MindZine - Bridge

Law 6A,B,C and D look at hand dealing with the only stipulation being that under no circumstances can one deal more than 1 card at a time to any one hand, i.e dealing in 2's or 3's is out, as is dealing back and forth, however, one is permitted to randomly deal, such as to North then South then East then West, or as is a current fad into 5 piles. There is also no stipulation as to which pocket of the board the hands are placed.

There is a requirement to thoroughly shuffle each pack, with an option of a cut if an opponent requires it.
How one defines 'thoroughly' is not stated, the consensus of opinion being at least three shuffles, although a new pack would certainly need more. There is a theory that the more one shuffles, the more distributional the hands, I suppose this can be said to be borne out by the randomises of computer hands which in effect have a perfect shuffle each time.
Back in the dark ages before computers.

I was CDT at a tournament where pre dealt hands were required, I put the contract out to an outside contractor with certain specifications including adequate shuffling. Murphy's Law, corners were cut, new packs were in use and in the first set of 16 boards there were 13 six or seven diamond contracts! I discovered this fairly early on when I was called to a table by North who had overheard a neighbouring table discussing how they should have bid 6D.

Law 6E and F give the director (and the Sponsoring Organisation) the authority to predeal or to require the players to duplicate boards, here too, is the authority to use different methods of dealing, this is to allow dealing machines to do the work.

Law 7 enforces the requirement that the boards must remain in the centre of the table at all times. This is important as it avoids errors in hands being taken out and returned to the pockets. All players should get into the habit of counting their cards as is always the case, the one time they don't, 14-12 appears without fail. At the end of play, all that is required is to put your 13 cards back in your pocket. Handling another players cards without their permission is a no-no, the etiquette of the game suggests that a simple request to an opponent would result in a positive response.

The procedures at the table are primarily the responsibility of any pair stationary at a table. In Howell movements, with no sitting pairs all players are equally responsible. In the next Law, irrespective of stationary or not, North is required to move the boards, this suggests that directors would be best advised to set the numbering of the tables to ensure that the next lower number is behind North.

Law 8 carries an important definition, one that is referred to in later laws, namely, 'End of Round' and 'End of Session'. The former occurs when the director calls the move, or when the table finishes play and the pair(s) move, whilst the latter is when the last score has been entered and agreed to.

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Chapter III

Preparation and Progression

LAW 6 - THE SHUFFLE AND DEAL

A. The Shuffle Before play starts, each pack is thoroughly shuffled. There is a cut if either opponent so requests.
B. The Deal The cards must be dealt face down, one card at time, into four hands of thirteen cards each; each hand is then placed face down in one of the four pockets of the board. The recommended procedure is that the cards be dealt in rotation, clockwise.
C. Representation of Both Pairs A member of each side should be present during the shuffle and deal unless the Director instructs otherwise.
D. New Shuffle and Re-deal
1. Cards Incorrectly Dealt or Exposed There must be a new shuffle and a re-deal if it is ascertained before the auction begins for both sides (see Law 17A) that the cards have been incorrectly dealt or that a player could have seen the face of a card belonging to another hand.
2. No Shuffle or No Deal No result may stand if the cards are dealt without shuffle from a sorted deck or if the deal had previously been played in a different session.
3. At Director's Instruction Subject to Law 22A, there must be a new shuffle and a redeal when required by the Director for any reason compatible with the Laws (but see Law 86C).
E. Director's Option on Shuffling and Dealing
1. By Players The Director may instruct that the shuffle and deal be performed at each table immediately before play starts.
2. By Director The Director may perform the shuffle and deal in advance, himself.
3. By Agents or Assistants The Director may have his assistants or other appointed agents perform the shuffle and deal in advance.
4. Different Method of Dealing or Pre-dealing The Director may require a different method of dealing or pre-dealing.
F. Duplication of Board If required by the conditions of play, one or more exact copies of each original deal may be made under the Director's instructions.

LAW 7 - CONTROL OF BOARD AND CARDS

A. Placement of Board When a board is to be played it is placed in the centre of the table until play is completed.
B. Removal of Cards from Board Each player takes a hand from the pocket corresponding to his compass position.
1. Counting Cards in Hand before Play Each player counts his cards face down to be sure he has exactly thirteen; after that, and before making a call, he must inspect the face of his cards.
2. Control of Player's Hand 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.
C. Returning Cards to Board Each player shall restore his original thirteen cards to the pocket corresponding to his compass position. Thereafter no hand shall be removed from the board unless a member of each side, or the Director, is present.
D. Responsibility for Procedures Any contestant remaining at a table throughout a session is primarily responsible for maintaining proper conditions of play at the table.

LAW 8 - SEQUENCE OF ROUNDS

A. Movement of Boards and Players
1. Director's Instructions The Director instructs the players as to the proper movement of boards and progression of contestants.
2. Responsibility for Moving Boards The North player at each table is responsible for moving the boards just completed at his table to the proper table for the following round, unless the Director instructs otherwise.
B. End of Round In general, a round ends when the Director gives the signal for the start of the following round; but if any table has not completed play by that time, the round continues for that table until there has been a progression of players.
C. End of Last Round and End of Session The last round of a session, and the session itself, ends for each table when play of all boards scheduled at that table has been completed, and when all scores have been entered on the proper scoring forms without objection.