Bridge Axioms And Laws Part 10

THE REVOKE

A revoke occurs when a player (other than dummy), holding one or more cards of the suit led, plays a card of a different suit. The penalty for a revoke takes precedence of all other counts.

A revoke is established if the trick in which it occurs be turned and quitted, _i.e._, the hand removed from the trick after it has been gathered and placed face downward on the table; or if either the revoking player or his partner, whether in his right turn or otherwise, have led or played to the following trick.

The penalty for a revoke is three tricks taken from the revoking player and added to those of the adversaries.

The penalty is applicable only to the score of the game in which it occurs.

Under no circ.u.mstances can the revoking side score game, in that hand.

Whatever their previous score may have been, the side revoking cannot attain a higher score toward game than twenty-eight.

A player may ask his partner whether he has not 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 unless the question be answered in the negative or unless the revoking player or his partner has led or played to the following trick.

If a player correct his mistake in time to save a revoke, any player or players who have followed him may withdraw their cards and subst.i.tute others, and the cards so withdrawn are not exposed cards. If the player in fault be one of the dealer's adversaries, the card played in error is an exposed card, and the dealer can call it whenever he pleases; or he may require the offender to play his highest or lowest card of the suit to the trick in which he has renounced.

If the player in fault be the dealer, the eldest hand may require him to play the highest or lowest card of the suit in which he has renounced, provided both adversaries of the dealer have played to the current trick; but this penalty cannot be exacted against the dealer when he is fourth in hand, nor can it be enforced at all from dummy.

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 revoke is established if, after it has been claimed, the accused player or his partner mix the cards before they have been sufficiently examined by the adversaries.

A revoke must be claimed before the cards have been cut for the following deal.

Should the players on both sides subject themselves to the revoke penalty neither can win the game by that hand.

The revoke penalty may be claimed for as many revokes as occur during a hand; but the acc.u.mulated penalty shall in no event exceed thirteen tricks.

GENERAL RULES

There should not be any consultation between partners as to the enforcement of penalties. If they do so consult, the penalty is paid.

Once a trick is complete, turned, and quitted, it must not be looked at until the end of the hand.

Any player during the play of a trick, or after the four cards are played and before they are touched for the purpose of gathering them together, may demand that the cards be placed before their respective players.

If either of the dealer's adversaries, prior to his partner's playing, should call attention to the trick, either by saying it is his, or, without being requested so to do, by naming his card or drawing it toward him, the dealer may require that opponent's partner to play his highest or lowest card of the suit led, or to win or lose the trick.

Either of the dealer's adversaries may call his partner's attention to the fact that he is about to lead out of turn, but if he make any unauthorised reference to any incident of the play the dealer may call a suit from the adversary whose turn it is next to lead.

In all cases where a penalty has been incurred, the offender is bound to give reasonable time for the decision of his adversaries; but if a wrong penalty be demanded none can be enforced.

The partner of the eldest hand may inform him that their adversaries have incurred a penalty, but may not give any further information.

Should he suggest the penalty, or demand the enforcement of it, such action shall be deemed a consultation, and no penalty can be enforced.

NEW CARDS

Unless a pack be imperfect, no player shall have the right to call for one new pack. If fresh cards are demanded, two packs must be furnished and paid for by the player who has demanded them. If they are furnished during a rubber, the adversaries shall have their choice of new cards.

If it is the beginning of a new rubber, the dealer, whether he or one of his adversaries be the party calling for the new cards, shall have the choice. New cards must be called for before the pack is cut for a new deal.

A card or cards torn or marked must be replaced by agreement or new cards furnished.

BYSTANDERS

While a bystander, by agreement among the players, may decide any question, yet he must on no account say anything unless appealed to; and if he make any remark which calls attention to an oversight affecting the score, or to the exaction of a penalty, he is liable to be called on by the players to pay the stakes on that rubber.

SPADE CONVENTION