MindZine - Bridge

Subjects covered are: Bids, Doubles and Redoubles, Reviews of the auction, explanation of calls and calls based on information. Whilst most bridge players would be well versed in the various procedures, the importance of defining these procedures is to give the director the authority to resolve disputes with the full backing of law.

Law 20, covering reviews and explanations is a classic example of where misunderstandings can occur, who can ask and when? who can reply and when?, what should happen if an incorrect review is given? etc. Ask a dozen players and you are likely to get a dozen different opinions.

Law 17, the start of the Auction Period is defined as for a side when either player looks at the face of his cards; certain laws covering specific irregularities make mention of 'During The Auction', so it is very important to have this defined time so as to be able to rule correctly. Similarly, the 'End of the Auction' has a defined point in time, namely when the opening lead is faced or if four passes occur.

Law 18 gives the Zonal Organisation the authority to allow different methods of making calls, ie Bidding Boxes, Written Bidding etc.

Law 19 only permits the word 'Double' or 'Redouble' with no additives whatsoever.

Law 20, as noted above, deals with reviews and explanations. During the Auction period, players have the right to ask for a review of the auction with all alerts being included, any errors must be corrected, all players being responsible.
After this time, players have one last chance being at their first turn to play.

The law continues with 'Requests for Explanation of Calls' which is broken up into 'During the Auction' and 'After the Final Pass and during the Play of the Hand'. At a players turn to call, the right to request a full explanation of the opponents auction is permitted, questions may also include other available alternatives open to the player.
Responses should only refer to agreements and partnership experience, not suggestions or 'I'm taking it as'. After the final pass and during the play, defenders at their turn to play can ask for an explanation of the auction whilst declarer, in addition to the above, also has the right to find out opponents carding agreements and techniques. Defenders should be aware that questions designed to wake up partner or have an element of a pointed nature are prohibited and any information imparted could subject the pair to both adjusted scores and penalties as a breach of propriety.

Law 21 has a twist to it, if a player has made a call based on incorrect information as to an agreement or as a result of a failure to alert, law permits him to change the call providing partner has not subsequently called, this means that even if the next player has called, the right to change is still there.

No action should be taken without the permission of the director as it will be his determination as to whether a change is permitted and also if the player has a valid reason for wishing to change.
In the case where the next player has made a call before the change, that player may also change their call without penalty, with the information of the original call becoming unauthorised for that pair.
When it is too late to permit correction, the director should try to determine from the non-offending players any differing action that may have been taken. By discovering this now gives an insight into any possible claim of damage.

Following on with this law, providing the opening lead has not been faced and that the declarer has informed the opponents of mis-information, the right to reconsider is still there. The opponent on the declarers right has the right to reconsider his final pass with the auction continuing should he elect to do so. The opponent on declarers left has, however, lost the right.

Law 22 deals with a passed in hand. The message is clear, no redeal. Players often ask me if it's OK to redeal on the first round, this is similar to asking a traffic officer if you can illegally park! If you want to redeal, don't inform the director, it is a serious breach of law.

Part 2 of chapter 5 is the effective start of dealing with irregularities that occur during the auction, opening calls out of turn, insufficient bids, changes of call etc. This is where directors are most needed and players are well advised to ensure that premature correction does not occur and that one steers clear of 'home made' rulings. You will receive very little sympathy or redress from the director if things go wrong.

Law 23 concerns itself with 'Damaging Enforced Pass'. Many of the upcoming laws require partners to pass which in certain circumstances can damage a non-offending side. This law is the authority for the director to take action if it can be suggested that the player could know that to bar partner could be of benefit. However, just because a player gets a bad score does not necessarily mean an adjustment, the criteria of 'could have known' must apply.

Law 24 deals with both accidental and deliberate exposure of a players card(s) during the auction, any card exposed before the Auction Period would not be covered under this law, rather Law 16, 'Extraneous Information'. For a card to be considered exposed or led, all that is required is for the card(s) to be in such a position that the partner could see its face, if only the opponents could see it, this law does not apply. Any card(s) exposed remains face up and would be treated as a penalty card if appropriate. Providing the exposure was an accident and is a non-honour, there is no further penalty, however if the exposure was deliberate, was an honour card or more that one, then the partner must pass for one round. This is an instance of where Law 23, 'Damaging Enforced Pass' may apply.

