playing at Table 1, and 5, 6, 7, 8 at Table 2, etc.
At each table the cards are cut in the usual manner for partners and for
the deal; and a stated number of hands played for points, tricks and
honours included, without regard to games or rubbers.
After playing the number of deals decided upon, the winning pair move
to the next table, where the cards are again cut for partners, and for
the deal.
An individual score is kept of the points lost and won during the entire
game; the points lost being deducted from those won, and the player
making the best net score being declared the winner.
THE LAWS OF BRIDGE
REVISED, 1905
_The laws of Bridge published in this edition have been prepared by the
author, who has used as a foundation the codes accepted by the principal
clubs of the world. The author does not favour the exaction of a penalty
for the dealer's lead out of turn. The American opinion on this point is
divided, but the English practice is to exact no penalty. Otherwise the
various club codes show but minor differences._
THE RUBBER
1. The 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.
SCORING
2. A game consists of thirty points obtained by tricks alone, exclusive
of any points counted for honours, chicane or slam.
3. Every hand is played out, and any points in excess of thirty points
necessary for the game are counted.
4. 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.
5. Honours are ace, king, queen, knave and ten of the trump suit; or the
aces when no trump is declared.
6. Honours are credited to the original holders and are valued as
follows:
+------------------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+--------+
| Declaration. | [S] | [C] | [D] | [H] | No |
| | | | | | Trumps |
+------------------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+--------+
| Each Trick above Six | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 12 |
| { 3 Honours | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 30 |
| { 4 " | 8 | 16 | 24 | 32 | 40 |
|HONOURS { 4 " (All in one hand)| 16 | 32 | 48 | 64 | 100 |
| { 5 " | 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 | -- |
| { 5 " (4 in one hand) | 18 | 36 | 64 | 72 | -- |
| { 5 " (All in one hand)| 20 | 40 | 60 | 80 | -- |
| Chicane | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | -- |
+------------------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+--------+
| Rubber 100, Grand Slam 40, Little Slam 20. |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
7. 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.
8. Little slam is twelve tricks similarly scored, and adds twenty points
to the honour count.
9. 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.
10. The value of honours, slam, little slam, or chicane, is in nowise
affected by doubling or redoubling.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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.
CUTTING
14. The ace is the lowest card.
15. In all cases every player must cut from the same pack.
16. Should a player expose more than one card, he must cut again.
FORMING TABLES
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. Should the two players who cut lowest, secure cards of equal value,
they shall re-cut to determine which of the two shall deal, and the
lower on the re-cut deals.
20. Should three players cut cards of equal value, they cut again; if
the fourth card be the highest, the two lowest of the new cut are
partners and the lower of the two the dealer; if, however, the fourth
card be the lowest, the two highest on the re-cut are partners and the
original lowest the dealer.
21. Six players constitute a full table, and no player shall have a
right to cut into a game which is complete.
22. 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.
CUTTING OUT
23. If 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.
RIGHTS OF ENTRY
24. 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.
25. 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.
26. 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.
27. 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.
28. If anyone break up a table, the remaining players have a prior right
to play at other tables.
SHUFFLING
29. The pack must neither be shuffled below the table nor so the face of
any card be seen.
30. 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.
31. Each player, after shuffling, must place the cards properly
collected and face downward to the left of the player next to deal.
THE DEAL
32. Each player deals in his turn; the order of dealing goes to the
left.
33. 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.
34. When the player whose duty it is to cut has once separated the pack
he can neither re-shuffle nor re-cut the cards.
35. Should the dealer shuffle the cards, after the pack is cut, the pack
must be cut again.
36. The fifty-two cards shall be dealt face downward. The deal is not
completed until the last card has been dealt face downward.
37. THERE IS NO MISDEAL.
A NEW DEAL
38. 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.
39. 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.
40. 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.
41. 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.
42. 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 (Law 38, _b_).
43. Anyone dealing with the adversaries' cards must be corrected before
the play of the first card, otherwise the deal stands good. If anyone
deals when it is the turn of an adversary, such error must be corrected
before the cards are dealt for the following deal.
44. A player can neither shuffle, cut nor deal for his partner without
the permission of his adversaries.
DECLARING TRUMPS
45. 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.
46. 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.
47. 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.
48. 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.
49. A declaration once made cannot be altered.
DOUBLING, RE-DOUBLING, ETC.
50. The effect of doubling, re-doubling, and so on, is that the value of
each trick above six is doubled, quadrupled, and so on.
51. 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."
52. 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.
53. 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.
54. 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
in paragraphs 52, 53, 55.
55. The process of re-doubling may be continued indefinitely.[B] The
first right to continue the re-doubling on behalf of a partnership
belongs to that player who has last redoubled. 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 (52 and 53). 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.
56. 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.
[B] In some clubs, doubling ceases whenever the value of the
odd trick exceeds one hundred points; in other clubs the limit is placed
at two hundred points.
57. 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.
58. Should the eldest hand lead without asking permission, his partner
may double, but only if the maker of the trump consent.
59. 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 as described in
Laws 52, 53, 55.
60. 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.
DUMMY
61. As soon as the eldest had 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.
62. 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.
63. 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.
64. 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.
