Glassi\\M \% Book JXk _. OopigltiN LilA_ COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE UP TO DATE This book is written in ac- cordance with the revised laws of The Whist Club of New York, published October 25, 1913. Acknowledgment is made by the Author for per- mission to incorporate them in this new edition. Royal Auction Bridge UP TO DATE INCLUDING NULLOS By H. P. CLARK Author of "Condensed Bridge" "Auction Bridge Condensed" "Auction Bridge " NEW YORK DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY 1914 V Copyright, 191 3, 1914, by DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY r £* MAR -5 1914 ©CI.A369233 CONTENTS ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE PAGE Introduction 7 Description of the Game and its General Principles . . . 12 Rubber 17 Score . 18 Rules for Bidding . . . . 19 Opening Bid 22 No-trump Bid 25 Royals . . . . . . . 27 Red Suits 28 Clubs 30 " One Spade " . . . . . 30 " Two Spades " ....31 Second Player's Bid . . . 33 Third Player's Bid . . . 35 Fourth Player's Bid ... 38 Bidding After the First Round . 41 Doubling and Re-doubling . . 44 Opening Lead 48 No-trump 50 The Best Leads for a Doubled No-trump 52 5 CONTENTS PAGE Best Leads for a Doubled De- clared Trump . . . . 52 Echo 53 Discards 53 The Revoke . . . . .54 Resume 55 Practice Hands 60 Practice Hand No. r. (Good Hands Bidding Against Each Other to the Score) . . . 61 Practice Hand No. 2. (Doubling to the Score) 63 Practice Hand No. 3. (Over- taking) 65 Practice Hand No. 4. (Leading Through Strength) ... 67 Practice Hand No. 5. ("Two Spade" Bid) 69 Practice Hand No. 6. (Over- taking, Thereby Making Two Re- entries for Dummy's Clubs) . . 71 Three-Handed Auction Bridge . 72 Laws of the Game . . . 77 Nullos 121 Glossary 142 6 INTRODUCTION A revised count at Auction has come into vogue, and I have endeavored in this new edition, to give a descrip- tion of the game as it is played to- day. Under this new count, holding a good Spade suit with top Honors you declare Royals and not " two Spades " as formerly. The new count does not alter the principles of the game of Auction, but the score is materially changed. The advantage of Royals over the old count is, that good dark suits are not wasted, but are bid up and competition is made more lively. The suit values are but one point apart. Thus, a one bid will not beat ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE a two bid, as before, when a " one no-trump " declaration over-called a " two Club " bid. You can now go game in the black suits, which even a grand slam would not give you at the old count, when Spades and Clubs scored only two and four. Royals and Clubs now present a very sub- stantial Honor count, and are worthy of consideration. Auction has many exciting phases of play that do not occur at the par- ent game, Bridge, and to many of its devotees it undoubtedly owes its popular precedence over Bridge to its more exciting possibilities in the matter of playing for stakes. Auc- tion also requires a keener sense of values. The score plays an all important part in the bidding, and it requires clever strategy and good judgment ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE to know when to force the opponent's bid to an unattainable contract and when to take the bid away from him, especially when the score is a game each and a fulfilled contract may give him the rubber. If the bid fails, you can only lose in the Honor column, and you still have a chance for a more successful bid on the next deal. The loss at Auction differs from Bridge in this: the declarant loses only to his adversary in the Honor column, while in Bridge the adver- sary scores against him in the trick column, which frequently gives him game or rubber. When doubled at Auction, the game, if successful, counts an addi- tional benefit over Bridge, for you score, not only for the doubled tricks in the score, the same as at Bridge, but you also receive a bonus ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE in the Honor column, which does not occur at Bridge. Good hands are not wasted at Auction. The privilege of bidding for the trump gives each player a chance to name his own suit, and, if he is not strong enough to over-call his oppo- nent, at least he has given valuable information to his partner, and di- rects his lead in case he has no top cards of his own. A declaration at Bridge is final, while at Auction it is frequently no more than an indi- cation of strength. Before Bridge became so generally known, it was not uncommon to meet with players who boasted their in- dependence of rules. They were quite content to rely on their " card sense," as they expressed it, and it never seemed to occur to them what a blind game they were playing. ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE There may be novices at Auction who are likewise self-sufficient, but just as Bridge grew upon the casual player more and more, until he was not satisfied to play a mediocre game himself nor to join in a game with those who did, so it will be with Auction and in a much shorter time. The loss to the player who boasts of his independence of rules at Auction will soon demonstrate to him that a thorough knowledge of the different phases of the game is essential to a satisfactory score and as an acceptable partner. DESCRIPTION OF THE GAME AND ITS GEN- ERAL PRINCIPLES The new count equalises the chance for going game. Black suits are not relegated to an insignificant place in the bidding, but are now only one point apart from the red suits. If a player is able to make a declaration other than Spades, he should do so. It gives information to his partner, and possibly discour- ages the adversary from bidding a suit in which he has no protection. Under this count, holding a good Spade hand with top Honors you do not bid " two Spades " but declare ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE Royals (formerly called Lilies) just as you would Hearts or Diamonds. Royals over-call both red suits, and is only one point less in value than no-trumps. No-trumps remain the only bid where three odd tricks go game from a love score. A declaration of one trick should not be doubled. The double shows too plainly where strength lies, and the opponents will hasten to change the suit if they possibly can. To double a declaration of two or three tricks is a different matter, so large a contract is generally too high for any further bidding. Bear in mind that when the score is 18 it takes but " two Royals," " two Hearts," " two Diamonds," or " two Clubs " to go game. When there is no chance that the opponents can win game at their 13 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE declaration, do not jeopardise the score by an unsound bid, nor by a double which may put them out; but when their contract, if successful, will give them game, then, a double is warranted, or the bid may be raised even to a doubtful point if the rubber is at stake. Always try to shut out opposing bids when it is the rubber game and your Honor score is behind. Don't let adversaries communicate too cheaply. It is high card strength which counts at Auction ; for example, it is dangerous to declare a suit hold- ing five or six, if it includes but one Honor and lacks side strength. With five trumps and two Honors a suit may be declared, but the Honors should consist of Ace-King, King-Queen, or Ace-Queen ; with less value in the Honors, the declaration 14 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE must be backed by suit strength. [To be more explicit, the player should at least hold two positive tricks in the suit he names. The " two Spade " bid is often mis- understood by the dealer's partner; it is a direct invitation to him to make a call of some kind, and he should do so. If he cannot go no- trumps, he must bid his best suit, even if it be but four or five cards to the Jack. This is valuable in- formation to the dealer, and it more often saves the game than loses it. The dealer may be just short of a strong bid, therefore his partner's declaration is a necessary enlighten- ment. There is a convention among some players that the " two Spade " call means not only assistance at no- trump (as before), but also some- thing in Royals; but as this conven- 15 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE tion is not established, and is not likely to be, it cannot be played un- less partners agree on it beforehand. When making a declaration, weigh the probable result, and try to judge how the opponents are likely to re- spond. 16 ROYALS ("Lilies") New Count ♦ *♦*! ►i Each Trick Over Six . . 2 6 7 8 9 10 Thne Honors . . . . 4 12 14 16 18 30 Four Honors 8 24 28 32 36 40 Five Honors 10 30 35 40 45 Four Honors in One Hand. 16 48 56 64 72 100 "»■— liSias 18 54 63 72 81 Five Honors in One Hand. 20 60 70 80 90 Chicane 4 12 14 16 18 Little Slam . . . . 20 20 20 20 20 20 Grand Slam .... 40 40 40 40 40 40 RUBBER The partners first winning two games win rubber. If the first two games decide the rubber, the third is not played. 17 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE SCORE A game consists of 30 points ob- tained by tricks alone, exclusive of any points counted for Honors, Chi- cane, Slam, Bonus, or Undertricks. Game, Honors, Slams, and Chicane count at Auction the same as at Bridge except winners of rubber score 250 points. At the conclusion of a rubber the trick and Honor scores of each side are added, and the difference between the two scores is the number of points won or lost. Only the declarant scores in the trick score. If he fails to fulfil his contract, neither side can score a trick toward the game but the ad- versary gets 50 points in the Honor column for each lacking trick. Thus, if the declarant has bid for 18 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE eight tricks and wins but six, he has lost two tricks. Doubling and re-doubling re-open the bidding. When doubled, the loss is ioo for each trick, and 200 if re-doubled. When the declarant fulfils his con- tract, he scores the same as at Bridge: if doubled he receives 50 points for making what he bid, and 50 for each additional trick, and 100 if re-doubled, besides scoring the extra tricks made at double their value in the trick column. A " one Spade " bid is limited to 100 points whether doubled or not. RULES FOR BIDDING Cutting and dealing are the same as at Bridge. The Ace of Hearts is low, next the Diamond, next the Club, and highest the Spade. The 19 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE main divergence from Bridge is in the declaration. The dealer cannot pass; he must make an opening bid of some kind. Each player starting at the deal- er's left has the right to pass, double, re-double, or change the suit. To change the suit, the bid must be for a greater number of tricks, or for a higher value in points: for example, contracting to take two tricks of a suit will outbid one trick of another suit of the same value; thus, " two Clubs " is a higher de- claration than " one Heart," and " two Diamonds " takes precedence over " one no-trump." No player can raise his own bid after the other players have passed. A player may over-bid a previous declaration, even if it be his partner's. ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE The highest bidder becomes the declarant, and he plays the com- bined hands, his partner being dummy, unless he has raised the suit his partner first named. In that case the original bidder plays the dummy. The player should specify both the suit and the number of tricks which he wishes to bid, saying, " One no-trump," "Two Hearts," etc.; if he wishes to pass, he should say, " No," " No more," or " I pass." Should a player in bidding fail to call a sufficient number of tricks to ' outbid a previous declaration the bid stands as if the right number had been named, and his partners cannot make any further declaration, unless one of his adversaries has subse- quently made a higher bid. The de- clarant's book is the first six tricks out of the thirteen. The opponent's ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE book is the difference between what the declarant bid and thirteen — for example, if the declarant has bid two in Royals, he declares to get eight tricks (two over the book). The difference between his declara- tion for eight tricks, and those re- maining are the opponent's book, which would be five at this bid; or if the declarant bids four in a suit, the opponent's book would be only three. When either side has a book com- pleted, the tricks should be gathered together in one pile, and those over the book should be placed separately so that they can be easily counted by either side. OPENING BID The first object of the opening bid is to give the partner informa- ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE tion. The dealer is always at a dis- advantage, for he cannot pass to hear the following bids which is the privilege of the other players. He must make a declaration of some kind. Therefore his is a forced bid, while all the others are free or vol- untary. The bidding on the first round is hardly ever final — you are simply promising your partner two positive tricks. Any suit headed by Ace-King (no matter how short) or Ace-Queen to five cards, or else the three top Honors (when there are no small trumps) constitute a one bid; other- wise if your best suit has but one high Honor, you must hold an out- side trick. The bidding on the first round is merely informatory. Of course you may have an excellent hand, but your 23 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE partner is only counting on you for the two tricks promised. It is not considered good play to make an opening call of two tricks; if your hand is really worth two you can go up on the next round — and if you are left in with the one bid it is just so much easier to make, and you score your extra trick or tricks just the same. The second, third, and fourth play- ers make their declaration on the same principle as the dealer if they decide to bid at all; it is more fre- quently the second hand's duty to let the bid go by than it is any of the other players. He will often chance a pass on a good hand with the two- fold object of seeing how the other bids go. It may give him an oppor- tunity to double, or to use the in- formation gained to go no-trump. 24 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE If these fail he still has the choice of leaving his partner in, or if he has not an assisting hand he can name his own suit. NO-TRUMP BID The no-trump bid is now reduced to a normal count, and while it still remains the only call where three odd tricks go game from a love score, it no longer beats a two bid as for- merly, when a " one no-trump " de- claration over-called a " two Club " bid. An average no-trumper should con- sist of either one Ace and three guarded suits, or two Aces and one long suit with a top Honor. You can bid no-trumps at Auction without an Ace in your hand, providing you have good protection in all four suits. 25 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE Holding reasonable strength, a de- clared trump is safer than a mediocre no-trumper. The weak point of a no-trump bid is that it is not likely to stand still (as at Bridge), the differ- ent suit bids of the adversary locat- ing their strength and directing the lead, which is often disastrous. At a declared trump this disad- vantage is practically eliminated, for their strength is of necessity your weakness. This gives you a chance to trump in. No-trump is no longer the aim of the Auction player, its outcome is too elusive. Before the game reached its present standard it was not con- sidered correct to bid no-trumps over an original declaration, unless you held protection in that suit. This handicap has been cut out from the " up to date " game, and it is only 26 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE when an adversary has raised his one call to a two bid, that you should not go " two no-trumps " without pro- tection in the suit named. ROYALS Royals (formerly called Lilies) is a good Spade suit with top Honors scoring 9 a trick. At the old count the most you would bid with a simi- lar hand would be " two Spades." Under the revised count you bid a Royal just as you would a Heart or a Diamond, except that the hand should be slightly stronger, as it ex- cludes all one bids except no-trumps, and you run a greater risk of being left in than with the other suits. Royals now present a very sub- stantial Honor count, and are worth trying foi ; and as it is only one point 27 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE less than no-trumps it is really a val- uable bid. Your partner should not take you out unless he can offer no assistance and feels that he has a justifiable "two bid " in another suit. With only an average no-trumper, he should let your bid stand and be satisfied with holding some good suit cards to assist your hand. A " one " bid at Royals should not average less than five trumps with two top Honors and a probable out- side trick, or four, trumps including three top Honors and a positive out- side trick, such as an Ace or a pro- tected King. RED SUITS Hearts and Diamonds no longer hold sway over the black suits, they are each but a point apart, 28 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE and are now reduced to a normal count. A " one " bid in Diamonds no longer means no-trump assistance, it simply tells your partner that you hold two positive tricks in Diamonds. Of course if all he lacks to complete a no-trump announcement happens to be the red suit you have named, it will then enable him to make that bid. Your original call, whether it is Hearts or Diamonds, simply says — partner, I have two sure tricks in the suit I have bid, should you hold any outside tricks so much the better; but the point to be remembered is, that the conventional " one " bid in a declared suit means two positive tricks. In naming a Heart or Diamond you should hold either an Ace-King (no matter how short the suit) or 29 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE an Ace-Queen to five cards, or else the three top Honors (when there are no small trumps). CLUBS At Royal Auction, Clubs are de- clared on exactly the same principle as Hearts and Diamonds. Formerly this bid scored only 4 a trick, and at that count you could not go game even if you made a grand slam. Under the revised score, 6 a trick, you can now go out on five odd, which gives it a new rank. SPADES A " one Spade " bid indicates weakness and promises nothing to the partner, even in Spades. It is compulsory for the dealer to make 30 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE an opening bid of some kind; other- wise with such a hand he would gladly say pass. It sometimes hap- pens that he does not hold a " bust," and that he has a couple of possible tricks; but when they are in different suits and are at all uncertain, the Spade bid is obligatory. Should the dealer hold as many cards as five or six in one suit, headed by the Jack or even the Queen, he still must bid a Spade, for a bid at Auction does not mean length, but it does mean strength, and strength means top Honors. "TWO SPADES" The " two Spade " call is a direct invitation to your partner to make a bid of some kind. Failing no- trumps, the third player should de- 31 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE clare in the strongest suit he holds, no matter how poor that suit may be. This situation is often misun- derstood by the third player when he is a novice at the game. At first glance it certainly does seem rash to over-call when your hand is weak, but the statistics of this play prove that the information thus given will work out with less loss to the partner who understands this correct method of giving information, than if the third hand passed, and left the dealer in the dark. The " two Spade " bid meant something, and his partner's call confers information that either gives him confidence to go to a fur- ther bid, or causes him to retire from the contest altogether. Should the third player's bid stand, it shows the cards are pretty evenly divided. He is not likely to go down 32 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE for more than one or two tricks and he may possibly win out. Of course, if the second player has made a de- claration over the dealer, the third player's obligation is cancelled. A " two Spade " bid means two ab- solute tricks, but they are not concen- trated in one suit, and for that reason the dealer cannot name a higher call. SECOND PLAYER'S BID The second player's bid depends greatly upon the dealer's opening, and also, the state of the score. It is within your province to pass more often than any of the other players for the following reasons: there are two other bids to come after yours and the information thus gained may enable you to double or to help your partner if his call seems more ad- 33 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE vantageous than your own. A cor- rect double invariably counts more than a make. To gain two or three tricks in the trick score cannot give you over 20 or 30 at the most, while a double scores 100 for each over- trick. Before making a bid you should take these points into consid- eration. When the dealer has declared a no-trump, and you hold a really good hand — pass, and keep your strength in reserve. Should he not declare no-trumps, then it is discretionary with you whether you think it advis- able to show your partner your suit. If it is the rubber game, and you hold a good hand, bid it by all means. With a strong suit, over-call the dealer's " two Spade " announce- ment; as the third player will very likely bid no-trumps, it assists your 34 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE partner's lead in case he is unable to make a bid of his own. When the dealer has bid " one Spade " don't be over-anxious to take him out. THIRD PLAYER'S BID When you are third player you have already received considerable information. The dealer and the second player having had their say, you are in a position to size up the situation with a certain amount of acumen. The dealer's " one Spade " bid indicates general weakness; he may hold useful support in some suit, but, on the other hand he may hold a Yarborough, consequently your declaration should be one at which you can win with little or no assist- ance. Therefore do not change your 35 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE partner's call unless you have a very strong hand. The informatory bids for the first hand do not apply to the third player < when his partner has bid " one Spade "; it is unnecessary to give the dealer any information, and unwise to take him out unless you hold a good hand. The most you can lose is ioo points in the Honor column. Bear in mind that should the sec- ond player pass, and your own hand has no pronounced strength, that the fourth player is marked with good cards, and that in all probability he will make a bid of some kind — pre- sumably no-trumps, as the declared suits have not been mentioned. If you make the no-trump call on your partner's Spade bid, you will surely meet with disaster unless you are exceptionally strong. 