Law 25, the directors nightmare! 'Legal and Illegal Changes of Call'. The biggest problem with this law is in the inconsistency of rulings and the total lack of understanding by the players. The presumed intent of the first part of this law in allowing inadvertent calls to be changed is to prevent ridiculous contracts when either mechanical, or never intended actions occur and a change is attempted without pause for thought. How many times have you heard the expression "But I changed my call in the same breath". Breathing has nothing to do with it, except staying alive, the main criteria is Inadvertency, which is unfortunately, undefined in the preamble but to directors means 'never in ones thought processes'. Even then, it is difficult to differentiate between never intended and a stupid mistake or change of mind. As an example, a player picks up a 7-0-3-3 distribution, is admiring his heart void holding and opens 3. Immediately he see's what he has done and attempts to change to 3, opponents now request a directors decision.
Clearly there was never an intent to open 3, yet hearts were in his thoughts at the time.
A second example, holding a 6-1-3-3, 5 points, partner opens 1NT and the player bids 2, immediately corrects to 2 and again the director is asked to consider the allowability. Does the pair play transfers? No, does the player play transfers with other partners? Yes. Was this a realisation that they were not playing transfers or a genuine inadvertency? Directors should try to be consistent in their attitude toward claims of inadvertency, whilst decisions can be appealed, most committees would seek from the director his reasons which could well include facts as stated, table feel, information gained by whatever means combined with his interpretation of the law in the instance concerned. In the above examples, the claim of inadvertency would have a far greater chance of success in the 3 case, than the 2 case.
Law 25 also states that up until partner makes a call a player may make an 'Immediate Correction of Inadvertency'. Whilst the reading of this Law permits a player to correct his call before questioning his entitlement, the change will often be deemed 'A Purposeful Correction' and be subject to the appropriate law.
Players will only allow the change to stand without restriction if he can be convinced that Inadvertency prevails, if not will move to Law 25B. 'Delayed or Purposeful Correction'. When the director deems that inadvertency is not applicable, or if a player requests permission to change their call, law does permit this providing two conditions are met. Firstly, that left hand opponent has not called and secondly, that the change was not induced as a result of outside information. A change of intent is therefore permissible. Left hand opponent may accept the changed call with no penalty, if not the options now flow to the offender. Any illegal call (eg. Insufficient Bid) is referred back to the appropriate law, otherwise the player must either let his first call stand, barring partner for one round, or make any other legal call with no further restriction, however, the pair receives the worse of the result of the board or 40%. The opponents receiving the board result. Law 23 becomes operative in the case of an enforced pass and lead penalties would apply if the pair became defenders.

Law 26 deals with Withdrawn Calls, Lead Penalties. The principle within the laws relating to unauthorised information is further endorsed when calls are changed by an offender. To avoid penalties the suit or suits specified in any withdrawn call must have been or later bid to void the suggestion of unauthorised information, if not and the offender becomes a defender, then Declarer has options available which in theory redress the situation; Namely, allowing Declarer to either insist or prohibit a lead of that suit when the partner first gains the lead. Insistence just for one round, prohibition for as long as the player is on lead. In cases where the withdrawn call does not relate to any specific suit, ie a natural bid of No Trumps, Declarer may only prohibit the lead of any suit he chooses, not insist, again this prohibition continues until the player loses the lead. With the advent of transfers, multi two bids and the like, directors have a difficult task trying to identify which suits are specified and whether the suits as specified in the withdrawn call have been legally made in the auction, however, with the first principle in mind, and any suggestion that a player could be advantaged by unauthorised information then the penalty provisions of this law should be invoked.

Law 27 'Insufficient Bid' is another minefield. Directors have a responsibility to determine the likelihood of any suggestion of conventuality as this would affect the degree of penalty. Directors should never assume that an insufficient bid is unconventional in either the level called or at a legal level. Take a seemingly innocent auction of 1 - P - 1, does the pair play any form of strong club or short club?, would a legal 2 response suggest anything other that Clubs?, etc etc, it is very easy to underestimate all the possibilities.
The law uses the words 'Incontrovertibly not conventional', which again is not defined but would tend to mean 'without the slightest chance of'. As is common to most of the irregularities in the auction and play, the next player has the right to accept an insufficient bid, to newer player the statement by the director to this effect tends to suggest that it is polite or sportsmanlike not to insist on a penalty, a rude shock awaits them as other players are seldom polite to them in similar situations. There are quite significant advantages of accepting insufficient bids, however, many players believe they should demand their pound of flesh, often to their detriment. Being able to gain an extra round of bidding is frequently of great assistance, or for that matter, even keeping the auction low. Partner opens 3, next player bids 1, you hold a void Heart and a 9 count including 5 Spades. To be able to accept the 1 and avoid the possibility of a negative score, should the 1 bidder elect to pass instead of making their bid good, would be very appealing to most players. To the detail of the law, if the next player requires retraction, the option to make it good without penalty is solely dependant that there is no possibility of conventuality, either of the insufficient or sufficient bid at the lowest level. If this is not the case, the player can take any action other than a Double or Redouble with the partner required to pass for the remainder of the auction. Both Law 23 'Damaging Enforced Pass' and Law 26 'Call Withdrawn, Lead Penalties' may be applicable.

