Bridge Sessions

Introduction

Alerting is not optional and players need to know which bids in their system are alertable. The purpose of alerts is to tell your opposition that your partner’s bid is substantially different from what they would expect.  (The opposition players may ask when it is their turn to bid. They do not have to ask for an explanation immediately, but may do so then or wait until later.) Do not alert bids that are basically what you would expect from “natural” bidders.

The Club has an alert procedure, which is posted on the notice board and is repeated here. The principles shall apply in club grade play. (The NZ Bridge alerting regulations for tournament play, are at: http://www.nzbridge.co.nz/directing and see Policies, Rules & Regulations page D43).

Alerts

At the Christchurch Bridge Club, Acol is the standard system that most people play. If you play a standard version of Acol, you will not need to alert anything. If you play Precision, Standard American or any other system, or if you have modified your Acol, the onus is on you to make sure your opponents are aware of what you are doing by alerting (circling partners bid on the pad) and giving clear explanations when your opponents ask.

Before the auction:

• Tell your opponents if your system is not Acol, or if you have modified Acol (eg multi 2D)

During the auction:

• Do alert all conventional calls other than those listed below. A conventional call is not only a bid whose meaning is not related to the bid (e.g. a Multi 2D has nothing to do with diamonds) but also a bid that conveys extra information (e.g. 2H showing hearts and another is conventional because there is additional information that the hand contains another suit).
• Do alert bids that are outside reasonable expectation. For example: a non-forcing response by partner in a new suit would require an alert, or weak jump raises.

The exceptions are:

• Do not alert a natural, weak 1NT opening bid (any in the 12-15 range) and simple 2C Stayman response.
• Do not alert any 3 card+ minor or 4+ major opening bid at the one level unless there is additional information (e.g. canapé).
• Do not alert a strong 2C opener and the negative 2D response.
• Do not alert any double or redouble irrespective of meaning.
• Do not alert any cue-bid — a cue-bid is defined as a bid in known opponent’s suit, or a bid of the suit they have bid irrespective of the meaning of that bid.
• Do not alert any bid at the 4 level or higher.
• Do not alert if you have no agreement. When asked to explain a bid, state your agreement or that you have no agreement.
• If you alert when you do not need to there will normally be no penalty.

After the auction is finished:

• Alert the opponents to any bids that they may need to know about, including doubles and cue bids. (Put a “+” beside the bid you would like to alert).

Directors

• Accept all decisions and directions of the directors without argument or attempt to change the decision.
• The ruling of a director may be appealed up until 30 minutes after the official score has been made available for inspection.

Partners

• Bring out the best in your partner, with mutual respect and understanding.
• Address partnership misunderstandings and issues in private and not at the bridge table.
• Only give advice if asked.

Opposition

• Be welcoming, courteous and display good sportsmanship.
• Avoid gloating, griping and talking, either during or after play at the table.
• Only give advice if asked.

Breaches of the Code of Conduct

• Complaints of a breach of conduct by a club member(s), reported to a Session Convener or Club Recorder, will result in a discussion with and possibly a verbal warning from a Club Recorder.
• A repeated complaint will result in letter being sent to the member(s) concerned, signed by the club President or delegate, that their behaviour has breached the club’s Code of Conduct and has affected other members' enjoyment of Bridge.
• A further complaint will be taken to the committee. Under Section 11 of the club’s constitution the member may appear before the committee and a written warning may follow.
• Further complaints will result in a stand down period from playing at the club.

Becoming a Better Bridge Player

• Develop a positive mental attitude. Show optimism and confidence.
• Always bid and play in an even tempo.
• Show poise and keep your wits about you. Don’t be intimidated.
• Don’t lose interest when holding uninteresting cards, especially against astute declarers.
• Show no emotion when dummy appears, as inferences will be taken from your expression.
• Think and plan at trick one. Any plan is better than no plan.
• Analyse play objectively and leave any teaching to discuss at the end of a session.
• Develop a Bridge ‘sense of humour’. Accept injustices and partner’s fallacies.
• Strive to improve. Ask better players, read and compete against good opponents.
• Concentrate properly and switch off when dummy.
• Don’t dwell on previous hands. The past is history.

Note: Canterbury Regional Bridge have a fuller discussion of Bridge Protocol. You can download it from here, and fold it into a booklet so that it is handy for reference.

The only information that can be exchanged is through the bids made and the cards played. Anything else is unauthorised information. For this reason, all bids and plays should be made at an even tempo without variation in manner, demeanour or tone of voice.

It is a breach of the proprieties to take advantage of partner’s inadvertent mannerism or change of tempo. You may draw conclusions from the opponents manner but at your risk.

Don’t make any adverse remark about another player’s bidding or play (even partner). Breaches may be subject to penalty.

Do not publicly or privately report on any player’s irregularities to any person other than the director or a club recorder. (To accuse a player of cheating is itself a serious breach of etiquette, except privately to the director or recorder).

If you gain unauthorised information about a hand (e.g. from overhearing remarks at another table, seeing another player’s cards or from partner’s mannerism) call the director immediately and they will advise what to do. 

Promotion through the club grades is based strictly on performance during the year, and regrading normally takes place shortly after the conclusion of the Pairs Championships for each night. The numbers to be regraded are set by the Club Committee, bearing in mind the size and standard of each grade, and are taken from an ordered list drawn up by the Grading Committee, as follows.

1. The highest 18 scores achieved during the Pairs and the first two Ladders will count. (Three night matches will not be included.)  Scores with partners who are registered in a higher grade, or with guests, will not count.
2. To be promoted to the next grade, a member should achieve an average of 55% to be regraded from Junior to Intermediate and from Intermediate to Senior Reserve, and an average of 56% from Senior Reserve to Senior. This percentage may vary each year at the discretion of the committee.
3. Under special circumstances members unable to play on the nights on which they are graded may apply to the Grading Committee, to have the scores recorded on other playing nights for promotion purposes.
4. Where two (or more) graded nights are available, members may play one or both nights. All scores from one or more nights will be considered for grading.  An adjustment may be made to scores from one night to ensure that players are not advantaged/disadvantaged by the nights they choose to play.

The following is a list of systems and conventions agreed by your Committee as suitable for the various grade nights’ play. While the list is not exhaustive, the onus is on the pairs playing differently to be forthcoming with information about their methods.  Pairs wishing to play systems and conventions markedly different to those stated must seek the approval of the club Committee.

The intention is to protect the lower graded players from all but the simplest conventions while allowing increasing freedom in the higher grades.   This list is based on current club practice and is designed to reflect the ability of players to cope at each level. No player should be allowed to gain an advantage by using methods too complex for the average grade player and the director will refer to this list when deciding if a pair has been disadvantaged should a dispute arise.

Junior

Bidding should be as natural as possible with Acol as the recommended system.  The Stayman and Blackwood conventions enhance natural bidding and are allowed.

Intermediate

As above, but also weak twos, transfers, doubles (all kinds), weak and intermediate jump overcalls, Michaels cue bids and splinters.

Senior Reserve

As above, but also multi-coloured 2D, Bergen raises (or similar) and any defence to an opening 1NT.

Senior

Any recognised system or convention is allowed with the one exception, HUMs (Highly Unusual Methods). When at least 8 board matches are played in team events then no restriction applies.