36 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE When your partner has declared 11 one no-trump," and the second player has passed, there are two courses open to you — with a generally assisting hand allow the bid to stand; however, if you can only help out in one suit, you must over-call the no- trumper with a " two " bid in which- ever suit you are strongest. This gives him valuable information, and places him in a position to judge be- tween the two makes. If his no- trump call was a light one, he will be glad to allow your bid to stand; if m the other hand he was only weak in the suit you have named, he will increase his contract to " two no- trumps " ; you must then be content to let the bid stand. The same tactics apply when the dealer has made an original suit de- claration. The object of taking your 37 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE partner out of a no-trump bid is mainly defensive; if you cannot assist him, you are obliged to over-call, and the poorer the hand, the greater the necessity. When the second player has over- called the dealer's bid, you may raise your partner's declaration if you have at least two positive tricks, meaning Aces and Kings. Especially if the adversaries are likely to win game at their make, or your own declara- tion or your partner's will put you out. FOURTH PLAYER'S BID Most of the suggestions made for the guidance of the second and third players apply to the fourth hand. Being fourth player, the information given by the other hands puts you 33 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE in a position to judge what is best to do. Do not over-bid your partner un- less your hand is very strong, and do not take your adversary out of a Spade declaration when your part- ner has passed, unless you have a good chance to go game. The most you can lose is a few points which are of no value; whereas, on the other hand should the adversary fail to make his contract, he stands to lose 50 or 100 points. Aside from this, an announcement by the fourth player gives the opponents a chance to re-open the bidding. If your hand is strong enough to go game, you will welcome this op- portunity either to push your adver- sary up to an unattainable contract or else to increase your own. When you have the slightest doubt in the 39 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE matter, it is always safer to double your adversary's two or three trick bid and be satisfied by what you may get above the line, than to jeopardise any advantage you may already have toward game or rubber. When the dealer's " one Spade " bid has been over-called by your part- ner and passed by the third player, allow his raise to stand, if you can give him some assistance; if, on the other hand, you have decided strength in another suit, do not hesitate to over-call. When the dealer has opened with " one no-trump," or " one Heart," and your partner has over-called with, say, " two Royals," and the third player has bid " two no- trumps " you should hardly ever raise your partner's bid to a three trick declaration, which calls for nine 40 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE tricks out of thirteen, and is a very- large contract to attain. The principles governing the fourth player's bid are almost iden- tical with those that influence the pre- vious bidders. Try to distinguish forced bids from voluntary bids, — by so doing you will give your partner's hand its proper estimate and not make the mistake of over-bidding your own. BIDDING AFTER THE FIRST ROUND At the conclusion of the first round of bidding, a certain degree of infor- mation has been imparted by the vari- ous declarations. Make use of any information your partner has given you to work it in with your own strength- 41 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE Do not over-estimate trump length; it is high card strength which counts at Auction. With two sure tricks and a possible third in your own hand, raise your partner's " one trick " bid when he has been over- called. If his " two trick " bid has been raised, it is generally safe to venture a " three trick " call, pro- viding you hold three or four sure tricks. Avoid a contract of " nine tricks " and leave your adversaries in when they bid over eight, — such a contract is frequently beaten, and your gain in the Honor column may be con- siderable. It has been estimated that a bid of " three Hearts " over a bid of " two no-trumps " is defeated on an average of eight times out of ten. It stands to reason that a " two no- 42 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE trump " bid includes not only gen- eral strength, but protection in the red suit you or your partner have indicated. There will be occasions when you ought to declare above the value of your hand (termed Flag Flying) ; for example, when the opponent's bid is likely to give them game, or when you can push them up to an unat- tainable contract. It is impossible to give a text for each case. Players will have to be guided by the score, by circumstances, and by their own experience, which should teach them when and how to discrim- inate. There is no limit to the number of bids made, providing a declara- tion is over-called by an adver- sary. 43 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE No player can raise his own bid after the other players have passed, but he has the privilege of over-call- ing his partner, even though there has been no intermediate bid. DOUBLING AND RE- DOUBLING Doubling and re-doubling re-open the bidding. Any declaration can be doubled and re-doubled once, but not more. The effect of doubling is that the value of each trick over the book (the first six tricks) is doubled or quadrupled, but it does not alter the bidding value of the declaration: for example, a declaration of " two Royals " is higher than " one no- trump," although the no-trump call has been doubled. 44 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE When a player whose declaration has been doubled makes good his contract by winning the declared num- ber of tricks, he scores a bonus of 50 points in the Honor column for making what he bid, and 50 for each additional trick over and 100 if re-doubled, besides scoring the extra tricks made at double their value in the trick column. If he fails to fulfil his contract, he loses 100 for each lacking trick, and 200 if re-doubled. Partners cannot re-double each other, unless first doubled by an ad- versary, then a re-double is in order if the hand warrants it. Doubling depends mainly upon the state of the score. When it is the first game a double is preferable to a bid. This is the time to pile up Honors and to remember, that 100 or 200 re- ceived as a bonus for your adver- 45 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE saries' lost tricks, will benefit your final accounting more than going game. Novices are too likely to want to play their hands, and too often lose sight of the fact that in using their good cards to set their opponents it frequently gives them the value of winning a rubber. Never double a " one " bid when you have the odd trick in your hand; let the bid stand — it calls attention to your strength, and if the adver- sary's partner has poor support, he is likely to change the suit. When it is the rubber game and you are behind, double freely if the declar- ant's fulfilled contract would win the rubber. Doubling locates high cards, and trump strength, and frequently con- fers more benefit on the adversary 46 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE than it does on your partner. A player may double an adversary or change the suit, if he names more trick value, thus re-opening the bid- ding. Do not hasten to take your partner out of a double; he may be very glad to stay in. Of course, if you have been holding back and have a really good suit, you should make a bid. Your partner then has the privilege of going back to his origi- nal declaration, or it may happen that he will welcome the change of suit. In any case, don't meddle when your partner has been doubled, unless you feel sure of winning the contract you are obliged to assume. When the adversaries have made bids in different suits, you should not double at all unless you are equally strong in both suits, as it re-opens the bidding, and invariably results in the 47 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE following opponent changing back to his own call. Doubling does not mean you ex- pect to win the odd; you are merely contracting to defeat the opponent's contract. In re-doubling, best position when playing after the maker. If a player doubles out of turn, the adversary at his left may demand a new deal; do not endanger the game by contracting for more tricks than the hand really warrants. OPENING LEAD The important part to remember is, to try to defeat the adversary's contract. A lead from an Ace-King suit, or an Ace from a long suit, gives the player a chance to look at dummy; 48 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE this, with the partner's previous de- claration, should guide your subse- quent play. In playing to your partner's bid, lead the highest card of his suit; it clears it for him and leaves no doubt in his mind about where the high cards are located. Dummy's hand is on the table, therefore he knows they must be with the declarant. When your partner has made no announcement, and you have two suits of equal length, lead the one with the highest cards. With two or three Honors touching, lead the top, or fourth best when they are not in sequence. A singleton opening is often ad- visable if you have no top cards and have two or three small trumps. 49 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE NO-TRUMP Establish your long suit as quickly as possible, so as to delay the oppo- < nents from bringing in theirs. The opening lead at no-trump depends upon whether there has been any pre- liminary bidding; or whether the original no-trump declaration has been over-called. When the original bid stands, lead from your longest suit numerically, the same as at Bridge, leading your fourth best card unless your hand contains a sequence of two or three top cards. When your partner has made a previous declaration to your own, it is generally advisable to open it, but if you have a good suit with top cards, you may open your suit first and lead his afterwards. 50 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE In playing to a suit, lead precisely the same as you would from your own hand — top cards in sequence, or fourth best. When the declaration is for three or more tricks in trumps, it is essen- tial to make good the high cards in your hand at once. A three or four trick contract is easily broken, and you must make your Aces and Kings before the declarant has a chance to get in a discard. With such a high bid he is apt to be short in at least one suit. Avoid a tenace opening, such as Ace-Queen or King-Knave suit. A player is more likely to make both cards good if he waits for the suit to be led to him. 5i ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE THE BEST LEADS FOR A DOUBLED NO-TRUMP If you have indicated your own suit previous to your partner's double, lead it. If partner has indicated his suit previous to his double, lead it. BESTLEADS FOR A DOU- BLED DECLARED TRUMP When your partner has doubled a suit declaration, it does not neces- sarily signify that he wishes it led to him; in fact, it is not advisable, for the reason that it is up to the strength in the declarant's hand. An Ace-King, or King-Queen lead is your best opening; failing these, lead a singleton or fourth best from your longest suit. 52 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE ECHO The Echo is one of the conventions at Bridge which has been introduced at Auction. The play of a high card, followed by a lower, indicates that you have no more and can trump the third round of the suit, or that you hold the remaining high card. Seldom echo above an Honor, so high a card is too valuable to throw away; besides it attracts the adver- sary's attention, and might enable him to make a successful finesse. DISCARDS The discard at Auction is from weakness. It is not necessary to show strength, as the previous bids have already supplied that information. 