47. The dealer, having examined his hand, must declare to win at least one
odd trick, either with a trump suit, or at "no trumps."
48. After the dealer has made his declaration, each player in turn,
commencing with the player on the dealer's left, has the right to pass the
previous declaration, or to double, or re-double, or to overcall the
previous declaration by making a call of higher value. A call of a greater
number of tricks in a suit of lower value, which equals the previous call
in value of points, shall be considered a call of higher value--_e.g._ a
call of two tricks in Spades overcalls one trick in Clubs, or "Two
Diamonds" overcalls "One No Trump."
49. A player may overbid the previous call any number of times, and may
also overbid his partner. The play of the two combined hands shall rest
with the partners who make the final call. Where two partners have both
made calls in the same suit, the {250} one who made the first such call
shall play the hand, his partner becoming Dummy.
50. When the player of the two hands (hereafter termed the declarer) wins
the number of tricks which were declared, or a greater number, he scores
below the line the full value of the tricks won (see Laws 2 and 4). When he
fails, his adversaries score, above the line, 50 points for each
under-trick, _i.e._ each trick short of the number declared; or, if the
declaration was doubled or re-doubled, 100 or 200 points respectively for
each such trick. Neither the declarer nor the adversaries score anything
below the line for that hand.
51. The loss on the declaration of "One Spade" shall be limited to 100
points in respect of tricks, whether doubled or not.
52. If a player makes a trump declaration out of turn, the adversary on his
left may demand a new deal, or may allow the declaration so made to stand,
when the bidding shall continue as if the declaration had been in order.
53. If a player, in bidding, fails to call a sufficient number of tricks to
overbid the previous declaration, he shall be considered to have declared
the requisite number of tricks in the call which he has made, and his
partner shall be debarred from making any further declaration, unless
either of his adversaries overcall, or double.
54. After the final declaration has been accepted, a player is not entitled
to give his partner any information as to a previous call, whether made by
himself or by either adversary; but a player is entitled to inquire, at any
time during the play of the hand, what was the value of the final
declaration. {251}
55. Doubling and re-doubling affect the score only, and not the value in
declaring--_e.g._ "Two Diamonds" will still overcall "One No Trump,"
although the "no trump" declaration has been doubled.
56. Any declaration can be doubled, and re-doubled once, but not more. A
player cannot double his partner's call, or re-double his partner's double,
but he may re-double a call of his partner's which has been doubled by an
adversary.
57. The act of doubling re-opens the bidding. When a declaration has been
doubled, any player, including the declarer or his partner, can in his
proper turn make a further declaration of higher value.
58. When a player, whose declaration has been doubled, fulfils his contract
by winning the declared number of tricks, he scores a bonus of 50 points
above the line, and a further 50 points for every additional trick which he
may make. If he, or his partner, have re-doubled, the bonus is doubled.
59. If a player doubles out of turn, the adversary on his left may demand a
new deal.
60. When all the players have expressed themselves satisfied, the play
shall begin, and the player on the left of the declarer shall lead.
61. A declaration once made cannot be altered, unless it has been
overcalled or doubled.
62. As soon as a card is led, whether in or out of turn, the declarer's
partner shall place his cards face upwards on the table, &c. (_as in
Bridge_).