RULES
TIME LIMITS:
1 hour of game play or 12 hands played or
500 points reached Winner or -200 points to Loser whichever comes first.
Time must be kept by players. If the time limit has been reached. The current hand being played is finished, and the final score determines the winner. In the event of a tie, another hand is played without bidding and the team that accumulates the majority of tricks is declared the winner. (Any rule violations during this tiebreaker will result in a forfeit by the penalized team.)
SCORING FORMAT:
- Trick are awarded 10 points each when a bid contract is met for a team. (A bid of 6 is made and 7 tricks are won, earns 60 points for the contracted tricks and 1 point for the sandbag/extra book.)
- Sandbags (bags) are worth 1 point and accumulating 10 bags equals -100 point penalty
- Nil is worth + or – 100 points
- Blinds are worth + or – 20/points a trick and the bid minimum is 7. To get this option you must be down by at least 100 points.
- Bidding 10 or more tricks are work + 20 points/each for a successful contract or -10 points /each for an unsuccessful contract.
- Reneges, if proven to the TD will be -50 points for offenders and loss of their bid.
- Penalty cards are worth negative points and count against a teams score immediately.
- Score is to be kept by 1 player and verified by a member of the other team.
- A member of each team will sign the score sheet with the final scores recorded.
- Score sheets are to be turned in at TD table after every game.
GAME FLOW:
Players are expected to do their best to play the game without interruption. Stalling the game is not permitted. If your opponents are playing slow, ask them once nicely to keep pace of play up. If they continue to stall, call over a tournament staff and they will assist. If the problem continues, your
opponents may be assessed a stalling penalty of up to -250 points by the TD.
DEALING:
The first dealer is chosen by drawing cards, highest card deals first. Cards are shuffled and the cut is offered to the person right of the dealer. A cut of the cards must be offered. If it is not offered and is caught prior to 5 cards being dealt, there is a re-deal. Regulation dealing only (clockwise fashion starting with the player left of dealer, one card at a time). If the deal does not come out equal (i.e., the dealer doesn’t get the last card) or it is done out of turn, it is a misdeal.
There are no misdeals based on the cards dealt to a hand (e.
g., no aces/facecards and no spades). One card exposed during the deal does not constitute a misdeal unless it is an Ace or King of any suit. However, if two cards or more are exposed, then a misdeal has occurred. If there is a misdeal, the deal stays with the same person. After a player has misdealt, cards must be dealt carefully and players are not allowed to touch cards until all cards are dealt. Any subsequent misdeals result in loss of deal, and the next game starts.
BIDDING:
Bids are placed clockwise starting with the player to the left of the dealer. NO verbal bidding is allowed. Use of bid decks / sheets will be employed. There is no discussion between partners. Once a bid is made it cannot be changed. This includes bids made out of sequence.
The minimum bid for a team is 5 tricks/books.
If a player turns over their bid before it is their turn then the bid stands. Repeated out of sequence bidding is considered signaling and can result in Penalty Points (PP) and/or Disqualification (DQ).
At the end of the hand and after the score has been compared, but before the end of the deal of the next hand, please remember to flip your bid deck over so that no bid is showing. If the hand is looked at by a player with a bid still turned over from the last hand, this bid cannot be changed.
The only bid that can be discussed is if a teams wishes to bid blind. One teammate can only ask the other a yes / no question, with the teammate responding with a yes / no. Any other communication is against tournament rules.
PLAYING THE HAND:
Each hand must be played to completion rather than announcing “the rest are mine” to avoid potential scoring errors or instances of reneging.
Cards played out of turn may not be retracted, but instead become a “penalty card”. If the card is a legal play to the lead then it may not be changed. If the card played out of turn is not legal, it must remain on the table in front of the offender as a penalty card; a substitute card (in turn) will be played. The penalty card must be played at the next legal opportunity. The offending team will receive a -20 point penalty.
If a player plays out of a turn resulting in a “steal of lead”, the opposing team may give one warning and ask the TD to assess a -20 point penalty on the next and any subsequent occurrences or continue play as is.
Failure to follow suit when possible is a renege. If this is recognized before the next trick is led, it is a renounce. Once a renege is identified please follow the rules above.
A renounce situation occurs when a player determines that his/her play was incorrect, and corrects the play (follows the suit led) before the next trick is led. Call the TD as soon as a penalty card (resulting from a renounce) situation occurs so that the TD can observe the rest of the hand. The penalty card from a renounce results in a -20 point penalty.
SIGNALING:
Signaling outside of legitimate card play, both verbal and nonverbal, is not allowed. Motioning, table talk, emotional outbursts, noises and unnecessary behavior will not be tolerated. These result in penalty points and possible disqualification. The opposing team must notify the TD of possible signaling for review.
To best avoid a possible signaling infraction, please keep all cards together until it is your action, limit movements and keep your mouth closed.
LAST HAND VIEWING:
The only time a player can request to see a previous hand is under the suspicion of a renege. If this is found to be true, penalties will be assessed and the next game continues. If a request is not validated -50 point penalty is assessed to the team that called the renege. Ample time must be given to each player to review what has been played before the next trick is played.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES:
Emergency phone calls (life and death situations) a temporary break is allowed. Call the TD for a proper time call.
SPORTSMANSHIP and PLAYERS RESPONSIBILITY:
While tournament players are welcome to have guests, guests are not permitted in the tournament rooms during play. Everyone should be reminded to keep a comfortable distance from players who are in action.
KIBITZING:
Kibitzing that is audible to any player or official is not allowed.
RULINGS:
Do not make your own rulings. Call the TD for any rules/plays violation.
Players are responsible for their conduct as well as that of their guests. Abusive language or derogatory language will not be tolerated and may result in disqualification (DQ) by the Tournament Director. Disqualifications do not get refunds.
No table talk and no signaling. Either can/will result in a penalty points or disqualification (DQ) as determined by the Tournament Director. Players are reminded that excessive stalling is seen as a form of unsportsmanlike conduct and can be grounds for penalty points or disqualification.
Official tournament staff will be observing play and are available to answer questions or address concerns. All play of the game related decisions are made by the TD and are final.
No refunds will be given.
By participating in this tournament or any related events, you agree to these rules and regulations.