Frequent Laws

Frequently Used Laws

These notes are not in any sense a substitute for the official Laws. They are simply an attempt to explain the main points of the Laws which have to be referred to most frequently.

INSUFFICIENT BID
(Law 27)
If LHO accepts the bid OR If the LHO calls, the insufficient bid stands
Play continues without penalty

Otherwise the offender may:
(a) Raise the level of his bid to make it sufficient.
There is normally no penalty, although the Director can award an adjusted score if the innocent side have been harmed.

Otherwise the offender may:<br>
(b) Substitute a pass.<br>
(c) Make any other legal bid except a double or redouble.<br> The offenders partner is barred from bidding for the rest of the auction AND there is a lead penalty.

PASS OUT OF TURN
(Law 30) If LHO accepts the call

If the offending pass is:
(a) Before anyone has bid
(b) If there has been a bid and it was the turn of the RHO to bid The offender is barred from bidding for one round.

If there has been a bid and it was the turn of offenders partner to bid (i) Offender is barred throughout
(ii) Offenders partner may bid, but not double or redouble at his next turn, and a lead penalty applies if offenders partner has the opening lead.

BID OUT OF TURN
(Law 31) If bid out of turn is accepted No penalty, auction continues normally.

If the bid was an opening bid and it was properly RHOs turn

OR
If someone has already bid and it is RHOs turn (a) if RHO passes the bid stands without penalty.
(b) if RHO bids and offender repeats the denomination of his bid, offenders partner is barred for one round.
(c) If RHO bids and offender substitutes a pass or changes the denomination of his bid partner is barred throughout. The more severe lead penalty may apply.

If the bid was an opening bid and it was LHO or partners turn The offenders partner is barred throughout and the severe lead penalty may apply.

If there has been a bid & it was partners turn

PENALTY CARD
(Law 50) A penalty card is one prematurely exposed. It must be played at the first legal opportunity. Declarer cannot have a penalty card.

If the partner of a defender with a penalty card gets the lead, declarer may either: (a) Require the lead of the suit of the penalty card or
(b) Prohibit the lead of that suit for as long as the player concerned is on lead

BUT
If declarer chooses to excercise this right the penalty card may be picked up.

If a defender gains the lead when his partner has a penalty card on the table he must not play until declarer has indicated his wishes

OPENING LEAD BY THE WRONG DEFENDER
(Law 54) Declarer can accept the lead Dummy goes down & declarer plays second to the trick.

If declarer starts to put his hand down Declarer becomes dummy, and his partner plays the hand.

Declarer can reject the lead It becomes a penalty card. If he requires the other defender to lead or not to lead that suit the card is picked up.

ANY OTHER LEAD OUT OF TURN BY A DEFENDER
(Law 53) Becomes a penalty card unless the lead is accepted.

LEAD FROM THE WRONG HAND BY DECLARER
(Law 55) Declarer must lead the same suit from the correct hand if he can, but he is not required to play the card originally led in error.

THE REVOKE
(Laws 61 to 64) If a player revokes and the revoke is pointed out before he or his partner have plated to the next trick (a) The revoke is corrected. If the revoke was by a defender the card withdrawn becomes a penalty card.
(b) Any player who has played after the revoke may change his card without penalty.
(c) There is no transfer of tricks to the non-offending side.

If the revoke is pointed out after the offender or his partner have played to the next trick.
All cards played stand.
The revoke is now 'established'. a) If the offending side won the trick in which the revoke occurred, that trick is transferred to their opponents.
(b) If the offending side wins any tricks after the revoke, one of these tricks is transferred to their opponents.
(c) If the penalty insufficiently compensates the non-offending side (e.g. when they are prevented from running a long suit) the Director may adjust the score in their favour.
There is no similar redress available to the offending side.

Revoke cannot become established on the 12th trick.

LEAD PENALTY It means that if the offenders partner has to make the opening lead, declarer may either: (a) Require tne lead of a given suit

OR
(b) Forbid the lead of a given suit, the ban to continue for as long as offenders partner retains the lead. If unauthorised inforwation is given by a change of call (as where 1. (c) is chosen and the suit is changed) the lead penalty may extend to the first time offenders partner gets the lead; whether or not tnia is the opening lead.