Laws 28 to 34 relate to 'Calls Out of Rotation'.
Note the wording 'Call'; In a great majority of cases the first statement from the table is 'A Bid out of Turn', whilst in fact it is a pass out of turn, ie a call. Referring to the definitions, a call is, 'Any Bid, Double, Redouble or Pass, whilst a bid is, ' An Undertaking to Win at least a specific number of tricks in a specified denomination'. The options are vastly different with a pass far less serious than a bid.
As in Law 27 and others, any call out of turn can be accepted, try the following, you hold:

	8
	A K Q J 6 5
	A Q 3
	A 6 5

You are the dealer, about to open an Acol, 8 playing trick, 2. Before you have the opportunity, your right hand opponent opens a weak 2, pre-emptive out of turn. You call the director who offers you the option to accept, your move! This occurred to an international player of repute who reasoned that if he accepted the bid, which he did, partner would draw the only possible conclusion that he was stacked in Hearts, unable to Double and wanting to penalise. Unfortunately the player had an enviable reputation as a gentleman at the table, so partner assumed he was being nice to his opponents, so instead of doubling, bid his 6 card Spade suit.
In all seriousness, an acceptance is a valuable option, don't discard it lightly. Should an acceptance not be forthcoming, then the director will offer the applicable options which are encompassed within one of the seven laws pertaining to a call out of turn.

Opening Pass out of Turn and before any player has bid:
	Call reverts to correct position, offender passes for one round
Opening Pass out of turn During the Auction:
	RHO's turn to call, offender must pass for one round.
	LHO's turn to call, treated as a change of call, Law 25
	Partners turn to call, offender must pass throughout, with partner barred from doubling or redoubling at that turn. A conventional pass is treated as a 'Bid out of Rotation'.
A Double or Redouble out of Turn:
	At partners turn to call, partner barred for complete auction.
	At RHO's turn to call, if RHO passes, the double or redouble must be repeated, no penalty.
	If RHO bids, offender can do what he likes, but partner is barred throughout. Law 23 'Damaging Enforced Pass' may apply.
A Bid out of Turn:
	At RHO's turn, if that player passes, the bid is repeated with no penalty
	If RHO bids or doubles or redoubles, offender can repeat the denomination named at any level barring partner for one round or take any other legal action, including a double or redouble, barring partner for the rest of the auction.

Law 33 and Law 34 complete the picture, covering simultaneous calls; The offenders call deemed to be subsequent, and 'Retention of Right to Call' which safeguards a players right to call if a call has been followed by three passes, when one of those passes was out of rotation. An aspect I have never encountered!

Inadmissible Calls: Whilst most calls have a place within the structure of the game, there are instances when a call has no meaning and therefore cannot be either accepted or considered. Law 19 referred to 'Correct Procedure During the Auction', 'Doubles and Redoubles'.

Law 36 looks at what happens if correct procedure is broken and a player either Doubles his partners bid, Redoubles his partners Double, or makes an opening Double. In the good old day of 'Forcing Pass' whereby a Pass showed opening values, opponents lobbied hard for the right to make a take out Double, fortunately this request fell on deaf ears.

The law rightfully considers an inadmissible Double as a change of call that cannot be repeated, so the penalty mirrors the restrictions stated in that law, namely, a legal call must be substituted with the offenders partner barred for the rest of the auction. Should the auction have continued past the normal point of seemingly no return, the director would cancel all subsequent bidding, returning the call to the original offender with the auction proceeding as though nothing had happened.

I was faced with the following problem some years ago, bidding proceeding:

North	South	East	West
1NT	X	P	XX
P	P	P

Hand was played, making 7 tricks. I was then called to assist in working out the score! On reviewing the bidding, the error became apparent with four sheepish players wondering what came next.
I went away, considered the law options, which were very little help, and decided to rule under Law 12, 'Directors Discretionary Powers' awarding 40% to both sides. I based this decision as according to law the bidding went 1NT - X - P end of story as the XX is cancelled along with the three remaining passes. So there was never a completed bridge auction.

The second instance when law considers a Double or Redouble as inadmissible is when law requires that player to pass by way of a previous ruling, should he do so, then the penalty requires its retraction with both members of the partnership required to pass for the rest of the auction. If, however, a member of the non offending side make a call before the director rules, status quo stands with no penalty.

Finally, all calls after the final pass or a call higher than seven is naturally considered Inadmissible, such actions normally occur in jest and are mainly treated as such. Law does give a ruling in both circumstances and players may one day find themselves in receipt of quite severe penalties for their moment of fun. The penalties include reference to Law 26, 'Call Withdrawn, Lead Penalties', Law 23 'Damaging Enforced Pass'.

All that remains of the procedures of the auction is 'Partnership Understandings'.

