ||||
| C. Information from Withdrawn Calls and Plays | ||||
| CHAPTER V - The Auction | ||||
| PART I - Correct Procedure | ||||
| SECTION ONE - Auction Period | ||||
| Law 17 - Duration of the Auction | ||||
| A. Auction Period Starts | ||||
| B. The First Call | ||||
| C. Successive Calls | ||||
| D. Cards from Wrong Board | ||||
| E. End of Auction Period | ||||
| Law 18 - Bids | ||||
| A. Proper Form | ||||
| B. To Supersede a Bid | ||||
| C. Sufficient Bid | ||||
| D. Insufficient Bid | ||||
| E. Rank of the Denominations | ||||
| F. Different Methods | ||||
| Law 19 - Doubles and Redoubles | ||||
| A. Doubles | ||||
| B. Redoubles | ||||
| C. Double or Redouble Superseded | ||||
| D. Scoring a Doubled or Redoubled Contract | ||||
| Law 20 - Review and Explanation of Calls | ||||
| A. Call Not Clearly Heard | ||||
| B. Review of Auction during Auction Period | ||||
| C. Review after Final Pass | ||||
| D. Who May Review the Auction | ||||
| E. Correction of Error in Review | ||||
| F. Explanation of Calls | ||||
| Law 21 - Call Based on Misinformation | ||||
| A. Call Based on Caller's Misunderstanding | ||||
| B. Call Based on Misinformation from an Opponent | ||||
| SECTION TWO - Auction Has Ended | ||||
| Law 22 - Procedure After the Auction Has Ended | ||||
| A. No Player Has Bid | ||||
| B. One or More Players Have Bid | ||||
| PART II - Irregularities in Procedure | ||||
| Law 23 - Damaging Enforced Pass | ||||
| SECTION ONE - Exposed Card, Auction Period | ||||
| Law 24 - Card Exposed or Led during Auction | ||||
| A. Low Card Not Prematurely Led | ||||
| B. Single Card of Honor Rank or Card Prematurely Led | ||||
| C. Two or More Cards Are Exposed | ||||
| SECTION TWO - Changes of Calls | ||||
| Law 25 - Legal and Illegal Changes of Call | ||||
| A. Immediate Correction of Inadvertency | ||||
| B. Delayed or Purposeful Correction | ||||
| Law 26 - Call Withdrawn, Lead Penalties | ||||
| A. Call Related to Specific Suit | ||||
| B. Other Withdrawn Calls | ||||
| SECTION THREE - Insufficient Bid | ||||
| Law 27 - Insufficient Bid | ||||
| A. Insufficient Bid Accepted | ||||
| B. Insufficient Bid Not Accepted | ||||
| C. Insufficient Bid out of Rotation | ||||
| SECTION FOUR - Call out of Rotation | ||||
| Law 28 - Calls Considered to Be in Rotation | ||||
| A. RHO Required to Pass | ||||
| B. Call by Correct Player Canceling Call out of Rotation | ||||
| Law 29 - Procedure after a Call out of Rotation | ||||
| A. Forfeiture of Right to Penalize | ||||
| B. Out-of-Rotation Call Canceled | ||||
| C. Call out of Rotation Is Conventional | ||||
| Law 30 - Pass out of Rotation | ||||
| A. Before Any Player Has Bid | ||||
| B. After Any Player Has Bid | ||||
| C. When Pass Is a Convention | ||||
| Law 31 - Bid out of Rotation | ||||
| A. RHO's Turn | ||||
| B. Partner's or LHO's Turn | ||||
| Law 32 - Double or Redouble out of Rotation | ||||
| A. Made at Offender's Partner's Turn to Call | ||||
| B. Made at RHO's Turn to Call | ||||
| Law 33 - Simultaneous Calls | ||||
| Law 34 - Retention of Right to Call | ||||
| Law 35 - Inadmissible Call Condoned | ||||
| A. Double or Redouble | ||||
| B. Action by Player Required to Pass | ||||
| C. Bid of More than Seven | ||||
| D. Call after Final Pass | ||||
