CHAPTER V
THE AUCTION

PART I
CORRECT PROCEDURE

SECTION ONE
AUCTION PERIOD

LAW 17 - DURATION OF THE AUCTION

A. Auction Period Starts: The auction period on a deal begins for a side when either partner looks at the face of his cards.
B. The First Call: The player designated by the board as dealer makes the first call.
C. Successive Calls: The player to dealer's left makes the second call, and thereafter each player calls in turn in a clockwise rotation.
D. Cards from Wrong Board: If a player who has inadvertently picked up the cards from a wrong board makes a call, that call is cancelled. If offender's LHO has called over the cancelled call, the Director shall assign artificial adjusted scores (see Law 90 for penalty) when offender's substituted call differs in any significant way from his cancelled call . If offender subsequently repeats the cancelled call on the board from which he mistakenly drew his cards, the Director may allow that board to be played normally, but the Director shall assign artificial adjusted scores (see Law 90) when offender's call differs in any way from his original cancelled call.
E. End of Auction Period: The auction period ends when all four players pass, or when, after three passes in rotation have followed any call, the opening lead is faced (when a pass out of rotation has been accepted, see Law 34).

Offender's LHO must repeat the previous call.

LAW 18 - BIDS

A. Proper Form: A bid names a number of odd tricks, from one to seven, and a denomination. (Pass, double and redouble are calls but not bids.)
B. To Supersede a Bid: A bid supersedes a previous bid if it names either the same number of odd tricks in a higher-ranking denomination or a greater number of odd tricks in any denomination.
C. Sufficient Bid: A bid that supersedes the immediately previous bid is a sufficient bid.
D. Insufficient Bid: A bid that fails to supersede the immediately previous bid is an insufficient bid.
E. Rank of the Denominations: The rank of the denominations in descending order is: notrump, spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs.
F. Different Methods: Zonal Organisations may authorise different methods of making calls.

LAW 19 - DOUBLES AND REDOUBLES

A. Doubles
B. Redoubles
C. Double or Redouble Superseded: Any double or redouble is superseded by a subsequent legal bid.
D. Scoring a Doubled or Redoubled Contract: If a doubled or redoubled bid is not followed by a subsequent legal bid, scoring values are increased as provided in Law 77.

LAW 20 - REVIEW AND EXPLANATION OF CALLS

A. Call Not Clearly Heard: A player who does not hear a call distinctly may forthwith require that it be repeated.
B. Review of Auction during Auction Period: During the auction period, a player is entitled to have all previous calls restated when it is his turn to call, unless he is required by Law to pass; Alerts should be included in the restatement.
C. Review after Final Pass
D. Who May Review the Auction: A request to have calls restated shall be responded to only by an opponent.
E. Correction of Error in Review: All players, including dummy or a player required by Law to pass, are responsible for prompt correction of errors in restatement (see Law 12C1 when an uncorrected review causes damage).
F. Explanation of Calls

A player may not ask for a partial restatement of previous calls and may not halt the review before it has been completed.

Law 16 may apply; and sponsoring organisations may establish regulations for written explanations.

LAW 21 - CALL BASED ON MISINFORMATION

A. Call Based on Caller's Misunderstanding: A player has no recourse if he has made a call on the basis of his own misunderstanding.
B. Call Based on Misinformation from an Opponent

SECTION TWO
AUCTION HAS ENDED

LAW 22 - PROCEDURE AFTER THE AUCTION HAS ENDED

A. No Player Has Bid: After the auction period has ended, if no player has bid, the hands are returned to the board without play. There shall not be a redeal.
B. One or More Players Have Bid: If any player has bid, the final bid becomes the contract, and play begins.

PART II
IRREGULARITIES IN PROCEDURE

LAW 23 - DAMAGING ENFORCED PASS

Reference will be made to this Law from many other Laws that prescribe penalties for auction-period infractions.

When the penalty for an irregularity under any Law would compel the offender's partner to pass at his next turn, if the Director deems that the offender, at the time of his irregularity, could have known that the enforced pass would be likely to damage the non-offending side, he shall require the auction and play to continue, and, consider awarding an adjusted score (see Law 72B1).

SECTION ONE
EXPOSED CARD, AUCTION PERIOD

LAW 24 - CARD EXPOSED OR LED DURING AUCTION

When the Director determines, during the auction, that because of a player's action one or more cards of that player's hand were in position for the face to be seen by his partner, the Director shall require that every such card be left face up on the table until the auction closes; and (penalty) if the offender subsequently becomes a defender, declarer may treat every such card as a penalty card (Law 50). In addition:

A. Low Card Not Prematurely Led: If it is a single card below the rank of an honour, and not prematurely led, there is no further penalty.
B. Single Card of Honour Rank, or Card Prematurely Led: If the card is a single card of honour rank, or is any card prematurely led, (penalty) offender's partner must pass when next it is his turn to call (see Law 23 when a pass damages the non-offending side).
C. Two or More Cards Are Exposed: If two or more cards are so exposed, (penalty) offender's partner must pass when next it is his turn to call (see Law 23 when a pass damages the non-offending side).