An important area that looks at agreements, both implicit and explicit, the authority to permit systems and conventions, the convention card and psyching.

An absolute right of a partnership is to choose to make any call or play that departs from either accepted practice or agreements without advisement providing partner is equally as unaware of such departure as the opponents.

Sponsoring Organisations have the right to regulate the use of bidding or play conventions and prescribe the correct form of convention card for the listing of agreements. They may also require a partnership to play the same system, however such regulation should not restrict either style or judgement, only method.

If you have a disagreement with your partner over which system to play, you are required to overcome your differences and compromise, as one cannot play, say The Precision System and your partner, Standard American.
It is permissible, however, to play different systems at various times providing both members of the partnership play it at the same time and the opponents are kept well advised. ie you can play Precision when Vul, Standard when non Vul. Most regulations will limit the number of differing systems or conventions you can play, the general maximum is Four.

The right to choose to make any call or play is generally the reference point for psychic bids. Psyche's are an integral part of the game with the definition as stated in the preamble of the Laws, worth knowing, namely: 'A Deliberate and Gross misstatement of honour strength or Suit Length'.
This would strongly suggest that a minor misstatement would not fall under the umbrella of a psyche. ie, bidding a three card suit or shading an opening by a couple of points. A destructive misstatement is all very well providing partner is equally fooled. Partnerships tend to become aquatinted with their partners actions in certain circumstances and thus these would become 'agreements' subject to the regulations of permitted systems and conventions.

The WBF Code of Practice makes mention of 'Disclosure of Psychic Tendances' noting that a partnership may not defend itself by stating that they took normal action in possible psychic situations. Their opponents are entitled to know the possibility exists.

There are many Bridge Clubs and Sponsoring Organisations that restrict psyche's of a certain nature and very weak pre-empts, quoting the authority within Law 40D 'Regulation of Conventions', this law states that regulations may be made that by agreement, permit the partnership's initial actions at the one level to be made with a hand of a King or more below average strength.

A yardstick in simple terms used quite frequently is the 'rule of 18' for opening bids and 'rule of 15' for pre-empts, whereby one adds one's high card points to the total number of the two longest suits. Holding a 6 - 5 - 1 - 1, 7 points would be considered an acceptable opening at the one level, and a 6 - 4 - 2 - 1, 5 points, acceptable for a weak 2. It is strictly prohibited to have a 'Concealed Partnership Understanding', Bridge is a game of a level playing field with all players having the opportunity to know what's going on.

Players are encouraged to give a complete explanation to questions asked. If a players asks for an explanation, the requirement of the responder is to ensure that the reply relates to the intent of the question. The Director has the authority of law to adjust a score if he decides that a pair has been damaged through the opponents failure to explain the full meaning of a call or play by agreement.

During the auction, any player may refer to their opponents convention card, not their own, the same applies, except for Dummy, during the play. A footnote to Law 40 gives the sponsoring organisation the right to allow written defences to opponents unusual methods and refer to them during both the bidding and play. Such defences can only refer to the unusual methods, not any other aspects. The footnote also includes a prohibition of the use of 'aids to memory, calculation or technique'.

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Chapter V

The Auction

PART I CORRECT PROCEDURE
SECTION ONE AUCTION PERIOD

LAW 17 - DURATION OF THE AUCTION

A. Auction Period Starts The auction period on a deal begins for a side when either partner looks at the face of his cards.
B. The First Call The player designated by the board as dealer makes the first call.
C. Successive Calls The player to dealer's left makes the second call, and thereafter each player calls in turn in a clockwise rotation.
D. Cards from Wrong Board If a player who has inadvertently picked up the cards from a wrong board makes a call, that call is cancelled. If offender's LHO has called over the cancelled call, the Director shall assign artificial adjusted scores (see Law 90 for penalty) when offender's substituted call differs in any significant way from his cancelled call . If offender subsequently repeats the cancelled call on the board from which he mistakenly drew his cards, the Director may allow that board to be played normally, but the Director shall assign artificial adjusted scores (see Law 90) when offender's call differs in any way from his original cancelled call.
E. End of Auction Period The auction period ends when all four players pass or when after three passes in rotation have followed any call the opening lead is faced (when a pass out of rotation has been accepted, see Law 34).

LAW 18 - BIDS

A. Proper Form A bid names a number of odd tricks, from one to seven, and a denomination. (Pass, double and redouble are calls but not bids.)
B. To Supersede a Bid A bid supersedes a previous bid if it names either the same number of odd tricks in a higher-ranking denomination or a greater number of odd tricks in any denomination.
C. Sufficient Bid A bid that supersedes the immediately previous bid is a sufficient bid.
D. Insufficient Bid A bid that fails to supersede the immediately previous bid is an insufficient bid.
E. Rank of the Denominations The rank of the denominations in descending order is: no trump, spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs.
F. Different Methods Zonal Organisations may authorise different methods of making calls.

