Bridge Axioms And Laws Part 11

I.--Where players agree "not to play spades" the rule is, that if the spade make is not doubled, the hand shall be played where either side is 20 or over.

II.--If the third hand player ask, "Shall I play?" or should he lead out of turn, or should the eldest hand lead without asking permission to play, the spade maker may take two on the score or may call a lead and require the hand to be played out.

III.--Should the third hand player double before his partner asks permission to play, the spade maker may decide whether the double shall stand or not; but the hand must be played out.

ETIQUETTE

It has been truthfully said that there is no game in which slight intimations can convey so much information as that of Bridge. In justice to those who, by their manner, give information, it may be stated that most of the apparent unfairness at the Bridge table is unintentional.

Hesitation and mannerisms, however, cannot be too carefully avoided; such a breach of etiquette is an offence for which the adversaries have no redress except perhaps a refusal to continue the play.

It is obviously a greater fault to take advantage of information thus given. A play in your judgment may be perfectly sound, but you leave yourself open to criticism if it is in any way contingent on information obtained from your partner's manner.

Cultivate uniformity in your style of play; let there be no remarkable haste or hesitation in making or pa.s.sing; try always to use the same formula of words, and do not call attention to the score after the cards have been dealt.

Remember that any undue hesitancy in regard to doubling will deprive a fair-minded partner of the privilege of so doing. Such delays are too frequent at spade declarations.

Emphasise no play of your own and show no pleasure or displeasure at any other play.

Do not ask to have the cards placed unless it is solely for your own information.

It is an offence either to revoke purposely or to make a second revoke in order to conceal the first.

The dealer's partner should not call attention to the score nor to any card or cards that he or the other players hold, and neither should he leave his seat for the purpose of watching his partner's play.

THE DECLARATION

+--------------------------------+-------------------+ HOLDING +--------------------------------+-------------------+ Four Aces Three Aces Two Aces and a Guarded King or Queen One Ace and a Guarded King or Queen in three other suits. Declare No-Trump. One Established Black Suit (Ace King Queen X X X) and one other Ace With a hand protected in three suits, provided it is a King or an Ace stronger than an average hand. +--------------------------------+-------------------+ HOLDING +--------------------------------+-------------------+ Holding six cards with an honour Usually declare Holding five cards with two a Red honours Trump Holding four cards with three good honours +--------------------------------+-------------------+

Avoid a weak diamond make at a love score or when behind on the game.

Declare clubs at a score of 18 or more when reasonably a.s.sured of the game.

Declare spades at a score of 24 or more when reasonably a.s.sured of the game.

Pa.s.sED MAKES

Be cautious about declaring no-trumps when weak in the red suits.

Avoid all weak red makes on partner's pa.s.s.

Declare clubs instead of spades when you hold but one or two spades and a club suit of four or more cards including two honours.

Declare your best suit at a score of 24 all on the rubber game.

ORIGINAL LEADS AGAINST A DECLARED TRUMP

+-----------------+-----------------------------+ LEAD FROM +-----------------+-----------------------------+ Ace Ace and others Ace, King only +-----------------+-----------------------------+ King Ace, King, Queen Ace, King X +-----------------+-----------------------------+ Queen Queen, Jack, ten Queen, Jack, nine +-----------------+-----------------------------+ Jack Jack, ten X Jack X +-----------------+-----------------------------+ Ten King, Jack, ten Ten X +-----------------+-----------------------------+ Nine Nine X +-----------------+-----------------------------+ Top Card All short suits except King X X or Queen X X +-----------------+-----------------------------+ 4th Best All other combinations +-----------------+-----------------------------+ X indicates others.

THE ORIGINAL LEAD AT NO-TRUMP

+---------------+-------------------------------------+ LEAD HOLDING +---------------+-------------------------------------+ Ace Ace, Queen, Jack, and others, with a re-entry card. Ace, with 7 or more others. Ace, Queen, with 5 others. Ace, Jack, with 5 others. +---------------+-------------------------------------+ King Ace, King, Queen, and others. Ace, King, Jack, and others. Ace, King, ten, and 3 others, with a re-entry card. Ace, King, and 5 or more others. King, Queen, Jack, and others. King, Queen, ten, and others. King, Queen, and 5 others. +---------------+-------------------------------------+ Queen Queen, Jack, ten, and others. Queen, Jack, nine, and others. Ace, Queen, Jack, and others. No card of re-entry. +---------------+-------------------------------------+ Jack Jack, ten, nine, and others. +---------------+-------------------------------------+ Ten King, Jack, ten, and others. +---------------+-------------------------------------+ Highest or A weak long suit containing no Second honour higher than ten. Best +---------------+-------------------------------------+ 4th Best Form other combinations. +---------------+-------------------------------------+

UNBLOCKING AT NO-TRUMP

+----------------+-----------------+-------------+ HOLDING ON PARTNER'S PLAY LEAD OF +----------------+-----------------+-------------+ King X Ace King +----------------+-----------------+-------------+ Ace X King Ace +----------------+-----------------+-------------+ King X Queen King +----------------+-----------------+-------------+ Queen X X King and Ace Queen on Ace +----------------+-----------------+-------------+ King, Queen X Ace Queen +----------------+-----------------+-------------+ Queen, Jack X Ace Jack +----------------+-----------------+-------------+ Queen, Jack X King Jack +----------------+-----------------+-------------+ King, Queen X Jack Queen +----------------+-----------------+-------------+ Jack, six, five, King Five two +----------------+-----------------+-------------+ Queen, nine, King Seven seven, three, two +----------------+-----------------+-------------+

THE CHANGE THE SUIT CALL

"What is new in the game of Bridge?" is a reiterated question of the day, and the invariable answer is "Nothing, nor does the lack of innovation tend to simplify the play."

All Bridge players have experienced the agony of being forced to discard a great suit, thoroughly established, on the dealer's lead, owing to the fact that the partner has made two efforts to establish the suit he originally opened.

Many times this continuation is sound: the leader holds a re-entry card, and he has secured no information as to his partner's strength from the early development of the game.