53 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE When you are obliged to protect a weak suit, and are forced to discard from a long suit, play a seven or higher. The discard of a high card fol- lowed by a lower one shows strength in that suit. THE REVOKE A revoke occurs, when a player holding cards of the suit led, fails to follow suit, the penalty being 150 points taken from the side revoking, and added to the adversaries' Honor score, and 100 points for each re- voke thereafter. The declarant has the privilege of taking three tricks from his opponents and adding them to his trick score, if it is advan- tageous to his contract or will help him to go game. In that case he 54 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE cannot claim the 150 in the Honor column. If doubled he cannot claim any bonus in the Honor column for the three tricks gained by the revoke. Should the declarant revoke, he can- not score a single trick toward game. RESUME The bid at Auction simplifies the play to a great extent. It locates high cards and suit strength, which is of great advantage to the player; especially if he has a fair no-trump make, and is only lack- ing in the suit indicated by his part- ner. However, the revised count has robbed the no-trumper of its im- portance; for the bids are now only one point apart, thus equalising the chances of going game. A declared trump is always a safer 55 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE proposition than a no-trump, for the reason that, while the various bids do assist the declarer of no-trumps to locate the adversaries' strength, the bids also assist the adversaries in knowing what to lead. When it is the rubber game, it is essential to know exactly how you stand in the Honor column before making a bid, and to know whether you score high enough to come out a winner in case the opponent's dec- laration goes through. When you have a good hand, bid it up to its full value. When the adversary is behind he is generally quite reckless in bidding his cards, with the sinister motive of either pushing you up to an unattainable contract, or of as- suming a losing declaration with the hope of having another chance for the rubber on the next deal. 56 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE Remembering these points it is cleverer play to leave the adversaries in when your Honors are to the good, and when your hand is only mediocre. You may be able to set them back, or should they go game, the 250 for the rubber may not put them ahead. A player should never make a doubtful double when the ad- versary's contract would not other- wise score game. An uncertain double on the rubber is most unsound when the adversary's fulfilled contract cannot win game, as the double would put him out; but, when the opponent's fulfilled con- tract would give him game, or rub- ber, then a double is warranted, if he feels he has a fair chance to de- feat the contract. If the double is defeated the loss would not be seri- ous, and should the declarant fail to 57 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE make good, the gain in the Honor column is worth trying for. The declarant should be familiar with the adversaries' bids, and thus be able to locate the suits against him, and so arrange the leads that he shall play through strength and up to weakness. It is much easier to establish a suit by leading up to it than by leading away from it. As Auction is manifestly a game of Aces and Kings, the fourth best play has little part in the game, ex- cept where there are no top cards in sequence in the hand ; then a knowl- edge of the rule of eleven, which applies to the fourth best play is nec- essary. (Deducting the number of spots on the card led from eleven shows how many cards higher than the card led are against your partner's suit.) 58 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE Do not endanger a contract by- trying for extra tricks when you can- not go game ; on the other hand, when game or rubber is at stake, a finesse may be taken, when there is an even chance of winning the rubber, or of only losing the contract by a trick. The loss is small, if defeated, while the bonus for winning the rubber is 250 points. When leading from a sequence, lead a top card. When a suit is led to you and you hold a sequence of two or more cards, play the lowest. Do not forget to watch your part- ner's first discard, if he has failed to make a bid. Watch the Honor score, as well as the trick score, and do not bid recklessly when there is a big Honor score against you. 59 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE PRACTICE HAND No. 1 (Good hands bidding against each other to the score.) <$ A,K,Q,10,5,3 * A 8,2 4 K >?,6,4 THIRD PLAYER VI H >> •■J O ^?8,2 *K,2,6 < a. H X *J>8,4,3 <£>A,K,O,,10,7,5 Q 2 O 13 r > OJ»9,6,4 4*10,3,2 u w 4 A > 8 > 5 DEALER Q? 9,7,6,4 «f» 10,9,7,5,2 3 4 Q.J.9 Score: Dealer o to 14 — Rubber Game Third player wins five odd tricks and rubber. Dealer Spade 2nd Player Diamond 3rd Player Heart "Two Hearts" "Three Diamonds" "Three Hearts' No No 'Four Diamonds" No 4th Player "Two Diamonds" No No 60 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE NOTES ON PRACTICE HAND No. 1 The combination of cards in this hand is not unusual. It is impossible for the second player to win five odd in Diamonds, but he can win four. His partner's raise should promise him two positive tricks, with a possible third; therefore his fou^ bid is correct. He would have no excuse to go five in Diamonds unless his Honor score was behind. In that case, he should assume a losing contract, rather than chance the op- ponent's going rubber. However, if the second player's Honor score is 300 or 400 to the good, he can afford to pass. The Ace of Diamonds and the Ace of Spades are the only tricks made by the second and fourth hands. 61 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE PRACTICE HAND No. 2 (Forcing the adversary's bid with the object of doubling. ) V A, 10, 6, 3 10,6 ♦ K, 2, 9, 6, 5, 4 THIRD PLAYER ^?7,4,2 at M O ^K,QJ,8 *9,8 s ft, X *A,J,10,4 K >°~>J ,9,7,2 z o > <>A,8,4 4bJ,7 u M >< SO DEALER 4 A, 10 V 9,5 * K,Q,6,5,3,2 5,3 ♦ 8,3,2 Score: c to o — First Game Declarant loses his contract by one trick. Dealer 2nd Player 3rd Playef 4th Player Club No No No Diamond No " No » No Royal No-trump Two Royals" "Two no-trumps' Three Royals" "Three no-trumps Double No No No 6a ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE NOTES ON PRACTICE HAND No. 2 The third player chances a double as the adversaries will go game any- way if they keep their contract. His double is justifiable, depending on his partner's Clubs and his being able to lead him a Spade, and also having the Ace of Hearts as re-entry for his own suit. The first game is an espe- cially good time for a double, as the rubber is not at stake, and for that reason it is the safest score at which to try for Honors. The dealer leads the Eight of Spades, which the declarant takes with his Ace, and immediately plays out the Diamonds. He makes an- other trick with his Ace of Clubs, only losing his contract by one point. 63 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE PRACTICE HAND No. 3 (Overtaking.) W & 10, 7, 6, 4, 3, 2 *8,7 7,4 *K,J,6,3 4A,QJ,2 ♦ K,3 THIRD PLAYER X w < 04 *1 O c » H S o TJ z C o > u H W eo 50 DEALER + 10,2 <>K, 10,9,6,5,3 + 10,6,4 V J + A, 2, 9, 5,4 A, 8, 2 4 9,8,7,5 Score: o to o — Rubber Game Second player wins four odd tricks and the rubber. Dealer 2nd Player 3rd Player 4th Player Club No-trump "Two Hearts" "Three Diamonds" "Three Hearts" "Four Pass Pass Pass Diamonds" 64 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE NOTES ON PRACTICE HAND No. 3 When it is the rubber game and there is no pronounced advantage on either side, your first thought should be whether the 250 for the rubber is worth more to you than what you might gain by setting the adversaries. Unless the declarant plays the Ace of Spades on the first round, he loses his contract. He cannot afford a finesse as he must make a second lead in Diamonds in order to get them out. By studying his combined cards he realises he must overtake his Queen of Diamonds with the King in order to continue playing the three remaining trumps, on which he dis- cards his Queen, Jack, and Deuce of Spades — losing only the last Club trick, but securing his four odd. 65 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE PRACTICE HAND No. 4 (Leading through strength.) V 10,9,4,2 * J>7,6,4 K J>9 *A,7 4^(None) OQ,7,6,4 4K,QJ,10,8,4 ^ A,K,2,8,3 4k Q,9,2 A, 10, 3, 2 Score: o to o — First Game Dealer wins four odd tricks and the game. Dealer 2nd Player 3rd Player 4th Player Heart "Two Clubs" "Two Hearts" "Two Royals" "Three Hearts " "Three Royals " « ' Four Hearts " Pass 66 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE NOTES ON PRACTICE HAND No. 4 The declarant gets in on the fourth lead with his Ace of Spades, and after playing out the trumps, he must lead a small Diamond over to dummy's King. He then plays the Jack of Clubs which is high, giving him a Diamond discard in his own hand. As the fourth player has been throw- ing off Spades, the declarant realises he must be protecting the Queen of Diamonds, so he plays through it with his Jack. If the fourth hand does not cover with his Queen, he still has another Diamond to lead to his Ace, and his remaining trumps make good his contract. 67 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE PRACTICE HAND No. 5 ("Two Spade" Bid.) C? 2,7,4 4> 10,7,4,3 J>5,2 4 9 > 6 > 3 THIRD PLAYER V^A,K,8,2 X M o c K >&9,7,4,3 4*J,8,5,4,2 w DEALER >< w 4a,k,q ^? 9,6,5,3 * K,Q,9,5 A, 10, 8 4 !°> 7 Score: o to o — Rubber Game Second player wins two odd tricks. Dealer 2nd Player 3rd Player "Two Spades" Pass Club "Two Clubs" "Two no-trumps" Pass Pass 4th Player Diamond 68 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE NOTES ON PRACTICE HAND No. 5 The dealer has; a typical " two Spade " make. This bid promises two tricks, but as they are in differ- ent suits, no higher declaration can be made. Players often misunder- stand this call. If the hand con- tained " two " tricks in Spades the bid would be a Royal; therefore the " two Spade " announcement does not necessarily mean anything in Spades — it is merely the least expen- sive way of showing a helping hand, just as the " one Spade " bid is used to indicate a poor hand. The second player passes, know- ing the third hand will then be forced to make a bid. The dealer ventures u two Clubs." The declarant gets his contract before letting the others in. 69 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE PRACTICE HAND No. 6 (Overtaking, thereby making two re-entries for Dummy's Clubs.) 4 4 aj (>2,8,6 4^10,9,8,7,3 THIRD PLAYER (^10,9,8,7,3 *8,4 A J,2 46,5,2 V Q,6,5,2 * A K,9,7,5,3 4 A,K,4 Score: o to o — Rubber Game The dealer wins five odd tricks. Dealer No-trumps 2nd Player No 3rd Player No 4th Player No 70 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE NOTES ON PRACTICE HAND No. 6 The second player leads his Ten of Spades because he cannot afford to unprotect his other suits. The declarant can see five odd tricks by making two re-entries for Dummy's Clubs, which must be led twice be- fore getting in; therefore he covers Dummy's Jack of Spades with his King, leaving the four-spot to lead back to the Queen which is high. Be- fore getting back in dummy, he un- blocks the Club suit by playing out the Ace. He then leads to the Queen of Spades and starts the Club suit to get out the King. The sec- ond hand plays a Diamond which is the only other trick the declarant loses. 71 THREE-HANDED AUC- TION BRIDGE The laws are the same as those of Auction Bridge except as varied by the following: i. — The game is played by three players, each against each; the table being complete with four players. 2. — The player who cuts the low- est card has the first deal; the player cutting the next lowest card sits on the dealer's left, and the remaining player on the dealer's right. The cards are dealt as at Auction Bridge, but the cards dealt to the dummy are not taken up until after the final dec- laration has been made. If, whilst 72 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE dealing, a card be exposed, there must be a new deal. 3. — The dealer makes his declara- tion, and the bidding continues as at Auction Bridge, except that the play- ers sitting opposite each other are not partners, and their declarations are on their own account. There shall be no new deal on account of a player making a declaration out of turn, but the players so offending shall forfeit 50 points to each of the other players; the right to declare remaining with the player whose turn it was to make the declaration. The player making the final declara- tion (i.e., the declaration that has been passed by the other two play- ers) plays his own hand and that of the dummy against the other two players, who then, and for that par- ticular hand, become partners. If 73 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE one of the players happen to be sit- ting opposite the declarant, he must move into the vacant seat at the table, thereby facing the player who becomes his partner for that hand. 4. — If, after the deal has been completed and before a card has been led, any player exposes a card from his hand, he shall forfeit 100 points to each of the other players; and the declarant, — if he be not the offender — may call upon the eldest hand not to lead from the suit of the exposed card. If he does not exercise this right, the card must be left on the table as an exposed card. If the card be exposed by the de- clarant after the final declaration has been made, there is no penalty. 5. — If a player double out of turn, he forfeits 100 points to his adver- saries, and the player whose declara- 74 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE tion has been so doubled shall have the right to say whether or not the double shall stand. The bidding is then resumed; but if the double has been disallowed, the said declaration cannot be doubled by the player on the right of the offender. 6. — The rubber consists of four games; but when two games have been won by the same player, the other or others are not played. 