SECTION TWO
CHANGES OF CALLS

LAW 25 - LEGAL AND ILLEGAL CHANGES OF CALL

A. Immediate Correction of Inadvertency: Until his partner makes a call, a player may substitute his intended call for an inadvertent call but only if he does so, or attempts to do so, without pause for thought. If legal, his last call stands without penalty; if illegal, it is subject to the applicable Law.
B. Delayed or Purposeful Correction: Until LHO calls, a call may be substituted when section A does not apply:

When the original bid was insufficient, apply Law 27

The non-offending side receives the score achieved at the table.

LAW 26 - CALL WITHDRAWN, LEAD PENALTIES

When an offending player's call is withdrawn, and he chooses a different final call for that turn, then if he becomes a defender:

A. Call Related to Specific Suit: If the withdrawn call related to a specified suit or suits, and,
B. Other Withdrawn Calls: For other withdrawn calls, (penalty) declarer may prohibit offender's partner from leading any one suit at his first turn to lead, including the opening lead, such prohibition to continue for as long as offender's partner retains the lead.

A call repeated with a much different meaning shall be deemed a different call.

Declarer specifies the suit when offender's partner first has the lead.

SECTION THREE
INSUFFICIENT BID

LAW 27 - INSUFFICIENT BID

A. Insufficient Bid Accepted: Any insufficient bid may be accepted (treated as legal) at the option of offender's LHO. It is accepted if that player calls.
B. Insufficient Bid Not Accepted: If an insufficient bid made in rotation is not accepted, it must be corrected by the substitution of either a sufficient bid or a pass.
C. Insufficient Bid out of Rotation: If a player makes an insufficient bid out of rotation, Law 31 applies.

SECTION FOUR
CALL OUT OF ROTATION

LAW 28 - CALLS CONSIDERED TO BE IN ROTATION

A. RHO Required to Pass: A call is considered to be in rotation when it is made by a player at his RHO's turn to call if that opponent is required by Law to pass.
B. Call by Correct Player Cancelling Call out of Rotation: A call is considered to be in rotation when made by a player whose turn it was to call, before a penalty has been assessed for a call out of rotation by an opponent; making such a call forfeits the right to penalise the call out of rotation, and the auction proceeds as though the opponent had not called at that turn, but Law 16C2 applies.

LAW 29 - PROCEDURE AFTER A CALL OUT OF ROTATION

A. Forfeiture of Right to Penalise: Following a call out of rotation, offender's LHO may elect to call, thereby forfeiting the right to penalise.
B. Out-of-Rotation Call Cancelled: Otherwise a call out of rotation is cancelled (but see A preceding), and the auction reverts to the player whose turn it was to call. Offender may make any legal call in proper rotation, but his side may be subject to penalty under Law 30, Law 31 or Law 32.
C. Call out of Rotation Is Conventional: If a call out of rotation is conventional, the provisions of Law 30, Law 31, and Law 32 shall apply to the denominations specified, rather than the denominations named.

LAW 30 - PASS OUT OF ROTATION

When a player has passed out of rotation (and the call is cancelled, as the option to accept the call has not been exercised - see Law 29):

A. Before Any Player Has Bid: When a player has passed out of rotation before any player has bid, (penalty) the offender must pass when next it is his turn to call and Law 72B1 may apply.
B. After Any Player Has Bid
C. When Pass Is a Convention: When the pass out of rotation is a convention, Law 31 , not this Law, will apply. A pass is a convention if, by special agreement, it promises more than a specified amount of strength, or if it artificially promises or denies values other than in the last suit named.

LAW 31 - BID OUT OF ROTATION

When a player has bid out of rotation (and the bid is cancelled, as the option to accept the bid has not been exercised - see Law 29):

A. RHO's Turn: When the offender has bid (or has passed partner's call when it is a convention, in which case section A2b applies) at his RHO's turn to call, then:
B. Partner's or LHO's Turn: When the offender has bid at his partner's turn to call, or at his LHO's turn to call if the offender has not previously called , (penalty) offender's partner must pass whenever it is his turn to call (see Law 23 when the pass damages the non-offending side), and the lead penalties of Law 26 may apply.

An illegal call by RHO is penalised as usual.

Later bids at LHO's turn to call are treated as changes of call, and Law 25 applies.

LAW 32 - DOUBLE OR REDOUBLE OUT OF ROTATION

A double or redouble out of rotation may be accepted at the option of the opponent next in rotation (see Law 29), except that an inadmissible double or redouble may never be accepted (see Law 35A if the opponent next in rotation nevertheless does call). If the illegal call is not accepted, it is cancelled, the lead penalties of Law 26B may apply, and:

A. Made at Offender's Partner's Turn to Call: If a double or redouble out of rotation has been made when it was the offender's partner's turn to call, (penalty) the offender's partner must pass whenever it is his turn to call (see Law 23 when the pass damages the non-offending side).
B. Made at RHO's Turn to Call: If a double or redouble out of rotation has been made at offender's RHO's turn to call, then:

LAW 33 - SIMULTANEOUS CALLS

A call made simultaneously with one made by the player whose turn it was to call is deemed to be a subsequent call.

