One page cheatsheet/overview.

[matmat]

As usual, I'm not sure i can formulate a clear thought or a reasonable question, here goes anyway, feel free to clarify/reinterpret what i am trying to say :)

 

It seems to me that bridge ethics/rules of conduct are not really taught or emphasized. When people make a transition from kitchen/social bridge to the duplicate game they are shown how to fill out a convention card, where to sit, where to go and rough alert rules. A lot of this differing from one organization to another.

 

Suppose you were to sit down and produce a one page document consisting of things that a transitioning bridge player needs to know? (or that a novice needs to know). What should they avoid? what should they make sure they do?

(just to make this clearer -- I am not interested in anything pertaining to the quality of cardplay or bidding, just things that have to do with procedures, ethics and rights)

 

What would you put in such a document?

[helene_t]

- Avoid UI and avoid taking advantage of UI (not sure how to phrase this)

- Don't make or solicit comments during rounds. (I think it's essential that clubs with many novices/transitionals have pauses between rounds so that things that need to be discussed can take place then instead of during rounds).

- When in doubt, call the TD.

[Codo]

1. The TD is NOT an Executioner, he is a wise guy to help in case of troubles with the rules.

2. Repeat Nr. 1.

3. In case of trouble with rules, call the Td. You have a question? Ask him!

4. No player can ever rule at his one at a table. The ruling is done from the TD.

5. What are UIs? What to do if you receive one?

6. What and how to alert.

7. Respect the stop card. And use it.

8. What is full disclosure? How to handle it?

9. Don't surround your bids or plays with any comments, habbits or other signs.

10. Try to stay in a steady tempo.

11. Please don't leave, it isn't as complicated as it may sound.

[Finch]

You are supposed to enjoy yourself playing bridge. That means your opponents should always be polite and helpful - and you should equally be polite to them. It may help to explain at the start of each round that you are new to duplicate so opponents won't be surprised if you need help with scoring/moving boards etc.

 

You will probably find lots of people tell you that you are or aren't allowed to do various things. As bridge players are all sorts, some of these will be genuinely trying to be friendly and helpful, some people may appear impolite, nasty or aggressive. Remember, rudeness and aggression are their problem, not yours. Either way, there is only ONE person who can tell you what you can and can't do, and that is the Tournament Director. He (or she) is there to make sure the evening runs smoothly and the laws are followed correctly. If you have any questions, ask the TD. If the opponents call the TD, don't worry: you aren't being accused of anything - he is there to help. If you make an insufficient bid, or revoke, or bid out of turn, or drop your cards face up on the table, don't worry - it happens to everyone at some time or other. But don't let your opponents tell you what to do - that is the director's job. Just say "oh dear, I'd better call the director", put your hand up in the air and say loudly "Director Please!"

 

If your opponents start telling you "you aren't allowed to bid 3S because partner hesitated", or "you should have alerted that, we should get an average+ on the board" then you should smile sweetly, say "thank you for telling me, but if you aren't happy with this hand, I think we should call the director?". If the opponents start giving you advice after the end of the round (such as "it didn't make any different, but you really should have announced that bid") then smile sweetly, thank them for telling you... and check later with the director to see if they were right.

 

If the TD does change the score on a board you have played, he should explain why. If you don't understand, ask him to explain. The laws are complicated - if you get your nice score taken away from you, it doesn't mean you are being accused of cheating. However, if you don't agree, don't argue with the TD at length but remember that you are entitled to appeal any ruling - that is, ask for someone else to look at it. Although that is very definitely your legal right, it may make you a little unpopular at a club game. It shouldn't do, but sadly that's the reality.

 

By the way, TDs are not always perfect. Just as the referee may miss an obvious penalty, sometimes the TD may tell you the wrong thing, or rule wrongly. Don't argue with them at the time - find someone knowledgeable to ask afterwards. And remember, it's only a game!

 

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As you play more duplicate, you will start to come across horrible things called 'Misinformation' and 'Unauthorised Information'. The Laws surrounding these are quite complicated and if you are interested in how they work you can try going on a TD's course, or reading about rulings. However, in order to have an enjoyable evening's bridge without breaking the Laws, remember that:

- If you or partner forget to alert something, or partner explains your bid wrong, then tell the opponents

----before the opening lead if your side is declaring

----at the end of the hand if your side is defending

If they start saying anything like "oh in that case I would have done something else" remember - call the TD, don't try and sort it out at the table.

Similarly, if it looks as if your opponents have mis-explained what their bids meant, then call the TD as soon as you find out (when dummy hits, or at the end of the hand). The TD will tell you what to do.

 

- Pretend you can't hear or see your partner, you only know the calls they make and the cards they play. If your partner says something or looks upset or explains your bid as meaning something totally different or bids very very slowly letting you know he wasn't sure what to do or plays a card very slowly (or very quickly) - ignore all of that. You think you are playing the standard strong NT and open 1NT with a 15-count - but your partner says "12-14": pretend you didn't hear him. If he raises to 2NT, you must pass - you have a minimum for your strong NT. You should always assume partner has understood you correctly. (Before dummy hits, you may need to tell the opponents something as described above).

[jillybean]

most of the above plus

 

Its not ok for any other player to be rude, sarcastic or to bully you. Call the TD.