7. — When the declarant makes good his declaration, he scores as at Auction Bridge; when he fails to do so, he loses to each of his adver- saries. 8. — The scoring is the same as at Auction Bridge, except with regard to Honors, which are scored by each player severally, i.e., each player who has one Honor in Spades scores two; each player having two Honors in 75 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE Spades scores four; a player hold- ing three Honors in Spades scores six; a player holding four. Honors in Spades scores sixteen; and a player holding five Honors in Spades scores twenty, and similarly for other suits. In a no-trump declaration, Aces count 10 each; and if all four be held by one player, ioo. 9. — One hundred points are scored by each player for every game he wins, and the winner of the rubber adds a further 250 points to his score. 10. — At the conclusion of the rub- ber, the total scores obtained by each player are added up separately, and each player wins from, or loses to, each other player the difference be- tween his score and that of the said other player. 76 THE LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE THE RUBBER i. — The partners winning the first two games win the rubber. If the first two games decide the rubber, a third is not played. SCORING 2.— A game consists of 30 points obtained by tricks alone, exclusive of any points counted for Honors, Chi- cane, Slam, Little Slam, Bonus, or Under-tricks. 3. — Every deal is played out, and any points in excess of the 30 nec- essary for the game are counted. 4. — When the declarer wins the number of tricks bid, each one above 79 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE six counts toward the game: two points when Spades are trumps, six when Clubs are trumps, seven when Diamonds are trumps, eight when Hearts are trumps, nine when Royal Spades are trumps, and 10 when there are no trumps. 5. — Honors are Ace, King, Queen, Knave, and Ten of the trump suit; or the Aces when no trump is de- clared. 6. — Honors are credited in the Honor column to the original hold- ers. 7. — Slam is made when seven by cards is scored by either side, inde- pendently of tricks taken as penalty for the revoke; it adds 40 points to the Honor count.* 8. — Little Slam is made when six *Law 84 prohibits the revoking side from scoring Slam or Little Slam. 80 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE by cards is similarly scored; it adds 20 points to the Honor count.* 9. — Chicane (one hand void of trumps) is equal in value to simple Honors, i.e., if the partners, one of whom has Chicane, score Honors, it adds the value of three Honors to their Honor score; if the adversaries score Honors it deducts from the value of theirs. Double Chicane (both hands void of trumps) is equal in value to four Honors, and that value must be deducted from the Honor score of the adversaries. 10. — The value of Honors, Slam, Little Slam, or Chicane is not affected by doubling or redoubling. 11. — At the conclusion of the rub- ber the trick and Honor scores of each side are added, and 250 points *Law 84 prohibits the revoking side from scoring Slam or Little Slam. 81 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE added to the score of the winners. The difference between the completed scores is the number of points of the rubber. 12. — A proven error in the Honor score may be corrected at any time before the score of the rubber has been made up and agreed upon. 13. — A proven error in the trick score may be corrected prior to the conclusion of the game in which it occurred. Such game shall not be considered concluded until a declara- tion has been made in the following game, or if it be the final game of the rubber, until the score has been made up and agreed upon. CUTTING 14. — In cutting, the Ace is the low- est card; as between cards of other- wise equal value, the lowest is the 82 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE Heart, next the Diamond, next the Club, and highest the Spade. 15. — Every player must cut from the same pack. 16. — Should a player expose more than one card, the highest is his cut. FORMING TABLES 17. — The prior right of playing is with those first in the room. If there are more than four candidates of equal standing, the privilege of playing is decided by cutting. The four who cut the lowest cards play first. 18. — After the table is formed the players cut to decide upon partners, the two lower playing against the two higher. The lowest is the dealer, who has choice of cards and seats, and who, having made his selection, must abide by it. 83 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE 19. — Six players constitute a com- plete table. 20. — The right to succeed any player who may retire is acquired by announcing the desire to do so, and such an announcement shall con- stitute a prior right to the first vacancy. CUTTING OUT 21. — If at the end of a rubber, admission is claimed by one or two candidates the player or players hav- ing played the greatest number of consecutive rubbers shall withdraw; but when all have played the same number, they must cut to decide upon the outgoers; the highest are out.* *See Law 14 as to value of cards in cutting. 84 RIGHT OF ENTRY 22. — A candidate desiring to enter a table must declare his intention be- fore any player at the table cuts a card, whether for the purpose of beginning a new rubber or of cutting out. 23. — In the formation of new tables candidates who have not played at any existing table have the prior right of entry. Others decide their right to admission by cutting. 24. — When one or more players belonging to an existing table aid in making up a new one, he or they shall be the last to cut out. 25. — A player who cuts into one table, while belonging to another, 85 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE forfeits his prior right of re-entry into the latter, unless he has helped to form a new table. In this event he may signify his intention of re- turning to his original table when his place at the new one can be filled. 26. — Should any player leave a table during the progress of a rub- ber, he may, with the consent of the three others, appoint a substitute to play during his absence; but such appointment shall become void upon the conclusion of the rubber, and shall not in any way affect the sub- stitute's rights. 27. — If any player break up a table, the others have a prior right elsewhere. 86 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE SHUFFLING 28. — The pack must not be shuffled below the table nor so that the face of any card may be seen. 29. — The dealer's partner must collect the cards from the preceding deal and has the right to shuffle first. Each player has the right to shuffle subsequently. The dealer has the right to shuffle last; but, should a card or cards be seen during his shuffling, or while giving the pack to be cut, he must re-shuffle. 30. — After shuffling, the cards properly collected must be placed face downward to the left of the next dealer, where they must remain un- touched until the play with the other pack is finished. 87 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE THE DEAL 31. — Each player deals in his turn; the order of dealing is to the left. 32. — The player on the dealer's right cuts the pack, and in dividing it he must leave not fewer than four cards in each packet; if in cutting or replacing one of the two packets a card is exposed, or if there is any confusion or doubt as to the exact place in which the pack was divided, there must be a fresh cut. 33. — When the player whose duty it is to cut has once separated the pack, he can neither re-shuffle nor re- cut, except as provided in Law 32. 34. — Should the dealer shuffle the :ards after the cut, the pack must be cut again. 35. — The fifty-two cards shall be dealt face downward. The deal is 88 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE not completed until the last card has been dealt. 36. — In the event of a misdeal the cards must be dealt again by the same player. A NEW DEAL 37. — -There must be a new deal: A. — If the cards are not dealt into four packets, one at a time and in regular rotation, beginning at the dealer's left. B. — If, during a deal, or during the play, the pack is proven incorrect or imperfect. C. — If any card is faced in the pack or is exposed during the deal on, above, or below the table. D. — If any player has dealt to him a greater number of cards than thirteen, whether dis- covered before or during the play. 89 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE E. — If the dealer deal two cards at once and then deal a third before correcting the error. F. — If the dealer omit to have the pack cut and either ad- versary calls attention to the fact prior to the completion of the deal and before either adversary has looked at any of his cards. G. — If the card does not come in its regular order to the dealer. 38. — Should three players have their right number of cards, the fourth less, and not discover such deficiency until he has played, the deal stands; he, not being dummy, is answerable for any established re- voke he may have made as if the missing card or cards had been in his hand. Any player may search the other pack for it or them. 90 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE 39. — If, during the play, a pack be proven incorrect, such proof ren- ders the current deal void but does not affect any prior score. (See Law 37b.) If during or at the con- clusion of the play one player be found to hold more than the proper number of cards and another have an equal number less, the deal is void. 40. — A player dealing out of turn or with the adversaries' cards may be corrected before the last card is dealt, otherwise the deal must stand, and the game proceed as if the deal had been correct, the player to his left dealing the next hand. A player who has looked at any of his cards may not correct such deal, nor may his partner. 41. — A player can neither cut, shuffle, or deal for his partner with- out the permission of his adversaries. 91 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE DECLARING TRUMPS 42. — The dealer, having examined his hand, must declare to win at least one odd trick, either with a declared suit or at " no trumps." 43. — After the dealer has made his declaration, each player in turn, commencing with the player on the dealer's left, has the right to pass, to make a higher declaration, to double the last declaration made, or to redouble a declaration which has been made, subject to the provisions of Law 54. 44. — A declaration of a greater number of tricks in a suit of lower value, which equals the last declara- tion in value of points, shall be con- sidered the higher declaration — e.g., a declaration of " Three Spades " is 92 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE a higher declaration than " One Club." 45. — A player in his turn may overbid the previous adverse declara- tion any number of times, and may also overbid his partner, but he can- not overbid his own declaration which has been passed by the three others. 46. — The player who makes the final declaration shall play the com- bined hands of himself and his part- ner (the latter becoming dummy), unless the winning suit was first bid by the partner, in which case he, no matter what bids have intervened, shall play the hand. 47. — When the player of the two hands (hereinafter termed the " de- clarer ") wins at least as many tricks as he has declared, he scores the full value of the tricks won (see Laws 93 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE 4 and 6). When he fails, neither the declarer nor his adversaries score anything toward the game, but his adversaries score in the Honor col- umn 50 points for each under-trick — i.e., each trick short of the number declared; or if the declaration has been doubled, or re-doubled, 100 or 200, respectively, for each such trick. 48. — The loss on the original dec- laration by the dealer of " One Spade " is limited to 100 points whether doubled or not, unless re- doubled. Honors are scored as held. 49. — If a player make a declara- tion (other than passing) out of turn, either adversary may demand a new deal, or may allow the declaration so made to stand, in which case the bidding shall continue as if the dec- laration had been in order. 