Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-26
DUPLICATE WHIST LAWS,
Regulations Adopted by the Phfladel-
phia Congress-


By far the most important work of the
whist congress at Philadelphia yesterday
was the final settlement of the laws of
duplicate whist. Law was thrown out
entirely, and much mere detailed substitute
vas ir serted in it's stead. The others were
greatly extended and classified These new
laws now govern duplicate whist all over
the United States. They follow, printed for
the first time in full:
Duplicate whist is governed by the laws
of whist, except in so far as they are modi-
fed by the following special laws:
Law A. game or match consists of any
agreed nj mber of deals. each Of which is
played once only by each player.
The contesting teams must be of the
same nUmber, but NAV each consist Of any
agreed number of pairs, one-half of which
or as near thereto as possible, sit north and
south, the Other half east and west
Eery trick taken is scored, and the match
10 determined by comparison Of the ag-
gregate scores won by the competing teams.
In case the teams consist of an odd num-
Der OF pairs, each team in making up such
aggregate, adds, as though won by it, the
average score of all the pairs seated in the
positions opposite to its odd pair.
Each side keeps its own score, and 1t is
the duty of the north and south players at
each table to compare the scores there
n ade, and see that they correspond. In
case they fail to perform this duty, the
and the north and south scores made to
correspond thereto.
In any match between more than two
teams, the team which wins a majority of
all the tricks scores the match as won by
that number of tricks which IL has taken
in excess of ne-half the total.
In a match between two teams. each team
wins or loses, as the case may be, by the
number of tricks which its aggregate sum
exceeds or falls short of the average sum of
all the competing teams.
In taking averages, fractions are disre-
garded and the nearest whole number is
taken one-half counting as a whole, unless
Ii Is necessary to take the fraction into ac-
count to avoid tie, in which case the
match is scored as won by the fraction of
q trick.
Law B.-Tables may be formed by cutting
or by agreement
In two-table duplicate. IL the tables are
formed by cutting. the four having the pref
erence play at one table and the next four
at the other. The highest two at one table
are partners with the lowest two at the
other. The highest at each table sit north
and south: the lowest two east and west.
Law C.-The deal is never lost; in case Of
misdeal or of the exposure of a card dur
ing the DEAL the cards must be redealt by
the same player.
Law D.-The trump card must be record
ed before the play begins on a slip provided
for that purpose. When the deal has been
placed, the slip on which the trump card
has been recorded must be placed by the
dealer on the top of his cards, but the
trump card must not be again turned until
the hands are taken up for the purpose of
overplaying them at which tipe 1t must be
turned and left face downward on the table
until 1t IL the dealers turn to play to the
nrst trick. The slip on which the trump
card Is recorded must be turned face down.
ward as soon as the trump card is taken
up by the dealer.
Law E. If player is found to have either
more or less than his correct number Of
10 date
mined by the tire at which the irreCu-
larity was discovered -
l. Where the irregularity is discovered
before or during the original play of the
hand there must be a new deal.
ii. Where the irregularity is discovered
when the hand is taken up for an over
play, and before such everyday has begun
the hand in which the irregula rty is so
discovered must be sent back to the table
from which 1t was last received and the err
ror there rectified. aEi
III. Where such irregularity is not dis
covered until after the everyday has begun
In two-tabie duplicate there must be a new
deal; but in game in which the same
hands are played at more than two ia
bles the hands must be rectifed as above
and then passed to the next table, without
everyday at the table at which the error
was discovered, in which case IL a player
had deficiency and his adversary the cor
responding surplus, each team takes the
average score for that deal; IT, however
heu INC SoiIcSPoiiuluS ufpiuS
his team Is given the lowest score made at
any table for that deal
Law Each player when it Is his turn
TO play, must place his card face upward
before him and toward the center of the
table and allow 1t to remain upon the table
In this position until all have played to the
trick, when he must turn 1t over and place
1t race downward, and nearer to himself,
placing each successive card, as he turns it,
on top of the last card previously turned by
him. After he has played his card, and also
after he has turned it, he must quit 1t by
removing his hand !.
trick Is turned and quilted when all
four players have turned and quilted their
respective cards.
The cards must be left in the order In