| SECTION FIVE - Inadmissible Calls | ||||
| Law 36 - Inadmissible Double or Redouble | ||||
| Law 37 - Action Violating Obligation to Pass | ||||
| Law 38 - Bid of More Than Seven | ||||
| Law 39 - Call after Final Pass | ||||
| A. Pass, or Call by Declaring Side | ||||
| B. Other Action by Defender | ||||
| SECTION SIX - Conventions and Agreements | ||||
| Law 40 - Partnership Understandings | ||||
| A. Right to Choose Call or Play | ||||
| B. Concealed Partnership Understandings Prohibited | ||||
| C. Director's Option | ||||
| D. Regulation of Conventions | ||||
| E. Convention Card | ||||
| CHAPTER VI - The Play | ||||
| PART I - Procedure | ||||
| SECTION ONE - Correct Procedure | ||||
| Law 41 - Commencement of Play | ||||
| A. Face-down Opening Lead | ||||
| B. Review of Auction, and Questions | ||||
| C. Opening Lead Faced | ||||
| D. Dummy's Hand | ||||
| Law 42 - Dummy's Rights | ||||
| A. Absolute Rights | ||||
| B. Qualified Rights | ||||
| Law 43 - Dummy's Limitations | ||||
| A. Limitations on Dummy | ||||
| B. Penalties for Violation | ||||
| Law 44 - Sequence and Procedure of Play | ||||
| A. Lead to a Trick | ||||
| B. Subsequent Plays to a Trick | ||||
| C. Requirement to Follow Suit | ||||
| D. Inability to Follow Suit | ||||
| E. Tricks Containing Trumps | ||||
| F. Tricks Not Containing Trumps | ||||
| G. Lead to Tricks Subsequent to First Trick | ||||
| Law 45 - Card Played | ||||
| A. Play of Card from a Hand | ||||
| B. Play of Card from Dummy | ||||
| C. Compulsory Play of Card | ||||
| D. Card Misplayed by Dummy | ||||
| E. Fifth Card Played to Trick | ||||
| F. Dummy Indicates Card | ||||
| G. Turning the Trick | ||||
| SECTION TWO - Irregularities in Procedure | ||||
| Law 46 - Incomplete or Erroneous Call of Card from Dummy | ||||
| A. Proper Form for Designating Dummy's Card | ||||
| B. Incomplete or Erroneous Call | ||||
| Law 47 - Retraction of Card Played | ||||
| A. To Comply with Penalty | ||||
| B. To Correct an Illegal Play | ||||
| C. To Change an Inadvertent Designation | ||||
| D. Following Opponent's Change of Play | ||||
| E. Change of Play Based on Misinformation | ||||
| F. Illegal Retraction | ||||
| PART II - Penalty Card | ||||
| Law 48 - Exposure of Declarer's Cards | ||||
| A. Declarer Exposes a Card | ||||
| B. Declarer Faces Cards | ||||
| Law 49 - Exposure of a Defender's Cards | ||||
| Law 50 - Disposition of Penalty Card | ||||
| A. Penalty Card Remains Exposed | ||||
| B. Major or Minor Penalty Card? | ||||
| C. Disposition of Minor Penalty Card | ||||
| D. Disposition of Major Penalty Card | ||||
| Law 51 - Two or More Penalty Cards | ||||
| A. Offender's Turn to Play | ||||
| B. Offender's Partner to Lead | ||||
| Law 52 - Failure to Lead or Play a Penalty Card | ||||
| A. Defender Fails to Play Penalty Card | ||||
| B. Defender Plays Another Card | ||||
| PART III - Irregular Leads and Plays | ||||
| SECTION ONE - Lead out of Turn | ||||
| Law 53 - Lead out of Turn Accepted | ||||
| A. Lead out of Turn Treated as Correct Lead | ||||
| B. Wrong Defender Plays Card to Declarer's Irregular Lead | ||||
| C. Proper Lead Made Subsequent to Irregular Lead | ||||
| Law 54 - Faced Opening Lead out of Turn | ||||
