I. Unless the cards are dealt into four packets, one at a time in
regular rotation, beginning with the player to the dealer's left.
II. Should the dealer place the last (which is called the trump) card,
face downwards, on his own or on any other packet.
III. Should the trump card not come in its regular order to the dealer;
but he does not lose his deal if the pack be proved imperfect.
IV. Should a player have fourteen or more cards, and any of the other
three less than thirteen;[56] unless the excess has arisen through the
act of an adversary, in which case there must be a fresh deal.
V. Should the dealer touch, for the purpose of counting, the cards on
the table or the remainder of the pack.
VI. Should the dealer deal two cards at once, or two cards to the same
hand, and then deal a third; but if, prior to dealing that third card,
the dealer can, by altering the position of one card only, rectify such
error, he may do so, except as provided by the second paragraph of this
Law. {173}
VII. Should the dealer omit to have the pack cut to him, and his
adversaries discover the error, prior to the trump card being turned
up, and before looking at their cards, but not after having done so.
38.--Should a player take his partner's deal, and misdeal, the latter is
liable to the usual penalty, and the adversary next in rotation to the
player who ought to have dealt then deals.
39.--A misdeal loses the deal;[57] unless, during the dealing, either of
the adversaries touch the cards prior to the dealer's partner having done
so; but should the latter have first interfered with the cards,
notwithstanding either or both of the adversaries have subsequently done
the same, the deal is lost.
40.--Should three players have their right number of cards--the fourth have
less than thirteen, and not discover such deficiency until the first trick
has been turned and quitted, the pack shall be assumed to be complete, and
the deal stands good; and he will be answerable for any revoke he may have
made, in the same way as if the missing card or cards had been in his hand.
41.--If a pack, during or after a rubber, be proved incorrect or imperfect,
such proof does not alter any past score, game, or rubber; that hand in
which the imperfection was detected is null and void (except in the case of
such deficiency as is provided for by Law 40); the dealer deals again.