Common Director Decisions

Did you miss one of the bridge lessons this year? Would you like a refresher course on reading the recap sheet or scoring? Some of the handouts are now available on line. Remember, the players don't need to know all the laws. When something goes wrong at the table, call the director!

• "We Can't All Sit East-West!" Someone must keep score. Learn how to fill out a traveler or a pick-up slip.
• "Matchpoint Theory 101". Learn what all those numbers and marks on the recap sheet mean.
• "Are You a Good Dummy?" Did you know that a dummy has rights and obligations?
• "That's Insufficient". Your RHO made an insufficient bid. What should you do? Call the director, of course. [Note that this article was written before the 2008 version of the Laws appeared. It will be rewritten soon.]
• "Opening Call Out of Turn - What Now?"
• "Lead Out of Turn - What Now?"
• "It's a Penalty Card - Or Is It?" Do you know your options when a penalty card is on the table?
• "They Revoked!"
• "Oops! I Want a Do-Over!". You messed up and called the wrong card from dummy, pulled out the wrong bid card, or played the wrong card out of your hand. What now?
• "My Partner Didn't Alert - What Now?". Your partner forgot to alert a bid. What should you do?
• "Oops! I Forgot!". You forgot your partnership was playing a new convention and you used the old bid. What are your ethical obligations?
• "Making a Claim - Part One"
• "Making a Claim - Part Two"
• "Proprieties". Can I ask a question about the bidding? Can I tell my partner the trick is turned wrong? What's the Stop! card? These are some of the little puzzles that arise when you're at the bridge table - and the answers are actually in the Laws of Duplicate Bridge! Here is a quick overview of proprieties with a smattering of pointers.

The American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) provides excellent information - if you can find it. Here are a few links advancing players may find helpful.

• Alert Procedures: As the ACBL says, these procedures use "admittedly 'fuzzy' terminology." Still, a close examination of the chart and the definitions is very helpful.
• Rulings FAQ: a must-read for both players and directors.
• ACBLScore version 7.92 is current as of April 2015. It can be downloaded for free.