Bridge Etiquette

These expectations support the general requirement in our Code of Conduct to follow good bridge etiquette as required by the Laws of Duplicate Bridge. Please ensure that you:

cut cards to determine seating. The highest card cut sits North/South
place the lead card face down until your partner has checked it is correct for you to lead and said thank you partner
declare the number of cards in your partner's 1 club opening
declare the number of points in your partner's 1NT opening
alert any unusual or non standard bids so that your opponents have the opportunity to ask for clarification

Please avoid:

continuing to discuss cards or play from previous boards, remember your opponents may not have played these yet
making corrections to irregularities without calling the director
calling with special emphasis, inflection or intonation
passing or doubling with exceptional haste or reluctance
making a call with undue delay which may result in conveying improper information to partner
indicating by facial expression or in any way showing approval or disapproval of partner's bidding or play
giving by word, manner or gesture an indication of the hand held. If you do this, partner must act as though you did not
taking advantage of unauthorised information as to an incident of the auction or play
volunteering information which should be given only in response to a question
attracting attention to number of tricks won
playing a card with special emphasis or playing a card with undue delay when it does not need consideration
detaching a card from your hand before it is your turn to play or lead, or detaching a card and then replacing it
indicating the expectation or intention of winning or losing a trick that has not been completed
remarks or mannerisms which indicate the type of hand or which could deceive the opponents
dummy must not touch a card from his/her hand or suggest a card be played unless directed to do so by the declarer
dummy should remain seated at the table during the play of the hand
declarer must not play from dummy before left hand opponent has played
if your partner hesitates for an unduly long period before passing, it is quite improper for you to make a bid, unless your hand justifies doing so
if your partner forgets an agreement, do not say or do anything during the auction

Table Duties

NORTH

Checks that the boards are in the correct sequence and placed correctly on the table. Once played he/she hands the board to the incoming WEST.

SOUTH

Enters the table number, checks SOUTH, EAST, NORTH & WEST have entered correct NZB numbers, enters the score and lead for all boards played and ensures that EAST checks and confirms the entries.