65. 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.
66. 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.
CARDS EXPOSED BEFORE PLAY
67. 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.
68. 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.
CARDS EXPOSED DURING PLAY
69. All cards exposed by the dealer's adversaries are liable to be
called, and such cards must be left face upward on the table.
70. The following are exposed cards:
1st. Two or more cards played at once.
2d. Any card dropped with its face upward, or in any way exposed on or
above the table, even though snatched up so quickly that no one can name
it.
3d. Every card so held by a player that his partner can see any portion
of its face.
71. A card dropped on the floor or elsewhere below the table is not an
exposed card.
72. If two or more cards be played at once, by either of the dealer's
adversaries, the dealer shall have the right to call which one be
pleases to the current trick, and the other card or cards shall remain
face upward on the table and may be called at any time.
73. If, without waiting for his partner to play, either of the dealer's
adversaries should play on the table the best card or lead one which is
a winning card, as against the dealer and dummy, or should continue
(without waiting for his partner to play) to lead several such cards,
the dealer may demand that the partner of the player in fault, win, if
he can, the first, or any other of these tricks, and the other cards
thus improperly played are exposed cards.
74. If either or both of the dealer's adversaries throw his or their
cards on the table face upward, such cards are exposed and are liable to
be called; but if either adversary retain his hand he cannot be forced
to abandon it. If, however, the dealer should say, "I have the rest," or
any other words indicating that the remaining tricks are his, the
adversaries of the dealer are not liable to have any of their cards
called should they expose them, believing the dealer's claim to be true,
should it subsequently prove false.
75. If a player who has rendered himself liable to have the highest or
lowest of a suit called (Laws 82, 91, 92 and 100), fail to play as
directed, or if, when called on to lead one suit, lead another, having
in his hand one or more cards of the suit demanded (Law 76), or if
called upon to win or lose a trick, fail to do so when he can (Laws 73,
82 and 100), he is liable to the penalty for revoke, unless such play be
corrected before the trick is turned and quitted.
LEADS OUT OF TURN
76. If either of the dealer's adversaries lead out of turn, the dealer
may call the card erroneously led, or may call a suit when it is the
turn of either adversary to lead.
77. If the dealer lead out of turn, either from his own hand or dummy,
he incurs no penalty; but he may not rectify the error after the second
hand has played.
78. If any player lead out of turn and the other three follow him, the
trick is complete and the error cannot be rectified; but if only the
second, or second and third play to the false lead, their cards may be
taken back; there is no penalty against anyone except the original
offender, who, if he be one of the dealer's adversaries, may be
penalised as provided in Laws 60 and 76.
79. In no case can a player he compelled to play a card which would
oblige him to revoke.
80. The call of an exposed card may be repeated at every trick until
such card has been played.
81. If a player called on to lead a suit have none of it, the penalty is
paid.
CARDS PLAYED IN ERROR
82. Should the third hand not have played and the fourth play before his
partner, the latter (not being dummy or dealer) may be called upon to
play his highest or lowest card of the suit played, or to win or lose
the trick.
83. If anyone, not being dummy, omit playing to a former trick and such
error be not corrected until he has played to the next, the adversaries
may claim a new deal; should they decide that the deal stands good, the
surplus card at the end of the hand is considered to have been played to
the imperfect trick, but does not constitute a revoke therein.
84. If anyone (except dummy) play two cards to the same trick, or mix a
card with a trick to which it does not belong, and the mistake be not
discovered until the hand is played out, he is answerable for any
consequent revokes he may have made. If during the play of the hand the
error be detected, the tricks may be counted face downward, in order to
ascertain whether there be among them a card too many; should this be
the case, the trick which contains a surplus card may be examined and
the card restored to its original holder, who (not being dummy) shall
be liable for any revoke he may meanwhile have made.
THE REVOKE
85. A revoke occurs when a player (other than dummy), holding one or
more cards of the suit led, plays a card of a different suit. The
penalty for a revoke takes precedence of all other counts.
86. A revoke is established if the trick in which it occurs be turned
and quitted, _i.e._, the hand removed from the trick after it has been
gathered and placed face downward on the table; or if either the
revoking player or his partner, whether in his right turn or otherwise,
have led or played to the following trick.
87. The penalty for a revoke is three tricks taken from the revoking
player and added to those of the adversaries.
88. The penalty is applicable only to the score of the game in which it
occurs.
89. Under no circumstances can the revoking side score game in that
hand. Whatever their previous score may have been, the side revoking
cannot attain a higher score toward game than twenty-eight.
90. A player may ask his partner whether he has not a card of the suit
which he has renounced; should the question be asked before the trick is
turned and quitted, subsequent turning and quitting does not establish a
revoke, and the error may be corrected unless the question be answered
in the negative or unless the revoking player or his partner has led or
played to the following trick.
91. If a player correct his mistake in time to save a revoke, any player
or players who have followed him may withdraw their cards and substitute
others, and the cards so withdrawn are not exposed cards. If the player
in fault be one of the dealer's adversaries, the card played in error is
an exposed card, and the dealer can call it whenever he pleases; or he
may require the offender to play his highest or lowest card or the suit
to the trick in which he has renounced.