Bridge Axioms And Laws Part 7

Should any player quit the table during the progress of a rubber, he may, with the consent of the other three players, appoint a subst.i.tute during his absence; but such appointment shall become void with the conclusion of the rubber, and shall not in any way affect the subst.i.tute's rights.

If anyone break up a table, the remaining players have a prior right to play at other tables.

SHUFFLING

The pack must neither be shuffled below the table nor so the face of any card be seen.

The dealer's partner must collect the cards for the ensuing deal and he has the first right to shuffle the cards. Each player has the right to shuffle subsequently. The dealer has the right to shuffle last, but should a card or cards be seen during his shuffling, or whilst giving the pack to be cut, he must re-shuffle.

Each player, after shuffling, must place the cards properly collected and face downward to the left of the player next to deal.

THE DEAL

Each player deals in his turn; the order of dealing goes to the left.

The player on the dealer's right cuts the pack, and in dividing it he must not leave fewer than four cards in either packet; if in cutting or in replacing one of the two packets a card be exposed, or if there be any confusion of the cards or a doubt as to the exact place in which the pack was divided, there must be a fresh cut.

When the player whose duty it is to cut has once separated the pack he can neither re-shuffle nor re-cut the cards.

Should the dealer shuffle the cards, after the pack is cut, the pack must be cut again.

The fifty-two cards shall be dealt face downward. The deal is not completed until the last card has been dealt face downward.

THERE IS NO MISDEAL.

A NEW DEAL

There must be a new deal--

a If the cards be not dealt into four packets, one at a time, and in regular rotation, beginning at the dealer's left.

b If, during a deal, or during the play of a hand, the pack be proven incorrect or imperfect.

c If any card be faced in the pack.

d If any player have dealt to him a greater number of cards than thirteen.

e If the dealer deal two cards at once and then deal a third before correcting the error.

f If the dealer omit to have the pack cut and the adversaries call attention to the fact prior to the conclusion of the deal and before looking at their cards.

g If the last card do not come in its regular order to the dealer.

There may be a new deal--

a If the dealer or his partner expose a card. The eldest hand may claim a new deal.

b If either adversary expose a card. The dealer or his partner may claim a new deal.

c If, before fifty-one cards are dealt, the dealer should look at any card. His adversaries have the right to see it, and the eldest hand may exact a new deal.

d If, in dealing, one of the last cards be exposed by the dealer or his partner, and the deal is completed before there is reasonable time for the eldest hand to decide as to a new deal. But in all other cases such penalties must be claimed prior to the completion of the deal.

The claim for a new deal by reason of a card exposed during the deal may not be made by a player who has looked at any of his cards. If a new deal does not take place, the card exposed during the deal cannot be called.

Should three players have their right number of cards, and should the fourth, not being dummy, have less than thirteen and not discover such deficiency until he has played any of his cards, the deal stands good; should he have played, he is answerable for any revoke he may have made as if the missing card or cards had been in his hand. The other pack may be searched for the missing card or cards.

If during the play of a deal a pack be proven incorrect or imperfect, such proof renders only the current deal void, and does not affect any prior score. The dealer must deal again.

Any one dealing with the adversaries' cards must be corrected before the play of the first card, otherwise the deal stands good. If any one deals when it is the turn of an adversary, such error must be corrected before the cards are dealt for the following deal.

A player can neither shuffle, cut, nor deal for his partner without the permission of his adversaries.

DECLARING TRUMPS

The trump is declared. No card is turned.