Last updated: 17/09/2003

INSUFFICIENT BID (Law 27)	If LHO accepts the bid OR If the LHO calls, the insufficient bid stands	Play continues without penalty
	Otherwise the offender may: (a) Raise the level of his bid to make it sufficient.	There is normally no penalty, although the Director can award an adjusted score if the innocent side have been harmed.
	Otherwise the offender may:<br> (b) Substitute a pass.<br> (c) Make any other legal bid except a double or redouble.<br>	The offenders partner is barred from bidding for the rest of the auction AND there is a lead penalty.
PASS OUT OF TURN (Law 30)	If LHO accepts the call
	If the offending pass is: (a) Before anyone has bid (b) If there has been a bid and it was the turn of the RHO to bid	The offender is barred from bidding for one round.
	If there has been a bid and it was the turn of offenders partner to bid	(i) Offender is barred throughout (ii) Offenders partner may bid, but not double or redouble at his next turn, and a lead penalty applies if offenders partner has the opening lead.
BID OUT OF TURN (Law 31)	If bid out of turn is accepted	No penalty, auction continues normally.
	If the bid was an opening bid and it was properly RHOs turn OR If someone has already bid and it is RHOs turn	(a) if RHO passes the bid stands without penalty. (b) if RHO bids and offender repeats the denomination of his bid, offenders partner is barred for one round. (c) If RHO bids and offender substitutes a pass or changes the denomination of his bid partner is barred throughout. The more severe lead penalty may apply.
	If the bid was an opening bid and it was LHO or partners turn	The offenders partner is barred throughout and the severe lead penalty may apply.
	If there has been a bid & it was partners turn
PENALTY CARD (Law 50)	A penalty card is one prematurely exposed. It must be played at the first legal opportunity. Declarer cannot have a penalty card.
	If the partner of a defender with a penalty card gets the lead, declarer may either:	(a) Require the lead of the suit of the penalty card or (b) Prohibit the lead of that suit for as long as the player concerned is on lead BUT If declarer chooses to excercise this right the penalty card may be picked up.
		If a defender gains the lead when his partner has a penalty card on the table he must not play until declarer has indicated his wishes
OPENING LEAD BY THE WRONG DEFENDER (Law 54)	Declarer can accept the lead	Dummy goes down & declarer plays second to the trick.
	If declarer starts to put his hand down	Declarer becomes dummy, and his partner plays the hand.
	Declarer can reject the lead	It becomes a penalty card. If he requires the other defender to lead or not to lead that suit the card is picked up.
ANY OTHER LEAD OUT OF TURN BY A DEFENDER (Law 53)	Becomes a penalty card unless the lead is accepted.
LEAD FROM THE WRONG HAND BY DECLARER (Law 55)		Declarer must lead the same suit from the correct hand if he can, but he is not required to play the card originally led in error.
THE REVOKE (Laws 61 to 64)	If a player revokes and the revoke is pointed out before he or his partner have plated to the next trick	(a) The revoke is corrected. If the revoke was by a defender the card withdrawn becomes a penalty card. (b) Any player who has played after the revoke may change his card without penalty. (c) There is no transfer of tricks to the non-offending side.
	If the revoke is pointed out after the offender or his partner have played to the next trick. All cards played stand. The revoke is now 'established'.	a) If the offending side won the trick in which the revoke occurred, that trick is transferred to their opponents. (b) If the offending side wins any tricks after the revoke, one of these tricks is transferred to their opponents. (c) If the penalty insufficiently compensates the non-offending side (e.g. when they are prevented from running a long suit) the Director may adjust the score in their favour. There is no similar redress available to the offending side.
	Revoke cannot become established on the 12th trick.
LEAD PENALTY	It means that if the offenders partner has to make the opening lead, declarer may either:	(a) Require tne lead of a given suit OR (b) Forbid the lead of a given suit, the ban to continue for as long as offenders partner retains the lead. If unauthorised inforwation is given by a change of call (as where 1. (c) is chosen and the suit is changed) the lead penalty may extend to the first time offenders partner gets the lead; whether or not tnia is the opening lead.