Bridge Regulations

Graham Cheater has kindly contributed the following synopsis of practical guidelines from the new Tournament Regulations, which as of 1st October have superseded the NZBridge Manual published in 2022.

The Regulations are not available in written form but may be found on the NZBridge website here.

Graham writes:

There have not been any significant changes that will impact regular club bridge sessions and most tournaments.

It is however an opportunity to identify a number of issues of which players can be reminded.

1.  A call is not complete until the full bid has been written.  If, for example, a player wishes to make a bid at the 1 level they must write ‘1’ immediately followed by the appropriate symbol viz :

11.3 Players must decide their call before commencing to write (on the bidding pad). Any vacillation among calls may convey unauthorised information and restrict partner’s actions according to Laws 16B1 and 73C.1

2.  If a player holds a hand of undisclosed strength ( i.e. not a passed hand ) and makes a bid that is non-forcing but would, in most natural systems, be considered forcing then that bid must be alerted viz :

11.3.2 Alertable calls over an opponent’s takeout double:

(a) Any bid in a new suit which is non-forcing (except by a passed hand)

(b) Conventional fit-showing jumps

11.3.3 Alertable calls over an opponent’s suit overcall:

(a) Any bid in a new suit which is non-forcing (except by a passed hand)

b) Any natural NT bid which does not promise a stopper in the opponent’s suit

(c) Lebensohl type responses after interference over your 1NT

Slow play

Players are reminded that slow play can adversely affect the concentration and enjoyment for players. Directors, in the interest of harmony, are reluctant to impose penalties but if necessary the recommended procedure dealing with slow play is as follows:

• 1st infringement: a warning is given
• 2nd and all subsequent infringements: a penalty of 25% of the available matchpoints for that board can be applied.

Multi 2 diamonds

This convention is not permitted to be used in tournaments restricted to Novice and Junior players.