LAW 19 - DOUBLES AND REDOUBLES

A. Doubles
1. Legal Double A player may double only the last preceding bid. That bid must have been made by an opponent; calls other than pass must not have intervened.
2. Proper Form for Double In doubling, a player should not state the number of odd tricks or the denomination. The only correct form is the single word "Double".
3. Double of Incorrectly Stated Bid If a player, in doubling, incorrectly states the bid, or the number of odd tricks or the denomination, he is deemed to have doubled the bid as it was made. (Law 16 - Unauthorised Information - may apply.)
B. Redoubles
1. Legal Redouble A player may redouble only the last preceding double. That double must have been made by an opponent; calls other than pass must not have intervened.
2. Proper Form for a Redouble In redoubling, a player should not state the number of odd tricks or the denomination. The only correct form is the single word "Redouble".
3. Redouble of an Incorrectly Stated Bid If a player, in redoubling, incorrectly states the doubled bid, or the number of odd tricks or the denomination, he is deemed to have redoubled the bid as it was made. (Law 16 - Unauthorised Information - may apply.)
C. Double or Redouble Superseded Any double or redouble is superseded by a subsequent legal bid.
D. Scoring a Doubled or Redoubled Contract If a doubled or redoubled bid is not followed by a subsequent legal bid, scoring values are increased as provided in Law 77.

LAW 20 - REVIEW AND EXPLANATION OF CALLS

A. Call Not Clearly Heard A player who does not hear a call distinctly may forthwith require that it be repeated.
B. Review of Auction during Auction Period During the auction period, a player is entitled to have all previous calls restated when it is his turn to call, unless he is required by law to pass; Alerts should be included in the restatement.
C. Review after Final Pass
1. Opening Lead Inquiry After the final pass either defender has the right to ask if it is his opening lead (see Law 47E and Law 41).
2. Review of Auction Declarer or either defender may, at his first turn to play, require all4 previous calls to be restated (see Law 41B and C).
D. Who May Review the Auction A request to have calls restated shall be responded to only by an opponent.
E. Correction of Error in Review All players, including dummy or a player required by law to pass, are responsible for prompt correction of errors in restatement (see Law 12C1 when an uncorrected review causes damage).
F. Explanation of Calls
1. During the Auction During the auction and before the final pass, any player, at his own turn to call, may request a full explanation of the opponents' auction (questions may be asked about calls actually made or about relevant calls available but not made); replies should normally be given by the partner of a player who made a call in question (see Law 75C).
2. During the Play Period After the final pass and throughout the play period, either defender at his own turn to play may request an explanation of opposing auction. At his or dummy's turn to play, the declarer may request an explanation of a defender's call or card play conventions.

LAW 21 - CALL BASED ON MISINFORMATION

A. Call Based on Caller's Misunderstanding A player has no recourse if he has made a call on the basis of his own misunderstanding.
B. Call Based on Misinformation from an Opponent
1. Change of Call Until the end of the auction period (see Law 17E), a player may, without penalty, change a call when it is probable that he made the call as a result of misinformation given to him by an opponent (failure to alert promptly to a conventional call or special understanding, where such alert is required by the sponsoring organisation, is deemed misinformation), provided that his partner has not subsequently called.
2. Change of Call by Opponent Following Correction When a player elects to change a call because of misinformation (as in 1., preceding), his LHO may then in turn change any subsequent call he may have made, without penalty (unless his withdrawn call conveyed such information as to damage the non-offending side, in which case the Director may assign an adjusted score). (For unauthorised information from withdrawn calls, see Law 16C.)
3. Too Late to Change Call When it is too late to change a call, the Director may award an adjusted score (Law 40C may apply).

SECTION TWO
AUCTION HAS ENDED

LAW 22 - PROCEDURE AFTER THE AUCTION HAS ENDED

After the auction period has ended,
A. No Player Has Bid If no player has bid, the hands are returned to the board without play. There shall not be a redeal.
B. One or More Players Have Bid if any player has bid, the final bid becomes the contract, and play begins.

PART II IRREGULARITIES IN PROCEDURE

LAW 23 - DAMAGING ENFORCED PASS

Reference will be made to this Law from many other Laws that prescribe penalties for auction-period infractions. When the penalty for an irregularity under any Law would compel the offender's partner to pass at his next turn, if the Director deems that the offender, at the time of his irregularity, could have known that the enforced pass would be likely to damage the non-offending side, he shall require the auction and play to continue and consider awarding an adjusted score. (See Law 72B1.)

