BRIDGE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14447, 13 February 1909, Page 14

BRIDGE.

SOME KNOTTY POINTS. By " Ct'T-C.WF.xnisii." (Author of " How to Win at Bridge," " The Complete Bridge Player," etc.), (All Rights Reserved.) As I think I remarked towards the commencement of this scries, it is remarkable how comparatively few players are conversant with the laws of the game they take such a pleasure in playing. There can be no doubt that they are very fond of a game of Bridge, or they would not play several times a week throughout, the winter season, but tho rules are not enforced in many instances, merely because the players do not know what penalties fit the crime, On the surface this seems an extraordinary state of things, and as a matter of fact few games can be played unless the player has the rules at his fingers' ends. But at Bridge it is somewhat different, and it must be admitted that there are a number of penalties, which may be said to take a deal of know-

ing. All the same, over and above the more complicated rulings, the simplest mistakes are being made every day of the week, and will presumably continue to be made until the end of the chapter. In this my final article, I propose to point out some few instances wherein the laws of Bridge are being constantly violated, and if only ono or two good people will mend their ways as a result, my purpose will have been accomplished to some extent.

Most of us recognise that it is the duty of the dealer's partner to collect the cards and to shuttle them, but how many players know that those cards must not be shuttled during the play of the hand? Nor is it generally understood that once shuffled the cards should be immediately placed to the left of the player whose next deal it is. Over and over again the pack is placed on the right hand of the player about to deal, and some people will not be convinced that this is the wrong place until brought face to face with the law governing the point. Yet the reason is supremely simple. You see, if the cards be on the dealer's righthand they might be cut without his knowledge, whereas if they be placed on his left he himself has to hand them'to his right-hand neighbour to be cut. Consequently there should never be any misunderstanding as to whether the cards have been cut or not.

MISDEALING. Nor is it all plain sailing in the matter of dealing. Thus, should three players have their right number of cards and the fourth be a card short, yet not discover such deficiency until he has played some of the cards, the deal stands good. Not only is this so, but the unfortunate culprit is answerable for any revoke he may have made just as though the missing card had been in his hand all the- while, unless he be Dummy, who cannot be held responsible for a revoke at any time. Moral, a player ought always to see that his hand contains the full complement of cards before commencing operations. On the other hand, in the event of a player originally holding more than 13 cards, and any other player fewer than the number, a new deal is demanded. To cite an instance, should Dummy have only one card left at the end of the play of a hand whilst one of his adversaries has three, there must be a fresh deal.

Sometimes the dealer exposes a card while in the act- of dealing, and promptly throws down the remaining cards in a heap on the table preparatory to dealing again. This he has no right to do. A card so exposed by the dealer, unless it happens to have been faced in the pack, allows either of his adversaries to claim a new deal. In like fashion, should a card be exposed by either of the dealer's adversaries whilst the deal is in progress, the dealer or his partner may claim another deal. Jf a card be faced in the pack, a new deal follows as a matter of course.

Should the leader on picking up his cards drop one face upwards on the table, the daaler, once the declaration is made, can call upon him. to lead that card.

It will dotiMlcss be news to many players to learn that a declaration may be altered if the correction be mude in the same breath, despite the law to the contrary, which distinctly says: "A declaration once made cannot be altered." For example, suppose the dealer inadvertently calls Diamonds and immediately corrects himself and substitutes Hearts, the latter declaration is allowed to lake the place of the former. DOUBLING OUT OF TURN. Doubling out of turn is another deplorably common offence, which is often allowed to go unpunished owing to the stupid good-nature of the antagonists. Occasionally, too, the offender will add insult to injury by calmly remarking that his double out of turn could not have made the slightest difference—a common fallacy. More than probably the double was a Spade declaration, when it is quite conceivable that the leader might have contemplated a double himseif. Had this been the procedure, he could not have placed his partner with any material strength. The double, however, is taken out of his mouth, and in consequence he knows that his partner is possessed of a strong hand, information which may certainly he turned to useful account as often as not. The penalty should therefore be enforced, and the declarer claim the light as to whether or no such double

shall stand. There is nothing like playing the game while you are about it. and the first step must be to enforce its laws.

Redoubling out of turn should also be pulled up in Jike fashion, and in this connection it is as well to bear in mind that the first right to redouble on behalf of the allies belongs to that player who has last doubled or redoubled as the case may be, whilst in response to a double the player who declared tho trump has the right to redouble first. COMMON ERRORS. Numberless players are hopelessly at sea on the following point. The question is, may the leader double the declaration after his partner (evidently believing it to be his lead) has wrongfully put the query " May I lead '!" Although third in hand has most assuredly spoken out of turn, there is no penalty attached to the offence, and his partner may still double if he so wishes, yet over audi over again players have been pulled up for this offence, and a double by the leader disallowed, a proceeding opposed to all rhyme, rule, and reason.

ilow often one hears Dummy reminding his partner that he has led from the wrong baud. Yet lie has no business to do so, and should ever keep a strict watch over his tongue in this respect. Probably this lax state of things will always exist until some penalty be enforced to meet the offence. As it is, the offender is a great nuisance, and gets off scot free.

Another aggravating habit some players have fallen into is to leave their seat when they are Dummy, and overlook their partner's cards. The laws of Bridge peremptorily forbid this indiscretion, although they do not punish it with a penalty, more's the pity. There is nothing more annoying or fidgetting than, to have a player constantly overlooking one's hand, moro particularly as he usually criticises your play after the hand is piavod. As a matter of iaet, his knowledge of the lie of the cards is apt to over-rule his judgment—if he was over blessed with any of this valuable commodity, a very doubtful proposition. It is well aLso to remember that the dealer's partner is not permitted to overlook his adversaries' hands. Yet how frequently this is done by players who onght to know better. Bridge is no longer in its infancy, and there is no excuse for such conduct at this time of clay.

I have frequently been asked whether a side, having won nine or ten tricks, can, on one of their opponents revoking, claim a Little or Grand Slam by taking three of the adversaries'tricks and adding tiiem to their own. The answer is a decided negative, and a reference to law 9 is earnestly advised.

There are still some players extant who will persist in asking to see the last trick after such trick has been turned and quitted. When will they learn, I wonder, that under the revised laws such an act constitutes a grave infringement of the rules? Curiously enough.'thore is again no penalty to meet the breaking of this rule.

Perhaps none of the offences I have reviewed can he regarded as very heinous. At the same time, it is surely best to play the game as it should be played. The reader will find there is always a satisfaction in that.