The sun., 1916-12-17
NEW AUCTION RULES
END OLD DISPUTES
Revised Code for 1917 Clears
Up Causes Of Many Mis-
Understandings.
By r. r. FOSTER.


The Whist Club Of New York has just
Issued tho revised laws OF auction bridge
FOR 1917, together with a reprint OF all
the recent decisions OF the committee
on laws. The aim OF the committee
IN It's revision Of the old code has evil
IDENTIFY been directed chiefly toward clear
ing up some Of the points that were left
open TO argument or misunderstanding.
and TO reconcile some OF the apparent
contradictions between laws In one sec
ton and those IN another.
While the changes rave added only ono
to the number Of the laws themselves. Il
has taken six more pages OF printed
matter 20 make their meaning more
clear. In the hopo that the new version
will abate In some degree the Hood OF
questions that continually pours In upon
the committee from all parts OF the
country.
Among me many changes. the hrst
one 70 attract attention will undoubtedly
he the elimination Of tho last a graph
In a 10. which said that the side hav-
ing the higher score won the rubber.
M which probably led TO more disputes
about bets OF the rubber than any other
sentence in the English language.
! The nrst part OF Law I has been
/ changed 10 declare that the rubber corr
tinues until one side wins II by winning
two sanee. Then Law 10 SAWS that a.
the end ~ the rubber the winners score
, $50 points additional, and that the size
OF the rubber Is tho difference between
the total scores. After this. just for the
sake OF clearness apparently. there is a
paragraph to the effect that the losers Of
the rubber are entitled to the difference
Gin .points) when they have the larger
total.
The paragraph added to a II IL In
teresting chiefly 70 club players. as II
relates to diminished rubbers when no
time has been agreed upon to terminate
the play. II the player who Is obliged
TO leave cannot hnd IN acceptable sub
stitute. his adversaries have the right
TO decide whether the entire score up
10 that point In the current rubber shall
be cancelled or counted as X the quit
ting thme had been arranged before
hand. under the old law. which requires
the score TO be made up as II stands.
adding l25 FOR q game o
Law 10 has been amended 80 a. 70
make a distinction between cutting for
entrance into a table and cutting for
partners. II the cutting Is to decide on
tho formation OF a table when there are
more thar four candidates. and any
PLAYER exposes moro than one card. the
highest ~ his cut. III they are cutting
FOR partners and the player exposes more
than one card he must cut again.
Law 20. with regard 20 a players hav-
ing less than The proper number OF
cards, has now been made one OF the
clauses go In Law 81.
Law Is, which a always stated
that a player might overbid q previous
declaration ANY number Of times" is
now qualified by a footnote to the effect
TINT nN.a fRiNla 10 NhA nj 80 nyl
that after such a bid Is reached there
can no no further declaration except
n double. or seven tricks In . superior
suit.
Tit COMMITTEES seems TO ave had the
greatest trouble with Law ~. concern
Ing declarations out OF turn. This SUBJ
1ect was covered by o twenty lines
In tho old code, but now occupies nearly
four pages. chiefly explanatory. The only
new feature Ia the rule about doubling
out Of turn. This was slurred over IN the
old code.
According 20 Law asa IN the new code.
n a player doubles or redoubles when II
wal his partners turn to declare. either
and redouble or they may demand a new
deal or they may call the declaration
that Is doubled In error the final decla-
ration. at the Same time having tho op-
ton OF letting II he playet as doubled or
not doubled. The situation IL not likely
10 arise very often. but II looks as II
there would be n hot time II u did.
a SOC is Undoubtedly improved hv
tho simple sta'cment that consultation
between partners will not be permitted.
The old law. which prohibited "unlim-
i'ed' consultation. was construed by
MANI persons as sanctioning q few
"o.us q au,.es ana u Aocep'anee OF TO-
.ueeh p''''u" " "u "o' oeHas inc
same
a very necessary law mas peer added
70 inc cone IN NO. o. wn'ch provides a
penalty tor giving any about
a players hand during tho bidding ex-
cept mat conveyed py the BIDS them
selves. n player make any re-
mark OF that Character his partner ie
prohibited from bidding altogether for
that deal.
Auction players are all familiar with
the type OF player at whom his law 10
aimed and who Is continually making
such remarks ns We'll, have almost a
no trumper here. but I'll Sust bid n shade
TO start WITH or "Oh. PASS. haven't
got a trick In my hand"
Law so adds two valuable pr1yi,es.s 10
those nlready entoyed by the dummy
WhIIe ~ ,s true TINT ,bev havs no,
,acltlv admitted nv the hest ,,over. ,h.Y
have never been distinctly stated &, ths
laws until now
Ths orst n, ,b.s. 4. IN. -,,,, O., ,r
FORM M. declaror ,,,t ~. :. sn,,,,os ~
rcrta,r nona,,,ss or n-,,,rorn. .nn., ~
,aws 6na n,ayor o,,ar 80. az, =,
WV INV ga 'lttl htApWS little 0l