94 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE 50. — If a player make an insuffi- cient or impossible declaration either adversary may demand that it be penalised, provided such demand be made before an adversary has passed, doubled, or declared. In case of an insufficient declaration the penalty is that the declarer must make his bid sufficient and his partner is debarred from making any further declaration unless an adversary subsequently bids or doubles. In case of an impossible declaration the penalty is that the dealer is considered to have bid to take all the tricks and his partner cannot further declare unless an ad- versary subsequently bids or doubles. Either adversary, instead of accept- ing the impossible declaration, may demand a new deal or may treat his own or his partner's last previous declaration as final. 95 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE 51. — If, after the final declaration has been made, an adversary of the declarer give his partner any in- formation as to any previous declara- tion whether made by himself or an adversary, the declarer may call a lead from the adversary whose next turn it is to lead; but a player is entitled to inquire, at any time during the play of the hand, what was the final declaration. 52. — A declaration legitimately made cannot be altered after the next player has passed, declared, or doubled. Prior to such action by the next player, a declaration inadver- tently made may be corrected. DOUBLING AND RE- DOUBLING 53. — The effect of doubling and re-doubling is that the value of each 96 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE trick over six is doubled or quad- rupled, as provided in Law 4; but it does not alter the value of a declara- tion — e.g., a declaration of " Three Clubs " is higher than " Two Royal Spades " even if the " Royal Spade " declaration has been doubled. 54. — Any declaration can be doubled and re-doubled once, but not more; a player cannot double his partner's declaration, nor re-double his partner's double, but he may re- double a declaration of his partner which has been doubled by an ad- versary. 55. — The act of doubling or re- doubling re-opens the bidding. When a declaration has been doubled, or re-doubled, any player, including the declarer or his partner, can in his proper turn make a further declara- tion of higher value. 97 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE $6. — When a player whose decla- ration has been doubled wins the de- clared number of tricks, he scores a bonus of 50 points in the Honor col- umn, and a further 50 points for each additional trick. If he or his partner has re-doubled, the bonus is doubled. 57. — If a player double out of turn, either adversary may demand a new deal. 58. — When the final declaration has been made the play shall begin, and the player on the left of the de- clarer shall lead. DUMMY 59. — As soon as the player to the left of the declarer has led, the de- clarer's partner shall place his cards face upward on the table, and the 98 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE duty of playing the cards from that hand shall devolve upon the declarer. 60. — Before placing his cards upon the table the declarer's partner has all the rights of a player, but after so doing takes no part whatever in the play, except that he has the right : A. — To ask the declarer whether he has any of a suit in which he has renounced; B. — To call the declarer's at- tention to the fact that too many or too few cards have been played to a trick; C. — To correct the claim of either adversary to a penalty to which the latter is not en- titled; D. — To call attention to the fact that a trick has been erroneously taken by either side; E. — To participate in the discus- sion of any disputed question 99 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE of fact after it has arisen be- tween the declarer and either adversary; F. — To correct an erroneous score. 61. — Should the declarer's partner call attention to any other incident of the play in consequence of which any penalty might have been exacted, the declarer is precluded from exact- ing such penalty. 62. — If the declarer's partner, by touching a card or otherwise, sug- gest the play of a card from dummy, either adversary may call upon the declarer to play or not play the card suggested. 63. — Dummy is not liable to the penalty for a revoke; if he revoke and the error be not discovered until the trick is turned and quitted, ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE whether by rightful winners or not, the trick must stand. 64. — A card from the declarer's own hand is not played until actually quitted ; but should he name or touch a card in the dummy, such card is considered as played unless he, in touching the card say, " I arrange," or words to that effect. If he simul- taneously touches two or more cards, he may elect which one to play. CARDS EXPOSED BE- FORE PLAY 65. — If, after the cards have been dealt, and before the trump declara- tion has been finally determined, any player lead or expose a card, the partner of the offending player may not make any further bid or double during that hand, and the card is ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE subject to call. When the partner of the offending player is the original leader, the declarer may prohibit the suit of the exposed card being the initial lead. 66. — If, after the final declaration has been made and before a card is led, the partner of the leader to the first trick expose a card, the declarer may, in addition to calling the card, prohibit the lead of a suit of the exposed card; should the rightful leader expose a card it is subject to call. CARDS EXPOSED DUR- ING PLAY 67. — All cards exposed after the original lead by the declarer's adver- saries are liable to be called, and such cards must be left face upward on the table. ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE 68. — The following are exposed cards : ist. — Two or more cards played at once. 2nd. — Any card dropped with its face upward upon the table, even though snatched up so quickly that it cannot be named. 3rd. — Any card so held by a player that his partner sees any portion of its face. 4th. — Any card mentioned by either adversary as being held by him or his partner. 69. — A card dropped on the floor or elsewhere below the table or so held that an adversary but not the partner sees it, is not an exposed card. 70. — If two or more cards are played at once by either of the de- clarer's adversaries, the declarer 103 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE shall have the right to call any one of such cards to the current trick and the other card or cards are ex- posed. 71. — If, without waiting for his partner to play, either of the declar- er's adversaries play or lead a win- ning card, as against the declarer and dummy, and continue (without waiting for his partner to play) to lead several such cards, the declarer may demand that the partner of the player in fault win, if he can, the first or any other of these tricks, and the other cards thus improperly played are exposed cards. 72. — If either or both of the de- clarer's adversaries throw his or their cards on the table face upward, such cards are exposed and are liable to be called; but if either adversary retain his hand he cannot be forced 104 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE to abandon it. Cards exposed by the declarer are not liable to be called. If the declarer say, " I have the rest " or any other words indi- cating that the remaining tricks or any number thereof are his, he may be required to place his cards face upward on the table. His adver- saries are not liable to have any of their cards' called should they there- upon expose them. 73. — If a player who has rendered himself liable to have the highest or lowest of a suit called (Laws 80, 86, and 92) fail to play as directed, or if, when called on to lead one suit he lead another, having in his hand one or more cards of the suit demanded (Laws 76 and 93), or if, called upon to win or lose a trick, fail to do so when he can (Laws 71, 80, and 92), or if, when called upon 105 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE not to play a suit, fail to play as directed (Laws 65 and 66) , he is liable to the penalty for revoke, un- less such play be corrected before the trick is turned and quitted. 74. — A player cannot be compelled to play a card which would oblige him to revoke. 75. — The call of an exposed card may be repeated until such card has been played. LEADS OUT OF TURN 76. — If either of the declarer's adversaries lead out of turn the de- clarer may either treat the card so led as an exposed card or may call a suit as soon as it is the turn of either adversary to lead. 77. — If the declarer lead out of turn either from his own hand or 106 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE from dummy, he incurs no penalty; but he may not rectify the error after the second hand has played. 78. — If any player lead out of turn and the three others follow, the trick is complete and the error cannot be rectified; but if only the second, or second and third play to the false lead, their cards may be taken back; there is no penalty against any ex- cept the original offender, who, if he be one of the declarer's adver- saries, may be penalised as provided in Law 76. 79. — If a player called on to lead a suit has none of it, the penalty is paid. CARDS PLAYED IN ERROR 80. — Should the fourth hand, not being dummy or declarer, play before 107 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE the second, the latter may be called upon to play his highest or lowest card of the suit played, or to win or lose the trick. 8 1. — If any one, not being dummy, omit playing to a trick and such error is not corrected until he has played to the next, the adversaries or either of them may claim a new deal; should either decide that the deal is to stand, the surplus card at the end of the hand is considered to have been played to the imperfect trick, but does not constitute a re- voke therein. 82. — When any one except the dummy, plays two or more cards to the same trick and the mistake is not corrected, he is answerable for any consequent revokes he may have made. When during the play the error is detected, the tricks may be 108 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE counted face downward, to see if any contain more than four cards; should this be the case, the trick which contains a surplus card or cards may be examined and the card or cards restored to the original holder, who (not being dummy) shall be liable for any revoke he may meanwhile have made. THE REVOKE* 83. — A revoke occurs when a player, other than the dummy, hold- ing one or more cards of the suit led, plays a card of a different suit. It becomes an established revoke if the trick in which it occurs is turned and quitted by the rightful winners (i.e., the hand removed from the trick after it has been turned face *See Law 73. 109 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE downward on the table) ; or if either the revoking player or his partner, whether in turn or otherwise, lead or play to the following trick. 84. — The penalty for each estab- lished revoke is : A. — When the declarer revokes, his adversaries add 150 points to their score in the Honor column, in addition to any penalty which he may have incurred for not making good his declaration. B. — If either of the adversaries revoke, the declarer may either add 150 points to his score in the Honor column, or may take three tricks from his opponents and add them to his own. Such tricks may assist the declarer to make good his declaration, but shall not entitle him to score any bonus in the Honor column, ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE in the case of a declaration having been doubled or re- doubled. C. — When more than one re- voke is made by the same side during the play of the hand, the penalty for each revoke after the first shall be ioo points in the Honor col- umn. A revoking side cannot score except for Honors or Chicane. 85. — A player may ask his part- ner if he has a card of the suit which he has renounced; should the question be asked before the trick is turned and quitted, subsequent turning and quitting does not establish a revoke, and the error may be corrected un- less the question is answered in the negative, or unless the revoking player or his partner has led or played to the following trick. ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE 86. — If a player correct his mis- take in time to save a revoke, any player or players who have followed him may withdraw their cards and substitute others, and the cards so withdrawn are not exposed. If the player in fault is one of the declarer's adversaries, the card played in error is exposed and the declarer may call it whenever he pleases; or he may require the offender to play his high- est or lowest card of the suit to the trick, but this penalty cannot be ex- acted from the declarer. 87. — At the end of a hand the claimants of a revoke may search all the tricks. If the cards have been mixed the claim may be urged and proved if possible; but no proof is necessary and the claim is established if, after it has been made, the accused player or his partner mix the cards ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE before they have been sufficiently ex- amined by the adversaries. 88. — A revoke must be claimed be- fore the cards have been cut for the following deal. 89. — Should both sides revoke, the only score permitted shall be for Honors in trumps or Chicane. If one side revoke more than once, the penalty of 100 points for each extra revoke shall then be scored by the other side. GENERAL RULES 90. — Once a trick is complete, turned, and quitted, it must not be looked at (except under Law 82) until the end of the hand. 91. — Any player during the play of a trick or after the four cards are played, and before they are "3 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE touched for the purpose of gather- ing them together, may demand that the cards be placed before their re- spective players. 92. — If either of the declarer's adversaries, prior to his partner play- ing, call attention to the trick, either by saying it is his, or without being requested to do so, by naming his card or drawing it toward him, the declarer may require such partner to play his highest or lowest card of the suit led, or to win or lose the trick. 93. — Either of the declarer's ad- versaries may call his partner's at- tention to the fact that he is about to play or lead out of turn; but if, during the play of the hand, he make an unauthorised reference to any in- cident of the play, or of any bid pre- viously made, the declarer may call 114 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE a suit from the adversary whose turn it is next to lead. 94.— In all cases where a penalty has been incurred the offender is bound to give reasonable time for the decision of his adversaries. NEW CARDS 95. — Unless a pack is imperfect, no player shall have the right to call for one new pack. If fresh cards are demanded, two packs must be furnished. If they are produced during a rubber, the adversaries shall have the choice of the new cards. If it is the beginning of a new rub- ber, the dealer, whether he or one of his adversaries is the party calling for the new cards, shall have the choice. New cards must be called "5 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE for before the pack is cut for a new deal. 96. — A card or cards torn or marked must be replaced by agree- ment or new cards furnished. BYSTANDERS 97. — While a bystander, by agree- ment among the players, may decide any questions, he should not say any- thing unless appealed to; and if he make any remark which calls atten- tion to an oversight, or to the ex- action of a penalty, he is liable to be called upon by the players to pay the stakes (not extras) lost. ETIQUETTE OF AUC- TION BRIDGE In Auction Bridge slight intima- tions convey much information. A 116 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE code is compiled for the purpose of succinctly stating laws and for fixing penalties for an offence. To offend against etiquette is far more serious than to offend against a law; for while in the latter case the offender is subject to prescribed penalties, in the former his adversaries have no redress. i. — Declarations should be made in a simple manner, thus: " One Heart," " one no-trump," or " I pass," or "I double"; they should be made orally and not by gesture. 2. — Aside from this legitimate declaration, a player should not give any indication by word or gesture as to the nature of his hand, or as to his pleasure or displeasure at a play, a bid, or a double. 3. — If a player demand that the cards be placed, he should do so for 117 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE his own information and not to call his partner's attention to any card or play. 4. — No player, other than the de- clarer, should lead until the preced- ing trick is turned and quitted; nor, after having led a winning card, should he draw another" from his hand before his partner has played to the current trick. 5. — A player should not play a card with such emphasis as to draw attention to it. Nor should he de- tach one card from his hand and subsequently play another. 6. — A player should not purposely incur a penalty because he is willing to pay it, nor should he make a sec- ond revoke to conceal a first. 7. — Players should avoid discus- sion and refrain from talking during play, as it may be annoying to play- 118 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE ers at the table or to those at other tables in the room. 8. — The dummy should not leave his seat for the purpose of watching his partner's play, neither should he call attention to the score nor to any card or cards that he or the other players hold, nor to any bid previ- ously made. 9. — If a player say " I have the rest " or any words indicating that the remaining tricks are his, and one or both of the other players should expose his or their cards, or request him to play out the hand, he should not allow any information so ob- tained to influence his play nor take any finesse not announced by him at the time of making such claim, unless it had been previously proven to be a winner. 10. — If a player concede in error 119 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE one or more tricks, the concession should stand. ii. — A player having been cut out of one table should not seek admis- sion into another unless willing to cut for the privilege of entry. 12. — No player should look at any of his cards until the deal has been completed. 120 NULLOS A short chapter on Nullos seems to be in order just now, although the count is still somewhat in embryo; for there is a division of opinion as to whether it should be eight or ten a trick, not to mention legions of play- ers who do not recognize it at all. It is a good bid for a poor hand, but as similar information is conveyed by the "one spade" bid, its only value is, that if left to be played, it has a higher count in the trick score — but "one nullo" is left in just about as often as u one spade," which has a very insignificant average. To get a nullo bid you are generally pushed up to three, and that is not ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE so easy to gain. Of course when you are successful, you enjoy its advan- tages, but there are many failures. It seems a shame to throw away good cards for bad, and reminds one of "Hearts" — for if the adversary can throw the lead your way (espe- cially toward the end of the play) you may not be able to get rid of the high cards you have left. When this ap- plies to the adversary you win out, but it can, and often does happen to your own hand. At any other count your high cards are your strength, but at this count an unguarded King, or a long suit becomes the prey of the adversary. When you bid a spade, and your partner names a suit, you feel that he -must have better than the average hand to be willing to ignore your dis- tress signal, and you are obliged to be 122 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE content. It is exactly the same thing at Nullos, for if your partner takes you out of that bid you should think well before going back to it, unless you are lucky enough to be chicane in his bid ; in that case the distribution of the suit must be shared with the adver- sary, and you have the advantage of discarding. As it is merely a matter of one's own choice as to how many counts they wish to play, it is well to know them all in order to be an acceptable partner to the different players one may chance to meet. HOW TO BID NULLOS Nullos is a game of treys and deuces, not of aces and kings, as in the winning suits. It is the small 123 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE cards which win the game for you; because you play to lose exactly as many tricks as you have contracted for. At any suit other than nullos, your bid is for a winning contract. Should you say "three hearts" you are contracting to win nine tricks (three over the book). On the other hand, when you bid "three nullos" you are contracting to lose nine tricks; or to make it more clear, you are bidding to make the adversary take that num- ber of tricks. Therefore your book is only four (the difference between nine and thirteen). Should you keep your contract, you score eight a trick below the line for the tricks you compelled your adversary to take over his book. Should you win less tricks than you contracted for, you score an extra eight for each. For example, sup- posing you had bid "four nullos," you 124 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE are telling your opponents that you expect to make them win ten tricks. If you are successful you score 32 be- low the line for the four tricks they took over their book; if you are lucky enough to take even less than you con- tracted for, you also score eight for each extra trick. When you compel them to take all the tricks you get 40 in the honor column for a slam, or 20 if they make only a little slam. The bidding runs much higher with the advent of nullos, for the opposi- tion of the poor hand is a force the good hand has to contend with. The eight count for nullos seems to be the most popular bid, as it gives precedence to three winning suits — hearts, royals and no-trump. While hearts and nullos count the same, the heart suit outbids the latter. Thus a heart overcalls a nullo, although they 125 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE score the same. Should the first bid be a heart, it would then take "two nullos" to raise the bid. Nullos are played as no-trump, each card having its own value, and the honors are the aces, scoring inversely. Which means that when the opponents hold three or more, they are credited to the declar- ant's honor score ; should the declarant hold them, they are credited to the opponents. A great many players do not count the honors at all, simply scoring for the tricks. The difference between a nullo and a spade bid seems to confuse the tyro. The meaning conveyed is the same (i.e., a poor hand without two sure tricks in any one suit), but if you are playing nullos there must be a decided difference in the cards you hold. A spade hand may have a number of fairly good intermediate cards, such as 126 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE queens, jacks and tens, but without the tops this combination would call for a spade bid, although often such cards are wonderful helps toward a no-trumper. At nullos these interme- diate cards are found to be disastrous, for how are you going to get rid of them? Short or singleton suits are your main assets. The remaining suits are comparatively safe, even though headed by a high card, provided the suit is long and protected by low cards. When you are long in a suit it stands to reason that the adversary must be short; therefore you can throw in your low cards should the op- ponent lead it (which he probably can't do more than once or twice), re- serving your high cards to discard when your short suit is led. If your suits are evenly divided it is rarely safe to bid a nullo, unless 127 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE your cards run very low. Jacks and tens are often disastrous trick takers, while threes, fours, and fives are the safeguards of a nullo bid. Original nullo declarations can be made on the same principle as any other first bid. It is informatory; it is also a warning to your partner, and has the advantage of not being the ex- posed hand. Raising your partner's nullo bid is a different matter. Should the bid stand your hand is then on the board, and any strength you may have can easily be taken advantage of — therefore your raise requires an even poorer hand than what you would chance as an original bid. Never go nullos when your partner has opened with a spade. It is better to pass, and if left in your loss cannot exceed ioo. His spade bid may be just short of a good hand, and then 138 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE it has the disadvantage of being ex- posed. The following combinations show the difference betv/een a nullo and a spade bid :

