LAW 4
THE SHUFFLE
Before the first deal of a rubber, the player
to the dealer's left should shuffle the pack thoroughly *,
without exposing the face of any card, in full view of the players and
to their satisfaction. Thereafter, as each player deals, the dealer's
partner shuffles the other pack for the next deal, and places the pack
face down on his right.
A pack properly prepared should not be
disturbed until the dealer picks it up for his deal, at which time he
is entitled to the final shuffle.
No player other than the dealer and the
player designated to prepare the pack may shuffle.
* It is recommended that the pack be shuffled
at least five times
LAW 5
THE CUT
The pack must be cut immediately before it is
dealt. The dealer presents the pack to his RHO, who lifts off a
portion and places it on the table toward the dealer. Each portion
must contain at least four cards. The dealer completes the cut by
placing what was originally the bottom portion upon the other portion.
No player other than the dealer's RHO may cut
the pack.
LAW 6
NEW CUT - NEW SHUFFLE
There must be a new cut if any player demands
one before the first card is dealt. In this case, the dealer's RHO
cuts again.
There must be a new shuffle, followed by a
cut,
(a) if any player demands one
before the dealer has picked up the pack for his deal. In this case,
the player designated to prepare the pack shuffles again.
(b) if any player demands one
after the dealer has picked up the pack but before the first card is
dealt. In this case only the dealer shuffles.
(c) if a card is turned face up
in shuffling. In this case the player who was shuffling shuffles
again.
(d) if a card is turned face up
in cutting. In this case only the dealer shuffles.
(e) if there is a redeal (see
Law 10).
LAW 7
CHANGE OF PACK
The two packs are used alternately, unless
there is a redeal.
A pack containing a card so damaged or marked
that it may be identified from its back must be replaced *
if attention is drawn to the imperfection before the last card of the
current deal has been dealt.
A pack originally belonging to a side must be
restored on demand of any player before the last card of the current
deal has been dealt. *
* See Law 8
LAW 8
THE DEAL
The dealer distributes the cards face down,
one at a time in rotation into four separate hands of 13 cards each,
the first card to the player on his left and the last card to himself.
If he deals two cards simultaneously or consecutively to the same
player, or fails to deal a card to a player, he may rectify the error,
provided he does so immediately and to the satisfaction of the other
players. The dealer must not allow the face of any card to be seen
while he is dealing.
Players should not look at the face of any
card until the deal is completed. A player who violates this provision
forfeits those rights to a change of pack ( Law 7)
or redeal ( Law 10) marked with an asterisk (*).
LAW 9
ROTATION OF THE TURN TO DEAL
The turn to deal passes in rotation, unless
there is a redeal. If a player deals out of turn, and attention is not
drawn to the error before the last card has been dealt, the deal
stands as though it had been in turn, the player who dealt the cards
is the dealer (he makes the first call), and the player who missed his
turn to deal has no redress; and the rotation continues as though the
deal had been in turn, unless a redeal is required under
Law 10.
LAW 10
REDEAL
A redeal cancels the faulty deal; the same
dealer deals again, unless he was dealing out of turn; the same pack
is used, unless it has been replaced as provided in
Law 7; and the cards are shuffled and cut anew as provided in Laws
4 and 5.
There must be a redeal
(a) If, before the last card
has been dealt, it is discovered that
(i) |
a card has been turned face up in dealing or is
face up in the pack or elsewhere; |
(ii) |
the cards have not been dealt correctly;
* or |
(iii) |
a player is dealing out of turn or is dealing
with a pack that was not shuffled or not cut, provided any player*
demands a redeal. |
(b) if, before the first call
has been made, it is discovered that a player has picked up another
player's hand and has seen a card in it.
(c) if,
before play has been completed, it is discovered that
(i) |
the pack did not conform in every respect to the
requirements of Law 1,
including any case in which a missing card cannot be found after due
search; or |
(ii) |
one player has picked up too many cards, another
too few; or |
(iii) |
two or more players on opposing sides have
allowed any cards from their hands to be mixed together, following a
claim that a redeal is in order. |
LAW 11
MISSING CARD
When a player has too few cards and a redeal
is not required by Law 10(c), the deal stands as
correct, and
(a) if he has played more than
once to a previous trick, Law 67
applies.
(b) if a missing card is found
elsewhere, not in a previous trick, that card is deemed to have
belonged continuously to the deficient hand and must be restored to
that hand; it may become a penalty card, as provided in
Law 23 or
Law 49,
and failure to have played it may constitute a revoke.
LAW 12
SURPLUS CARD
When a player has too many cards and a redeal
is not required by Law 10(c), the deal stands as
correct, and
(a) if the offender has omitted
to play to a trick, Law 67
applies.
(b) if the offender has picked
up a surplus card from a previous trick, or from dummy's hand, or from
the other pack, or elsewhere, such surplus card shall be restored to
its proper place; and
(i) |
if the surplus card is in the offender's hand
when it is discovered, there is no penalty. |
(ii) |
if the surplus card has been led or played, or
had been played to a previous trick, the offender must substitute
for it a card from his hand that he can legally play to the trick,
and, if possible, a card of the same suit as the surplus card. The
offending side may not thereby win a trick it had lost, but it may
lose a trick it had won. When attention is drawn to the offense
before the lead to the next trick, either member of the
non-offending side may, without penalty, withdraw a play made
subsequent to the offense, and substitute any legal play. |
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