SECTION ONE
EXPOSED CARD AUCTION PERIOD

LAW 24 - CARD EXPOSED OR LED DURING AUCTION

When the Director determines, during the auction, that because of a player's action one or more cards of that player's hand were in position for the face to be seen by his partner, the Director shall require that every such card be left face up on the table until the auction closes; and (penalty) if the offender subsequently becomes a defender, declarer may treat every such card as a penalty card (Law 50). In addition:
A. Low Card Not Prematurely Led If it is a single card below the rank of an honour and not prematurely led, there is no further penalty.
B. Single Card of Honour Rank or Card Prematurely Led If it is a single card of honour rank or is any card prematurely led, (penalty) offender's partner must pass when next it is his turn to call (see Law 23 when a pass damages the non-offending side).
C. Two or More Cards Are Exposed If two or more cards are so exposed, (penalty) offender's partner must pass when next it is his turn to call (see Law 23 when a pass damages the non-offending side).

SECTION TWO
CHANGES OF CALLS

LAW 25 - LEGAL AND ILLEGAL CHANGES OF CALL

A. Immediate Correction of Inadvertency Until his partner makes a call, a player may substitute his intended call for an inadvertent call but only if he does so, or attempts to do so, without pause for thought. If legal, his last call stands without penalty; if illegal, it is subject to the applicable Law.
B. Delayed or Purposeful Correction Until LHO calls, a call may be substituted when Section A does not apply:
1. Substitute Call Condoned The substituted call may be accepted (treated as legal) at the option of offender's LHO ; then, the second call stands and the auction proceeds without penalty. If offender's LHO has called before attention is drawn to the infraction and the Director determines that LHO intended his call to apply over the offender's original call at that turn, offender's substituted call stands without penalty, and LHO may withdraw his call without penalty (but see Law 16C2).
2. Not Condoned If the substituted call is not accepted, it is cancelled, and (a) First Call Illegal if the first call was illegal, the offender is subject to the applicable law (and the lead penalties of Law 26 may apply to the second call). (b) First Call Legal if the first call was legal, the offender must either (1) Let First Call Stand allow his first call to stand, in which case (penalty) his partner must pass when next it is his turn to call (see Law 23 when the pass damages the non-offending side), or, (2) Substitute Another Call make any other legal call, in which case (penalty) the auction proceeds normally (but offender's partner may not base calls on information from withdrawn calls); the offending side may receive no score greater than average minus (see Law 12C1). (c) Lead Penalties In either case (b) (1) or (b) (2) above, the offender's partner will be subject to a lead penalty (see Law 26) if he becomes a defender.

LAW 26 - CALL WITHDRAWN, LEAD PENALTIES

When an offending player's call is withdrawn, and he chooses a different final call for that turn, then if he becomes a defender:
A. Call Related to Specific Suit if the withdrawn call related to a specified suit or suits and
1. Suit Specified if that suit was specified by the same player, there is no lead penalty, but see Law 16C.
2. Suit Not Specified if that suit was not specified in the legal auction by the same player, then declarer may (penalty) either require the offender's partner to lead the specified suit (or one particular specified suit) at his first turn to lead, including the opening lead, or prohibit offender's partner from leading the specified suit (or one particular specified suit) at his first turn to lead, including the opening lead, such prohibition to continue for as long as offender's partner retains the lead.
B. Other Withdrawn Calls For other withdrawn calls, (penalty) declarer may prohibit offender's partner from leading any one suit at his first turn to lead, including the opening lead, such prohibition to continue for as long as offender's partner retains the lead.

SECTION THREE
INSUFFICIENT BID

LAW 27 - INSUFFICIENT BID

A. Insufficient Bid Accepted Any insufficient bid may be accepted (treated as legal) at the option of offender's LHO. It is accepted if that player calls.
B. Insufficient Bid Not Accepted If an insufficient bid made in rotation is not accepted, it must be corrected by the substitution of either a sufficient bid or a pass.
1. Not Conventional and Corrected by Lowest Sufficient Bid in Same Denomination (a) No Penalty If both the insufficient bid and the bid substituted are incontrovertibly not conventional and if the bid is corrected by the lowest sufficient bid in the same denomination, the auction proceeds as though the irregularity had not occurred (Law 16C2 does not apply to this situation, but see (b) following). (b) Award of Adjusted Score If the Director judges that the insufficient bid conveyed such information as to damage the non-offending side, he shall assign an adjusted score.
2. Conventional, or Corrected by Any Other Sufficient Bid or Pass If either the insufficient bid or the lowest sufficient bid in the same denomination may have been conventional or if the bid is corrected by any other sufficient bid or by a pass, (penalty) the offender's partner must pass whenever it is his turn to call (apply Law 10C1 and see Law 23 when the pass damages the non-offending side; and the lead penalties of Law 26 may apply).
3. Attempt to Correct by a Double or Redouble If the offender attempts to substitute a double or redouble for his insufficient bid, the attempted call is cancelled, and (penalty) his partner must pass whenever it is his turn to call (see Law 23 when the pass damages the non-offending side, and the lead penalties of Law 26 may apply). C. Insufficient Bid Out of Rotation If a player makes an insufficient bid out of rotation, Law 31 applies.