 

Give each new player a free copy of the Laws of DCB

(and one for the TD :P )

[pclayton]

1. Welcome to Duplicate. Here's a few things to keep in mind when you play today.

 

2. Greet your opponents when they come to your table.

 

3. Instead of announcing your bids, pull the bid cards out of the holder to your right. Place the pile of cards on the table facing the other players. Until the auction is over, leave the cards on the table (yes I know this varies between SO's).

 

4. Instead of tossing the cards in the middle for each trick, keep the card in front of you. If you won the trick, point the card toward your partner. If your opponents won the trick, point the card toward them. The cards will remain in front of you until the hand is over.

 

5. Try to make your bids and plays in an even tempo without transmitting information about your hand. If you aren't sure about making a bid or playing a card, wait until you are sure. Don't ever 'snap' your cards.

 

6. Bridge is a timed event. Don't dilly-dally between hands.

 

7. In case of ANY irregularity, such as an insufficient bid or a revoke, call the Director. The Director is your friend and will take care of the situation. If you aren't sure, call the Director anyway.

 

8. Sometimes during the bidding, your opponents will say "ALERT". Don't be alarmed! All this means is that they are making a bid that means something unusual. Feel free to ask what it means at your turn.

 

9. Above all, have fun!

[matmat]

seems the common thread is:

 

TD is not a policeman, but rather a lollipop lady. <_<

[Mbodell]

1. Have fun.

 

2. Be polite and friendly.

 

3. Try to play on pace.

 

4. If you manage the first 3 then you and everyone you play against will be happy you are playing no matter how good or poor your results end up.

 

4. When playing the cards during the hand everyone keeps their own cards placing the played ones face down in front of you pointing in the direction of who won the trick.

 

5. When bidding, don't say the bid out loud, but instead use the bidding box (explain).

 

6. Don't talk about the hand mid play or post play. When dummy don't look at partner's hand at the end of the auction but instead sit at the table and play the cards the declarer asks for (the declarer should ask for cards, not play them from dummies hand directly). At most well run games hand records will be available at the end of the night so you can discuss things with your partner and other players then.

 

7. When any situation arises that leaves you confused or that you think is awkward or unusual, call "director please" and get the tournament director to help you out. Note that although the TD makes rulings (like a judge or referee) their chief goal is largely facilitation and it isn't an accident that they are called "directors" and not "referees". Calling for a TD (or having one called against you) is not unfriendly and does not necessarily mean someone has done something wrong.

 

8. Different people play different bidding systems and as a result players should have a proper convention card filled out that their opponents can look at. You are not allowed to look at your convention card during a hand, but you are allowed to look at your opponents card. Some systems are considered unusual or surprising enough to need an alert. If someone alerts something you are getting an extra warning that something unusual is going on. Feel free to ask "please explain" to any opponents auction especially if it is confusing or involves alerts, but generally wait to ask until the answer might effect your decision. If the auction is uncontested it is often best to wait until the auction is over to ask for a complete explanation.

 

9. Try to play to time.

 

10. Be friendly.

 

11. Have fun.

[matmat]

<snip>

 

2. Be polite and friendly.

 

<snip>

 

10. Be friendly.

 

<snip>

I can't help myself (sorry <_< )

 

so no need to be polite after the play of the hand? :)

[CSGibson]

After 15 years of kitchen bridge, I made the transition to duplicate 5 years ago. One of the most upsetting things was realizing that gamesmanship, like deliberating hesitating to imply ownership of an honor, was frowned upon in duplicate as a breach of ethics.

 

This was not upsetting because I believe you should be able to coffee-house; rather, it was upsetting because I was doing it in ignorance of the ethical implications until someone pulled me aside in my second year of duplicate and let me know it was wrong in this setting.

 

Whenever I see someone making the leap to duplicate, I'm sure to tell them about my own experience so that they don't inadvertently repeat it.

[Apollo81]

I would just write "have fun" on it

[kenberg]

Assume that your opponents are trying to win, but trying to win honestly. There will be exceptions, but very seldom in my opinion.

 

Expect that opponents will trust that you are trying to win honestly.

 

Accept that there are situations where there are rules and customs that will sometimes require you to pass, or even perhaps to bid, when you believe you would have chosen otherwise.

 

Accept that not everyone wishes to chat about your children, your trouble with your spouse, or your backache. The round begins, you play the hand, and then, perhaps, you chat. Quietly, if at all.

 

Be very, very cautious about commenting on your own play, your partner's play, or the opponent's play. Basically, don't do it.

 

Don't believe everything people tell you about rules. If a person begins his lecture by announcing that he is a certified director, it is almost certain that he is about to give you an opinion, often half-baked, rather than fact.

[jocdelevat]

nice post. I would add the group of players with a relative experience only on internet duplicate bridge to the ones that needs a transition cheatsheet.

I'm one of them and I went to a club just to learn those kind of rules. I was afraid to play in tournament because of that and I just waste my time there playing friendly games. I never got back.

[han]

1. You are not allowed to use cheatsheets. :P

[matmat]

1. You are not allowed to use cheatsheets. ;)

2. Don't listen to Han

[han]

If more people had followed that advice the world would be a better place today.