Notes on Procedure and Etiquette
1. Players are asked to follow the Club’s Code of Conduct.
2. Both pairs should check at each table that they are at the correct table and playing the
correct boards. Also check that the boards are correctly aligned.
3. All players are required to check the number of cards in their hand as soon as they take it
from the board and before they look at the faces of the cards.
4. Make your decision about your bid before selecting it from the bidding box.
5. Your bidding cards should not be put back in the box until the opening lead is faced
6. Make your opening lead face down, so questions can be asked before the lead is faced and
so that the risk of leading from the wrong hand can be avoided.
7. Dummy has very limited actions. See Rules for Dummy.
8. If you make a claim for the remaining tricks it is advisable to state a line of play. This is fair to
your opponents and will help the Director if the claim is contested. Always ask declarer to
state their line of play even if you agree the claim. This will ensure that when you need to
contest the claim declarer will not be warned about a possible mistake and the Director
should be able to resolve the situation.
9. At the end of play agree the number of tricks taken with your opponents before disturbing
your faced cards.
10. Always shuffle your cards before returning them to the board.
11. North usually enters the result on the traveller. East must check that the information is clear,
complete and correct.
12. At the end of each round North should ensure that the boards are moved to the correct table
or relay. If a table is in play when “Move” is called, dummy should pass the played boards to
the next table.
13. If an error occurs, e.g. bid out of turn, an insufficient bid, a lead out of turn, or a revoke, the
Director must be called. The Director has a rule book, which describes all the options
available. It is rare that players at the table know all these options.
14. Announcing is part of the current laws of Bridge and should be practiced by members.
There are a limited number of situations where announcing is required and players must
beware of using announcements in other situations.
15. You are entitled to ask the meaning of opponents bid at your turn to bid and also before the
opening lead is faced. Beware of asking about specific bids because this may be deemed to
give unauthorised information to partner. You should beware of asking about bids if you have
no intention of bidding.
16. If there has been a misunderstanding during the bidding by declarer or dummy, this should
be explained to the opponents after the final pass but before play starts. If defenders think
they have been damaged they should call the Director. However defenders must not say
anything about misunderstandings in their bidding until the play of the hand has finished,
when they should call the Director.
17. After the play of the last round of the session the travellers should be removed from the
boards and given to the scorer. Please put the boards, bidding boxes, tables and tablecloths
in the proper places.
EAST BRIDGFORD BRIDGE CLUB CODE OF CONDUCT
Members and visitors are expected to:
1. Arrive at least 5 minutes before the session starts.
2. Help with arrangements for starting the session.
3. Be courteous and friendly at all times and respect the
procedures, which are custom and practice of the Club.
4. Help with refreshments.
5. Greet opponents at the start of each set of boards.
6. Thank opponents at the end of each set of boards.
7. Avoid slow play.
8. Keep noise levels to a minimum when sitting out or having
finished a board or set of boards.
9. Not carry out a post mortem on the last set of boards in the
presence of new opponents.
10. Not carry out a post mortem, which will delay the movement
of pairs.
11. Not tell opponents how they could have bid or played
without being asked.
12. Not leave the Club without clearing away the bidding boxes,
table and tablecloth and thanking the Director.