Jump to content

Touching the Dummy


Vampyr

Recommended Posts

I much prefer to play dummy's cards myself as declarer, but sometimes defenders insist on turning the quitted tricks for me, which I would also much rather do myself. However, I suppose I should give them some leeway since they are allowing dummy to be away from the table, which they don't have to and which might be annoying for them.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Would the defenders' not allowing dummy to get me another glass of wine constitute spoiling my enjoyment of the game?

 

Only if you could prove that you had to have a glass of wine - otherwise dummy is 'needlessly leaving the table' - a breach of 74C8.

 

Maybe you could pretend you have a condition like the snooker player Bill Werbeniuk had. See here

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

We're getting silly.

 

1. Dummy does not need permission from any other player to leave the table. If he needs permission at all, it will come from the director.

2. If dummy has a need to leave the table, he cannot be faulted for doing so. The law does not specify what constitutes a need, so that is up to the director.

3. If dummy is not at the table, declarer and only declarer is legally permitted to touch dummy's cards.

  • Upvote 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I much prefer to play dummy's cards myself as declarer, but sometimes defenders insist on turning the quitted tricks for me, which I would also much rather do myself. However, I suppose I should give them some leeway since they are allowing dummy to be away from the table, which they don't have to and which might be annoying for them.

I've never seen someone "insist" on this, it's always done with the approval of declarer.

 

Not everyone has arms long enough to reach across the table. Even if you move dummy closer, leaning over to move the cards makes it hard to hold your own hand without accidentally exposing it to the defenders (lots of players have a hard time with this even when they're not reaching across the table).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We're getting silly.

 

1. Dummy does not need permission from any other player to leave the table. If he needs permission at all, it will come from the director.

2. If dummy has a need to leave the table, he cannot be faulted for doing so. The law does not specify what constitutes a need, so that is up to the director.

3. If dummy is not at the table, declarer and only declarer is legally permitted to touch dummy's cards.

I am sorry, but if you are talking about getting silly, then smacking a defender should be on top of the list.

 

Rik

Link to comment
Share on other sites

During play each player retains possession of his own cards, not permitting them to be mixed with those of any other player. No player shall touch any cards other than his own (but declarer may play dummy's cards in accordance with Law 45) during or after play except by permission of the Director.
When dummy succumbs to a call of nature, an obliging director often takes his seat and plays his cards :)
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I didn't exempt myself from "we", did I? Do you disagree with any of my three points?

No, I fully agree with your three points.

 

However, they should be put in perspective. Bridge Laws and regulations are broken all the time.


  •  
  • Some of these breaches are for personal gain (e.g. conscious use of UI).
  • Some are due to laziness or convenience (e.g. when playing with screens: not follow the proper alert procedure but merely pointing at the bid, followed by putting 2 fingers in the air to indicate that the 1 opening could have been made on a doubleton).
  • Some are because people are trying to be helpful to the opponents (e.g. when defenders play the cards for a dummy who left).
  • Some are criminal (e.g. smacking your opponents).

 

There is no doubt about it, none whatsoever, that it is against the Laws of Bridge for a defender to touch dummy's cards. However, of all the possible infractions that you can have at the bridge table, this one ranks as fairly innocent, particularly in a social setting. So, when the players at a table agree in harmony that the defenders play dummy's cards in his absence, you normally won't hear me. There are bigger fish to fry. And smacking opponents (or even merely suggesting that you will do that) is a biiiig fish.

 

And when it comes to silliness: What do you think of getting all worked up because the opponents are trying to be helpful?

 

Rik

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...