4» 2 * 7, 3 K, Q, 7, s, 2 ♦ 8, 6, 3 Heretofore we have been forced to open such a hand with a spade ; at this count it certainly is a nullo. There are only two high cards, and they are well protected by the small ones in that suit; and there is no fear of not being able to discard them. V J, io, 9, 6 * Q. J, 7 K, 9 , 8 ♦ )> lo > 5 The above hand with its interme- 129 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE diate high cards calls for a spade bid. There are three possible tricks here, and perhaps four. Remember the ad- versary's lead will undoubtedly be a small card, and you will be forced in as you have no treys or deuces. Then you are not short suited, and will have no opportunity to throw off. Some one is bound to be short when you hold such an even distribution of cards, therefore they will be able to dispose of their aces and kings; then, too, there is always the chance that your partner may hold them, and not the adversary, so your safest and only bid is a spade. Novices should bear in mind that a spade bid shows more strength than a nullo. The following hand is another ex- ample of a nullo bid, showing that one or two aces or kings are not a detri- ment, as long as the remaining cards 130 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE are low. It also shows the advantage of a short suit on which to discard. 6, 2 # K, 6, 3 <3> 9*7 *A,Q,J, 7 ,6 K, J, 8 ♦ io, 9, 5 S> A, K, 4, 2 ♦ io, 5, 2 A, 5, 4, 3 ♦ 4> 2 The bidding runs as follows : Z Nullo Z 3 Nullos A Royal A 3 Royals Y 2 Nullos Y Pass B 2 Royals B Pass As Z had received one lift from his 131 Y V Q> 10, 5 * K, 9, 4 10, 7 A B *A,Q,J,8, 7 ] Z ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE partner, and was short in the adver- sary's suit (which must be strong for them to bid as high as three), he felt justified in going four nullos, which closed the bidding. A led the ten of diamonds, which B overtook with the king, leading back the nine of hearts. As both A and B were short in those suits, there were no other leads possible from their hands. Z lost five tricks instead of four (his contract) ; his winning cards were the ace of hearts and the king of spades. Therefore he scored 40 in the trick score for the five tricks he compelled his adversaries to take. LEADS There is very little to be said about the lead at nullos; most of the con- ventions used at the winning counts have no place here; such as tops of 132 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE sequences, high low, fourth best, or even singleton leads, unless the latter is as low as a three or four spot. When you have a strong hand your best lead is a middle card from three or four that are not safe. Should you hold this combination — Q, 10, 8, 7, 6 — lead the eight; the reason for this is that holding the intermediate cards yourself, it necessarily places the very low and very high cards in the other hands, and unless the low cards are evenly distributed, the chances are that you will force a higher card than your own to be played. At all events you are starting something, and your partner should thoroughly understand your high card lead. The declarant of nullos should bear in mind that one or two low cards in the adversary's suit should be kept, and not discarded. They are excel- 133 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE lent leads after you have gotten rid of the high cards in your other suits. Reserve them as a means to throw the lead; it will not avail you, however, if the opponent can return a small card of your strong suit, which he will certainly do. Hence don't be in a hurry about his suit until you have dis- posed of your own. Heretofore the poor holder kept silent, now he is a factor to be dealt with. Consequently there are more three and four bids than before. It seems now to be entirely a game of "give or take," for when the bidding runs so high, a successful contract means game. When your partner's card has won the trick, you should overtake unless you don't want the lead, for it dis- poses of two high cards at the same time. 134 REVISED LAWS Now that Royal Auction Bridge has become so universally played, it is high time that the penalties of the game should be understood, and de- manded on all occasions of erroneous play. This alone keeps the game on a scientific basis, and prevents those who might purposely misplay, from bene- fiting by wrong methods, or allowing careless players to score tricks which they have forfeited. Never object to accepting a penalty which you have brought on yourself, and don't get peevish when it is your partner who is in error. When players are allowed to play out of the wrong hand, or to revoke '35 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE without being penalized, it encourages careless play, and gives so much infor- mation that the game immediately de- teriorates. Penalties for leads out of turn, for plays out of turn, a misdeal and insufficient bidding are among the laws that should be most positively observed. One should memorize these points, and before starting a game with strangers it is proper to ask if they play "penalties," just as in the bridge days you inquired your part- ner's discard. One of the most radical changes made in the Whist Club's Laws for 19 13 is omitting any score for chicane, and reducing the revoke penalty to 100 instead of 150 as formerly. The three tricks which the declarant has the privilege of claiming when he is not in fault is not changed, if he pre- fers tricks to points. 136 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE Law 1 1 is entirely new, and meets a very annoying situation which often occurs. It reads: "When a rubber is started with the agreement that the play shall terminate (i.e., no new deal shall commence) at a specific time, and the rubber is unfinished at that hour, the score is made up as it stands, 125 being added to the score of the winner of a game. A deal if started must be finished." An addition to Law 49 reads thus : "If a player pass out of turn, the order of the bidding is not affected, i.e., it is still the turn of the player to the left of the last declarer. The player who has passed out of turn may re-enter the bidding in his proper turn if the declaration he has passed be overbid or doubled." Law 50 has two important points which were not made clear before. It 137 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE reads: "A penalty for a declaration out of turn, an insufficient or impos- sible declaration, or a bid when pro- hibited may not be enforced if either adversary pass, double or declare be- fore the penalty be demanded.' ' A footnote adds that "when the penalty for an insufficient declaration is not demanded, the bid over which it was made may be repeated unless some higher bids have intervened' ' — which means that should the dealer say three Royals (for example), the second player declare four clubs (which is in- sufficient), and the third hand pass, the penalty has not been demanded, therefore the fourth player and the declarant, when it comes his turn, may again repeat the three Royal bid. Law 57 adds that a double or a redouble is a declaration, and when made out of turn either adversary may 138 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE demand a new deal, or may allow such declaration to stand, in which case the bidding shall continue as if such decla- ration had been in turn. In laws 59- 60-61 these added privileges to the dummy should be noted: first, he not only is permitted to call attention to a lead from the wrong hand, or a lead out of turn, but he can call the atten- tion of the declarer to an established adverse revoke; second, he has the privilege of consulting with and ad- vising the declarer as to which pen- alty to exact. Law 76 now covers a new point, which is that "should both adver- saries lead simultaneously, the lead from the proper hand stands, and the other card is exposed." Law 77 pro- vides that should the dealer or dummy lead out of turn, he may not rectify the error unless directed to do so by 139 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE an adversary. If the second hand play, the lead is accepted. The new code provides that if the second hand plays to the wrong lead, the trick stands, and the others must play to it as if the lead had been in order. Law 80 has this important change: that when the fourth hand, not being dummy or declarer, play be- fore the second, that he not only can be called upon to play his highest or lowest card to the suit led (as in the old laws) , but in case the second hand be void of the suit led, the declarer in lieu of any other penalty may call upon the second hand to play the high- est card of any designated suit; if he name a suit of which the second hand is void, the penalty is paid. Law 90 now has a very proper pen- alty attached to it, which reads: "A trick turned and quitted may not again 140 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE be looked at (except under Law 82, which refers to where two or more cards have been played to the same trick), until the end of the play." The penalty for the violation of this law is 25 points in the adverse honor 141 GLOSSARY Above the Line — The Honor Column. Below the Line — The Trick Col- umn. Bonus — Reward in Honor Column. Book — The first six tricks won by the same partners. Bring-in — To make the cards of a suit. Bust — A hand or a suit without a trick. By-Cards — The number of tricks won over a book. Cards of Re-entry — A winning card which will bring into play an- other suit. Chicane — A hand without a trump. 142 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE Command — The best card of a suit. Cross Ruff — When two suits are being trumped by partners. Declarant — The highest bidder. Discarding — Not following suit. Doubling — Increasing the value of trick points. Ducking — Refusing to play the commanding cards of a suit. Dummy — The declarant's partner — the one whose cards are exposed on the table. Echo — Discard of a high card fol- lowed by a lower one. Eldest Hand — The player on the dealer's left. Exposed Card — Any card which is shown but not played. False Cards — Playing the Ace, holding the King, or any attempt to conceal the cards held. 143 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE Finesse — Trying to win a trick with a card which is not the best in the hand. Flag Flying — Over-bidding the ad- versaries' contract when they are likely to go game, at the risk of a loss to yourself in the Honor column. Forced Bid — Making a higher bid than the hand warrants. Fourth Best — Counting from the highest card of the suit. Free or Voluntary Bid — Bidding the true value of the hand. Grand Slam — Winning all tricks. Guarded Suit — A high card pro- tected by smaller cards in the same suit. Honors — The five top cards rang- ing from 10 to Ace in a trump suit. At no-trump the four Aces. Little Slam — Winning all the tricks but one. 144 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE Love- All — The state of the score before either side has made a point. Odd Trick — The first trick over the book. Over-Bid — A higher bid in the same suit. Over-Call — A higher bid in an- other suit. Over Trick — The first trick over the book. Revoke — Not following suit when able to do so. Rubber — Two out of three games. Ruffing — Trumping a trick. Sequence — Cards immediately fol- lowing each other in order of their value. Singleton — A suit of which you hold but one card. Tenace — The best and third best of a suit — Ace and Queen are Tenace over the King and Knave. 145 ROYAL AUCTION BRIDGE Third Hand — At Bridge the deal- er's partner; at Auction, the declar- ant's partner. Unblocking — Getting rid of a card that may block your partner's suit. Without — Meaning a no-trump declaration. Yarborough — A hand without a face card. Younger Hand — The partner of the original dealer. 146 •■-.■'•:.■' '■■■'■■•■-.>'■: ■••■-.-.•■,••-•