SECTION FOUR
CALL OUT OF ROTATION

LAW 28 - CALLS CONSIDERED TO BE IN ROTATION

A. RHO Required to Pass A call is considered to be in rotation when it is made by a player at his RHO's turn to call if that opponent is required by law to pass.
B. Call by Correct Player Cancelling Call Out of Rotation A call is considered to be in rotation when made by a player whose turn it was to call, before a penalty has been assessed for a call out of rotation by an opponent; making such a call forfeits the right to penalise the call out of rotation, and the auction proceeds as though the opponent had not called at that turn, but Law 16C2 applies.

LAW 29 - PROCEDURE AFTER A CALL OUT OF ROTATION

A. Forfeiture of Right to Penalise Following a call out of rotation, offender's LHO may elect to call, thereby forfeiting the right to penalise.
B. Out-of-Rotation Call Cancelled Otherwise, a call out of rotation is cancelled (but see A preceding), and the auction reverts to the player whose turn it was to call. Offender may make any legal call in proper rotation, but his side may be subject to penalty under Laws 30, 31 or 32.
C. Call Out of Rotation Is Conventional If a call out of rotation is conventional, the provisions of Laws 30, 31 and 32 shall apply to the denominations specified, rather than the denominations named.

LAW 30 - PASS OUT OF ROTATION

When a player has passed out of rotation (and the call is cancelled, as the option to accept the call has not been exercised - see Law 29):
A. Before Any Player Has Bid When a player has passed out of rotation before any player has bid, (penalty) the offender must pass when next it is his turn to call and Law 72B1 may apply.
B. After Any Player Has Bid
1. At RHO's Turn to Call After any player has bid, when a pass out of rotation is made at offender's RHO's turn to call, (penalty) offender must pass when next it is his turn to call (if the pass out of rotation related by convention to a specific suit, or suits, thereby conveying information, the lead penalties of Law 26 may apply).
2. (a) Action Required of Offender After any player has bid, for a pass out of rotation made at the offender's partner's turn to call, (penalty) the offender must pass whenever it is his turn to call, and Law 72B1 may apply. (b) Action Open to Offender's Partner Offender's partner may make any sufficient bid, or may pass, but may not double or redouble at that turn, and Law 72B1 may apply.
3. At LHO's Turn to Call After any player has bid, a pass out of rotation at offender's LHO's turn to call is treated as a change of call and Law 25 applies. C. When Pass Is a Convention When the pass out of rotation is a convention, Law 31, not this Law, will apply. A pass is a convention if, by special agreement, it promises more than a specified amount of strength, or if it artificially promises or denies values other than in the last suit named.

LAW 31 - BID OUT OF ROTATION

When a player has bid out of rotation (and the bid is cancelled, as the option to accept the bid has not been exercised - see Law 29):
A. RHO's Turn When the offender has bid (or has passed partner's call when it is a convention, in which case section A2(b) applies) at his RHO's turn to call, then:
1. RHO Passes If that opponent passes, offender must repeat the call out of rotation, and when that call is legal there is no penalty.
2. RHO Acts If that opponent makes a legal bid, double or redouble, offender may make any legal call; when this call (a) Repeats Denomination repeats the denomination of his bid out of rotation, (penalty) offender's partner must pass when next it is his turn to call (see Law 23). (b) Does Not Repeat Denomination does not repeat the denomination of his bid out of rotation, the lead penalties of Law 26 may apply, and (penalty) offender's partner must pass whenever it is his turn to call (see Law 23).
B. Partner's or LHO's Turn When the offender has bid at his partner's turn to call, or at his LHO's turn to call if the offender has not previously called, (penalty) offender's partner must pass whenever it is his turn to call (see Law 23 when the pass damages the non-offending side), and the lead penalties of Law 26 may apply.

LAW 32 - DOUBLE OR REDOUBLE OUT OF ROTATION

A double or redouble out of rotation may be accepted at the option of the opponent next in rotation (see Law 29), except that an inadmissible double or redouble may never be accepted (see Law 35A if the opponent next in rotation nevertheless does call). If the illegal call is not accepted, it is cancelled, the lead penalties of Law 26B may apply, and:
A. Made at Offender's Partner's Turn to Call If a double or redouble out of rotation has been made when it was the offender's partner's turn to call, (penalty) the offender's partner must pass whenever it is his turn to call (see Law 23 when the pass damages the non-offending side).
B. Made at RHO's Turn to Call If a double or redouble out of rotation has been made at offender's RHO's turn to call, then:
1. RHO Passes If offender's RHO passes, offender must repeat his out- of-rotation double or redouble and there is no penalty unless the double or redouble is inadmissible, in which case Law 36 applies.
2. RHO Bids If offender's RHO bids, the offender may in turn make any legal call and (penalty) offender's partner must pass whenever it is his turn to call (see Law 23 when the pass damages the non-offending side).