LAW 34 - RETENTION OF RIGHT TO CALL

When a call has been followed by three passes, the auction does not end when one of those passes was out of rotation, thereby depriving a player of his right to call at that turn. The auction reverts to the player who missed his turn. All subsequent passes are cancelled, and the auction proceeds as though there had been no irregularity.

LAW 35 - INADMISSIBLE CALL CONDONED

When, after any inadmissible call specified below, the offender's LHO makes a call before a penalty has been assessed, there is no penalty for the inadmissible call (the lead penalties of Law 26 do not apply), and:

A. Double or Redouble: If the inadmissible call was a double or redouble not permitted by Law 19, that call and all subsequent calls are cancelled. The auction reverts to the player whose turn it is to call and proceeds as though there had been no irregularity.
B. Action by Player Required to Pass: If the inadmissible call was a bid, double or redouble by a player required by Law to pass, that call and all subsequent legal calls stand, but, if the offender was required to pass for the remainder of the auction, he must still pass at subsequent turns.
C. Bid of More than Seven: If the inadmissible call was a bid of more than seven, that call and all subsequent calls are cancelled; the offender must substitute a pass, and the auction proceeds as though there had been no irregularity.
D. Call after Final Pass: If the inadmissible call was a call after the final pass of the auction, that call and all subsequent calls are cancelled without penalty.

SECTION FIVE
INADMISSIBLE CALLS

LAW 36 - INADMISSIBLE DOUBLE OR REDOUBLE

Any double or redouble not permitted by Law 19 is cancelled. The offender must substitute a legal call, and (penalty) the offender's partner must pass whenever it is his turn to call (see Law 23 when the pass damages the non-offending side); the lead penalties of Law 26 may apply. (If the call is out of turn, see Law 32; if offender's LHO calls, see Law 35A.)

LAW 37 - ACTION VIOLATING OBLIGATION TO PASS

A bid, double or redouble by a player who is required by Law to pass is cancelled, and (penalty) each member of the offending side must pass whenever it becomes his turn to call (see Law 23 when the pass damages the non-offending side). The lead penalties of Law 26 may apply. (If offender's LHO calls, see Law 35B.)

LAW 38 - BID OF MORE THAN SEVEN

No play or score at a contract of more than seven is ever permissible. A bid of more than seven is cancelled, and (penalty) each member of the offending side must pass whenever it becomes his turn to call (see Law 23 when the pass damages the non-offending side). The lead penalties of Law 26 may apply. (If offender's LHO calls, see Law 35C.)

LAW 39 - CALL AFTER FINAL PASS

A call made after the final pass of the auction is cancelled, and:

A. Pass, or Call by Declaring Side: If it is a pass by a defender or any call by the future declarer or dummy, there is no penalty.
B. Other Action by Defender: If it is a bid, double or redouble by a defender, the lead penalties of Law 26 may apply. (If offender's LHO calls, see Law 35D.)

SECTION SIX
CONVENTIONS AND AGREEMENTS

LAW 40 - PARTNERSHIP UNDERSTANDINGS

A. Right to Choose Call or Play: A player may make any call or play (including an intentionally misleading call - such as a psychic bid - or a call or play that departs from commonly accepted, or previously announced, use of a convention), without prior announcement, provided that such call or play is not based on a partnership understanding.
B. Concealed Partnership Understandings Prohibited: A player may not make a call or play based on a special partnership understanding unless an opposing pair may reasonably be expected to understand its meaning, or unless his side discloses the use of such call or play in accordance with the regulations of the sponsoring organisation.
C. Director's Option: If the Director decides that a side has been damaged through its opponents' failure to explain the full meaning of a call or play, he may award an adjusted score.
D. Regulation of Conventions: The sponsoring organisation may regulate the use of bidding or play conventions. Zonal organisations may, in addition, regulate partnership understandings (even if not conventional) that permit the partnership's initial actions at the one level to be made with a hand of a king or more below average strength; Zonal organisations may delegate this responsibility.
E. Convention Card

A player is not entitled, during the auction and play periods, to any aids to his memory, calculation or technique. However, sponsoring organisations may designate unusual methods and allow written defences against opponents' unusual methods to be referred to at the table.

Next: CHAPTER VI - The Play Top of this Chapter Previous: CHAPTER IV - General Laws Governing Irregularities

Last modified: Mon Oct 6 18:35:56 1997

CHAPTER V THE AUCTION

PART ICORRECT PROCEDURE

SECTION ONEAUCTION PERIOD