Whose responsibility is tracking the bids?

[cloa513]

Suppose at a table one pair plays a complex artificial system that leads to an odd contract. Suppose noone remembers who bid the final suit first. What is rules for that situation?

[blackshoe]

The rules assume that players can remember how the bidding went. If there is a disagreement, call the director. He will question all four players and make a decision.

[barmar]

This is why in some countries they don't put the bidding cards way until the opening lead is made.

[blackshoe]

An eminently sensible rule - which is probably why it doesn't exist in the ACBL. B-)

[pescetom]

An eminently sensible rule - which is probably why it doesn't exist in the ACBL. B-)

 

Or in FIGB either, unfortunately.

[johnu]

West should make the opening lead. If nobody can remember the bidding, does it really make any difference who makes the opening lead or who plays the contract?

[Vampyr]

This is why in some countries they don't put the bidding cards way until the opening lead is made.

 

Until the opening lead is faced, actually, to give third hand a chance to ask for explanations while the bidding cards are still out. Putting them away and then replacing them on the table, as I’ve had to ask for once or twice while playing in the ACBL, wastes time. Also, third hand’s queries might uncover misinformation, in which case the opening lead might change or the final pass might be withdrawn.

[shyams]

West should make the opening lead. If nobody can remember the bidding, does it really make any difference who makes the opening lead or who plays the contract?

Spot on! :D :D There is ample evidence in bridge literature that South is declarer far more frequently than any other direction.

[barmar]

How hard would it be to recreate the auction? Their hands haven't changed, they should be able to figure out what they would have bid at each stage. Eventually they'll hit the denomination of the final contract, and they'll know who should be declarer.

[cloa513]

Is bidding cards a cerainty to be available nd used? Is voice never the bidding means now? Scribbling on pieces of paper was the way at some clubs I used.

[barmar]

Is bidding cards a cerainty to be available nd used? Is voice never the bidding means now? Scribbling on pieces of paper was the way at some clubs I used.

As far as I know, spoken bidding is practically nonexistent in duplicate bridge. I think the vast majority of locations use bidding boxes, but written bidding is common in Australia.