| A. Declarer Spreads His Hand | ||||
| B. Declarer Accepts Lead | ||||
| C. Declarer Must Accept Lead | ||||
| D. Declarer Refuses Opening Lead | ||||
| Law 55 - Declarer's Lead out of Turn | ||||
| A. Declarer's Lead Accepted | ||||
| B. Declarer Required to Retract Lead | ||||
| C. Declarer Might Obtain Information | ||||
| Law 56 - Defender's Lead out of Turn | ||||
| SECTION TWO - Other Irregular Leads and Plays | ||||
| Law 57 - Premature Lead or Play by Defender | ||||
| A. Premature Play or Lead to Next Trick | ||||
| B. Offender's Partner Cannot Comply with Penalty | ||||
| C. Declarer Has Played from Both Hands before Irregularity | ||||
| Law 58 - Simultaneous Leads or Plays | ||||
| A. Simultaneous Plays by Two Players | ||||
| B. Simultaneous Cards from One Hand | ||||
| Law 59 - Inability to Lead or Play as Required | ||||
| Law 60 - Play after an Illegal Play | ||||
| A. Play of Card after Irregularity | ||||
| B. Defender Plays before Required Lead by Declarer | ||||
| C. Play by Offending Side before Assessment of Penalty | ||||
| SECTION THREE - The Revoke | ||||
| Law 61 - Failure to Follow Suit - Inquiries Concerning a Revoke | ||||
| A. Definition of Revoke | ||||
| B. Right to Inquire about a Possible Revoke | ||||
| Law 62 - Correction of a Revoke | ||||
| A. Revoke Must Be Corrected | ||||
| B. Correcting a Revoke | ||||
| C. Subsequent Cards Played to Trick | ||||
| D. Revoke on Trick Twelve | ||||
| Law 63 - Establishment of a Revoke | ||||
| A. Revoke Becomes Established | ||||
| B. Attention Is Illegally Drawn | ||||
| C. Revoke May Not Be Corrected | ||||
| Law 64 - Procedure after Establishment of a Revoke | ||||
| A. Penalty Assessed | ||||
| B. No Penalty Assessed | ||||
| C. Director Responsible for Equity | ||||
| PART IV - Tricks | ||||
| Law 65 - Arrangement of Tricks | ||||
| A. Completed Trick | ||||
| B. Keeping Track of the Ownership of Tricks | ||||
| C. Orderliness | ||||
| D. Agreement on Results of Play | ||||
| Law 66 - Inspection of Tricks | ||||
| A. Current Trick | ||||
| B. Own Last Card | ||||
| C. Quitted Tricks | ||||
| D. After the Conclusion of Play | ||||
| Law 67 - Defective Trick | ||||
| A. Before Both Sides Play to Next Trick | ||||
| B. After Both Sides Play to Next Trick | ||||
| PART V - Claims and Concessions | ||||
| Law 68 - Claim or Concession of Tricks | ||||
| A. Claim Defined | ||||
| B. Concession Defined | ||||
| C. Clarification Required for Claim | ||||
| D. Play Ceases | ||||
| Law 69 - Acquiescence in Claim or Concession | ||||
| A. When Acquiescence Occurs | ||||
| B. Acquiescence in Claim Withdrawn | ||||
| Law 70 - Contested Claims | ||||
| A. General Objective | ||||
| B. Clarification Statement Repeated | ||||
| C. There Is an Outstanding Trump | ||||
| D. Claimer Proposes New Line of Play | ||||
| E. Unstated Line of Play (Finesse or Drop) | ||||
| Law 71 - Concession Canceled | ||||
| A. Trick Cannot Be Lost | ||||
| B. Contract Already Fulfilled or Defeated | ||||
| C. Implausible Concession | ||||
| CHAPTER VII - Proprieties | ||||
| Law 72 - General Principles | ||||
| A. Observance of Laws | ||||
| B. Infraction of Law | ||||
| Law 73 - Communication between Partners | ||||
| A. Proper Communication between Partners | ||||
