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 a 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 Redeal
-
- 1. If it is ascertained before the auction first begins on a board
that the cards have been incorrectly dealt or that during the shuffle
and deal a player could have seen the face of a card belonging to
another player, there shall be a new shuffle and deal. Thereafter Law
16C applies to the accidental sighting of a card belonging to another
player’s hand before completion of the play of the board (but see Law
24). Any illegally dealt board is a fouled board, and for any other
irregularity see the relevant law.
(Old 1997 Law)
1. Cards Incorrectly Dealt or Exposed
- There must be a new shuffle and a redeal 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
Unless the purpose of the tournament is the replay of past deals, no
result may stand if the cards are dealt without shuffle from a sorted
deck* or if the deal has been imported from a different session. These
provisions shall not prevent arrangements, where desired, for exchange
of boards between tables.
(Old 1997 Law)
- 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 himself perform the shuffle and deal in advance.
- (Old 1997 Law)
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 Predealing
- The Director may require a different method of dealing or
pre-dealing to produce the same wholly random expectations as from A and
B above.
(Old 1997 Law)
The Director may require a different method of dealing or predealing.
- 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. When he
so instructs, there shall normally be no redeal of a board (although the
Director has powers to order it).
(Old 1997 Law)
If required by the conditions of play, one or more exact copies of
each original deal may be made under the Director's instructions.
* A “sorted deck” is a pack of cards not randomized from its prior
condition.
See Duplicate Decisions
 
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
- 1. Each player takes a hand from the pocket corresponding to his
compass position.
(Old 1997 Law)
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 13;
after that, and before making a call, he must inspect the face of his
cards.
2. Each player counts his cards face down to be sure he has exactly 13.
After that, and before making a call, he must inspect the faces of his
cards.
(Old 1997 Law)
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.
- 3. 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
- After play has finished, each player should shuffle his original 13
cards, after which he restores them 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.
(Old 1997 Laws)
Each player shall restore his original 13 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.
See Duplicate Decisions
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
- Unless the Director instructs otherwise, 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.
(Old 1997 Law)
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
- 1. 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.
2. (New 2008 Law) When the Director exercises his authority to postpone
play of a board, for that board the round does not end for the players
concerned until the board has been played and the score agreed and
recorded or the Director has canceled the play of the board.
- 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.
See Duplicate Decisions |