LAW 33 - SIMULTANEOUS CALLS

A call made simultaneously with one made by the player whose turn it was to call is deemed to be a subsequent call.

LAW 34 - RETENTION OF RIGHT TO CALL

When a call has been followed by three passes, the auction does not end when one of those passes was out of rotation, thereby depriving a player of his right to call at that turn. The auction reverts to the player who missed his turn. All subsequent passes are cancelled, and the auction proceeds as though there had been no irregularity.

LAW 35 - INADMISSIBLE CALL CONDONED

When, after any inadmissible call specified below, the offender's LHO makes a call before a penalty has been assessed, there is no penalty for the inadmissible call (the lead penalties of Law 26 do not apply), and:
A. Double or Redouble If the inadmissible call was a double or redouble not permitted by Law 19, that call and all subsequent calls are cancelled. The auction reverts to the player whose turn it is to call, and proceeds as though there had been no irregularity.
B. Action by Player Required to Pass If the inadmissible call was a bid, double or redouble by a player required by law to pass, that call and all subsequent legal calls stand, but, if the offender was required to pass for the remainder of the auction, he must still pass at subsequent turns.
C. Bid of More than Seven If the inadmissible call was a bid of more than seven, that call and all subsequent calls are cancelled; the offender must substitute a pass, and the auction proceeds as though there had been no irregularity.
D. Call after Final Pass If the inadmissible call was a call after the final pass of the auction, that call and all subsequent calls are cancelled without penalty.

SECTION FIVE
INADMISSIBLE CALLS

LAW 36 - INADMISSIBLE DOUBLE OR REDOUBLE

Any double or redouble not permitted by Law 19 is cancelled. The offender must substitute a legal call, and (penalty) the offender's partner must pass whenever it is his turn to call (see Law 23 when the pass damages the non-offending side); the lead penalties of Law 26 may apply. (If the call is out of turn, see Law 32; if offender's LHO calls, see Law 35A.)

LAW 37 - ACTION VIOLATING OBLIGATION TO PASS

A bid, double or redouble by a player who is required by law to pass is cancelled, and (penalty) each member of the offending side must pass whenever it becomes his turn to call (see Law 23 when the pass damages the non-offending side). The lead penalties of Law 26 may apply. (If offender's LHO calls, see Law 35B.)

LAW 38 - BID OF MORE THAN SEVEN

No play or score at a contract of more than seven is ever permissible. A bid of more than seven is cancelled, and (penalty) each member of the offending side must pass whenever it becomes his turn to call (see Law 23 when the pass damages the non-offending side). The lead penalties of Law 26 may apply. (If offender's LHO calls, see Law 35C.)

LAW 39 - CALL AFTER FINAL PASS

A call made after the final pass of the auction is cancelled, and:
A. Pass or Call by Declaring Side If it is a pass by a defender, or any call by the future declarer or dummy, there is no penalty.
B. Other Action by Defender If it is a bid, double or redouble by a defender, the lead penalties of Law 26 may apply. (If offender's LHO calls, see Law 35D.)

SECTION SIX
CONVENTIONS AND AGREEMENTS

LAW 40 - PARTNERSHIP UNDERSTANDINGS

A. Right to Choose Call or Play A player may make any call or play (including an intentionally misleading call - such as a psychic bid - or a call or play that departs from commonly accepted, or previously announced, use of a convention), without prior announcement, provided that such call or play is not based on a partnership understanding.
B. Concealed Partnership Understandings Prohibited A player may not make a call or play based on a special partnership understanding unless an opposing pair may reasonably be expected to understand its meaning, or unless his side discloses the use of such call or play in accordance with the regulations of the sponsoring organisation.
C. Director's Option If the Director decides that a side has been damaged through its opponents' failure to explain the full meaning of a call or play, he may award an adjusted score.
D. Regulation of Conventions The sponsoring organisation may regulate the use of bidding or play conventions. Zonal organisations may, in addition, regulate partnership understandings (even if not conventional) that permit the partnership's initial actions at the one level to be made with a hand of a King or more below average strength. Zonal organisations may delegate this responsibility.
E. Convention Card
1. Right to Prescribe The sponsoring organisation may prescribe a convention card on which partners are to list their conventions and other agreements and may establish regulations for its use, including a requirement that both members of a partnership employ the same system (such a regulation must not restrict style and judgement, only method).
2. Referring to Opponents' Convention Card During the auction and play, any player except dummy may refer to his opponents' convention card at his own turn to call or play, but not to his own .