| B. Inappropriate Communication between Partners | ||||
| C. Player Receives Unauthorized Information from Partner | ||||
| D. Variations in Tempo or Manner | ||||
| E. Deception | ||||
| F. Violation of Proprieties | ||||
| Law 74 - Conduct and Etiquette | ||||
| A. Proper Attitude | ||||
| B. Etiquette | ||||
| C. Violation of Procedure | ||||
| Law 75 - Partnership Agreements | ||||
| A. Special Partnership Agreements | ||||
| B. Violations of Partnership Agreements | ||||
| C. Answering Questions on Partnership Agreements | ||||
| D. Correcting Errors in Explanation | ||||
| Law 76 - Spectators | ||||
| A. Conduct during Bidding or Play | ||||
| B. Spectator Participation | ||||
| CHAPTER VIII - The Score | ||||
| Law 77 - Duplicate Bridge Scoring Table | ||||
| Law 78 - Methods of Scoring | ||||
| A. Matchpoint Scoring | ||||
| B. International Matchpoint Scoring | ||||
| C. Total Point Scoring | ||||
| D. Special Scoring Methods | ||||
| Law 79 - Tricks Won | ||||
| A. Agreement on Tricks Won | ||||
| B. Disagreement on Tricks Won | ||||
| C. Error in Score | ||||
| CHAPTER IX - Tournament Sponsorship | ||||
| Law 80 - Sponsoring Organization | ||||
| A. Tournament Director | ||||
| B. Advance Arrangements | ||||
| C. Session Times | ||||
| D. Conditions of Entry | ||||
| E. Special Conditions | ||||
| F. Supplementary Regulations | ||||
| G. Appeals | ||||
| CHAPTER X - Tournament Director | ||||
| SECTION ONE - Responsibilities | ||||
| Law 81 - Duties and Powers | ||||
| A. Official Status | ||||
| B. Restrictions and Responsibilities | ||||
| C. Director's Duties and Powers | ||||
| D. Delegation of Duties | ||||
| Law 82 - Rectification of Errors of Procedure | ||||
| A. Director's Duty | ||||
| B. Rectification of Error | ||||
| C. Director's Error | ||||
| Law 83 - Notification of the Right to Appeal | ||||
| SECTION TWO - Rulings | ||||
| Law 84 - Rulings on Agreed Facts | ||||
| A. No Penalty | ||||
| B. Penalty under Law | ||||
| C. Player's Option | ||||
| D. Director's Option | ||||
| E. Discretionary Penalty | ||||
| Law 85 - Rulings on Disputed Facts | ||||
| A. Director's Assessment | ||||
| B. Facts Not Determined | ||||
| SECTION THREE - Correction of Irregularities | ||||
| Law 86 - In Team Play | ||||
| A. Average Score at IMP Play | ||||
| B. Non-balancing Adjustments, Knockout Play | ||||
| C. Substitute Board | ||||
| Law 87 - Fouled Board | ||||
| A. Definition | ||||
| B. Scoring the Fouled Board | ||||
| SECTION FOUR - Penalties | ||||
| Law 88 - Award of Indemnity Points | ||||
| Law 89 - Penalties in Individual Events | ||||
| Law 90 - Procedural Penalties | ||||
| A. Director's Authority | ||||
| B. Offenses Subject to Penalty | ||||
| Law 91 - Penalize or Suspend | ||||
| A. Director's Power | ||||
| B. Right to Disqualify | ||||
| CHAPTER XI - Appeals | ||||
| Law 92 - Right to Appeal | ||||
| A. Contestant's Right | ||||
| B. Time of Appeal | ||||
| C. How to Appeal | ||||
| D. Concurrence of Appellants | ||||
| Law 93 - Procedures of Appeal | ||||
| A. No Appeals Committee | ||||
| B. Appeals Committee Available | ||||
| C. Appeal to National Authority | ||||
| Index | ||||
| Elections by the ACBL Board of Directors | ||||
| About this Document . . . | ||||
