English Bridge Union
Screen Regulations
Operation| Bidding Boxes| Modification of penalties These regulations are for use with Screens and include Bidding Box regulations Operation Basic The North and East players sit on the same side of the screen throughout. It is North's responsibility to place the board on, and to remove the board from the bidding tray. It is West's responsibility to adjust the screen aperture. Sequence North places the board on the bidding tray. The aperture is closed (and remains so during the whole of the auction period) so that the bidding tray can just pass under it. The players remove the cards from the board. Calls are made with the cards from the bidding box. The player places the selected call in the bidding tray, which will be visible only on the player's side of the screen. After two players on the same side of the screen have made their calls, North or South (as the case may be) slides the bidding tray under the centre of the screen so as to be visible only to the players on the other side. They in turn make their calls in like manner and the bidding tray is slid back again. This procedure is continued until the auction is completed. After a legal opening lead is faced, the screen aperture is opened sufficiently so that all players may see the dummy and the cards played to each trick. Explanations A player may, by written question, ask for an explanation of an opponent's call; the screen-mate then provides a written answer. 1. At any time during the auction a player may request of his screen-mate, in writing, a full explanation of an opponent's call. The reply is also in writing. 2. Questions during the play period should be in writing with the aperture closed. The screen is raised after the response has been made. Bidding Boxes Basic Bidding boxes are used. Starting with the dealer, players place their calls in the tray, from the left and neatly overlapping, so that all calls are visible and faced towards partner. The players should make every effort to see that these actions are performed as quietly as possible. A player's first call should touch the extreme left of his own segment of the bidding tray. Players should refrain from touching any cards in the box until they have determined their call. However, any call selected and taken from the bidding box may be changed provided it has not been placed and released from the hand (but Law 73F2 may apply). Note that some left-handed bidding boxes are available, where the calls are placed in a row from right to left. Changes to calls made A call placed and released may be changed: 1. if it is illegal or inadmissible (in which case the change is obligatory as soon as either screen-mate is aware of this); or 2. if it is determined by the director to be a call inadvertently selected; or 3. under the provisions of Law 25 (the penalty provision of Law 25B does not apply if the first call is not transmitted through the screen). A call placed and transferred to the other side of the screen generally becomes subject to the normal provisions of the Laws. Alerts A player who makes an alertable call must alert his screen-mate, and partner must alert on the other side of the screen when the bidding tray arrives there. It is the player's responsibility to ensure that his screen mate is a aware of the alert. The recommended procedure is to place an Alert card over the last call of the screen-mate, in his segment of the bidding tray; the alerted player acknowledges by returning the Alert card to his opponent. Standard EBU regulations shall apply with regard to which calls require an alert. Variation in tempo During the auction period, after an opponent has acted quickly, it is proper to adjust the tempo back to normal by either delaying one's own call (place the bidding card faced, in front of, but not on the tray) or by waiting before passing the tray. End of the Auction After all four players have had the opportunity to review the auction (equivalent to the right of having the auction restated) the players replace their bidding cards in their respective bidding boxes. Until they are removed from the table, a player obtains a review of the auction by inspecting the bidding cards. When such inspection is not feasible a player may obtain a written review of the auction at his first turn to play to trick one. Modifications of Penalties The Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge 1997 are in effect except as specified below: Law 9A2(b)(1); Law 42B(3); Law 43A(1)(b) Dummy calling attention to irregularity Dummy may call attention to a defender's card prematurely exposed. Law 13 Incorrect number of cards The artificial adjusted score and penalty prescribed in the first paragraph apply only if the call has been transmitted to the other side of the screen. Laws 25 through 32; Law 34; Laws 36 through 39 Changes of call; Insufficient bids; Calls out of rotation; Inadmissible calls For the infractions covered by these laws, the following procedures are used: 1. Tray not Passed. Before the tray is passed, the offender's screen-mate shall call attention to the infraction and summon the director. The director shall see that the infraction is rectified without penalty. These infringing calls may not be accepted. 2. Both Sides at Fault. When the infringing call is nonetheless passed across the screen, both sides being at fault (as when either player commits a bidding infraction and the proper player - North or South - moves the tray before rectification), both players on the other side of the screen are responsible for calling attention to the infraction and summoning the director. The director shall return the tray to the offending players for rectification of the irregularity without penalty. These infringing calls may not be accepted. 3. Only One Side at Fault. When a call is passed across the screen both players on the other side of the screen are responsible for drawing attention to any infraction and summoning the director. If only one side is found to be at fault, and except as otherwise provided in these or any other Conditions, a call placed and transferred to the other side of the screen is subject to the normal provisions of the Laws. 4. Irregularity not Noticed. When the infringing call is passed across the screen, and neither player there draws attention to it, the tray eventually being returned to the side of the screen where the bidding irregularity was committed, the auction stands without penalty or rectification. However, in the case of an inadmissible call, Law 35 applies. 5. Information - Authorised or Not. Information from withdrawn calls is unauthorised for any partnerships at fault but authorised for a player or partnership that has committed no irregularity. If the director determines that the unauthorised information from withdrawn calls precludes normal bidding, he shall award an artificial adjusted score. Law 33 Simultaneous calls The subsequent call is cancelled without penalty. Law 41A; Law 54 Opening Lead Out of Turn The offender's screen-mate should attempt to prevent any opening lead our of turn. A faced down lead out of turn is retracted without penalty. A faced opening lead out of turn is retracted without penalty if the screen has not been raised. When the screen has been raised after a faced opening lead out of turn - through no fault of the declaring side 1. and the other side has not yet led face up, the lead is considered to be out of turn and Law 54 applies; 2. and the other side has also led face up, the card becomes a major penalty card. When the declaring side has incorrectly opened the screen, the lead is accepted. The director shall award an adjusted score if he considers that the player who opened the screen could have known that it would be to his advantage to accept the lead. Law 76 Spectators Spectators may not sit so they can see both sides of the screen.