Partial Topical Index to Bridge Bulletin
 
Rulings in Bridge Bulletin

In the ACBL zone, the laws changed on 3/31/1987 and 5/27/1997.
Mike Flader answers questions from February 2000 to present
Brian Moran answered questions from around mid 1994 thru 1999
Spider Harris, Ralph Cohen, Gary Blaiss and others also answer questions
Answers prior to last change in laws have not been checked to see if they are consistent with most recent laws

Jump to Rulings by Law Number

rulings
SituationIssue or Issues
1/1 with only 4 hcpApr-01
1C opening with a stiffJan-98
1C P 1H 2D 1NT(insufficient; changed to 2NT) P ?? (with a 6-count)Oct-99
1C P 1N; can 1N bidder have a 4-card major?Mar-95
1D 1D (not accepted) - is partner 2nd 1D barred?Aug-01
1D 3S 3(ugh) change of call; reaching 7NTJul-01
1D opening promising 4 - alertable?Dec-02
1H P 1N - any alert needed if responder might have 4S?Sep-02
1H 4D (4D bidder explains own call)Feb-00
1H P 1N (forcing); but not alerted since pair plays flanneryNov-00
1m in 3rd/4th denies 4 cards in a major - alertable?Sep-02
1N P 2H (transfer) P P(eek!) - law 25AMay-02
1N P 4C P; 1N bidder asks director what the responses are!!!Jun-02
2-suited overcalls over 1NSep-00
2D (roman) 2H P P X (no alert) P 3C - is X alertable?Nov-00
2D drury call not alerted; opener raises to 6D; is 6H allowed?Aug-02
3D 3H(alerted by bidder as Fishbein)Aug-99
3rd hand spreads hand after correct opening lead; thinking she is dummyMay-99
3S 6H P(slow) P 6S X; is 6S allowed?Jul-02
3S opening as showing 7 solid clubs; looking for 3NT; no alert; then 4NT; and other lapsesAug-02
4th hand plays a card too soonJun-97
acceptance of insufficient bid is authorized informationSep-99
accepting lead out of turn by dummy or declarerSep-99
accusationsMar-93
ace-asking auctions - disclosureDec-01
adjusted scoresNov-92Oct-92
agreementsSep-97
alert of non-forcing bid in a precision auctionMar-02
alert of puppet stayman - required or not?Dec-01
appeals - as described in lawsMar-89
asking about meaning of lead of 10 spotDec-98
asking partner whether void in suit ledDec-88
awareness of lawsFeb-93
bergen limit raiseJan-02
bid out of turn - then passes after RHO callsApr-88
bid-boxesMar-94
bidding boxes use in USA versus EuropeSep-95
board not reshuffled in swiss at stationary tableJul-96
both defenders lead; but first leader is out of turn; (not simultaneous)Aug-95
calling director during the play about highly unusual call during auctionMay-98
calling the directorJul-00
calls out of rotation - tricky!Jan-89
cancel the preceding messageApr-92
cardingOct-88
carding agreements and disclosureApr-91
change of callSep-91
change of call after insufficient bidDec-98
change of call after LHO calls but before partner callsNov-98
change of designationSep-91
changes in convention charts - Seattle NABCJan-94
claimMay-89Nov-88
claim - 70DJun-95
claim - 70EJun-95
claim - AQ975 opposite K1086Apr-00
claim - declarer erroneously thinks that contract is NTJan-97
claim - defender has master trumpMay-95
claim - faultyJan-97
claim - finesse when one opponent has showed outNov-95
claim - trump outstandingMar-00
claim clarificationMar-97
claims and concessionsNov-88Jul-86
claims; concessions; and acquiesencesFeb-91Jan-91
club director decisions as to stratsAug-02
club game - accusationsDec-86
committees at club levelMay-86
comparing scoresSep-96
convention responsibilityAug-89
correct number of cardsFeb-89
correcting of pointing a quitted trickSep-99
correction of misexplanationDec-93
correction of September columnNov-00
declarer asking for a reviewFeb-98
declarer points to one suit; and states to discard from another suitMar-02
defender chooses a card; then changes mind - must it be played?Sep-02
definitions of eventsFeb-94
director backed up the auction incorrectlyOct-01
director not adjusting contract after misinformationApr-02
director observes irregularity - but no one at table doesJun-88
director responsibilitiesJan-86
director's roleOct-91
disallowedOct-88
discard shows suit preference; but then revoke discoveredJan-02
does defender have to play touched card?Nov-97
drury bid not alerted; should opener's rebid be alerted?Dec-00
dummy calls director when defender exposes A of D when intending to play A of HDec-99
dummy claims at trick 11; but outstanding trumpMay-01
dummy comments on who won the trickFeb-02
dummy's rightsOct-01Oct-86
explanation of forcing after 2N after 2D (mini-roman) P 2NOct-00
explanation of meaning of a 1C openingJun-98
face-up opening lead out of turnMar-88
facts; not opinionsFeb-93
failure to alertDec-93
failure to alert - can opponents get a zero?Apr-96
failure to alert; transfers on after interferenceFeb-98
forgetting alerts or agreementsAug-00Jan-00Dec-91
forgotten agreementsJul-89
fouled board formula - WBFJun-91
frequent psych of 2S response to weak-2Dec-02
full disclosureAug-89
general convention chart - jump overcall into a suitApr-96
hidden card in dummy - adjusted scoreJan-95
insufficient bidMar-86
insufficient bid; followed by 2nd insufficient bid before director arrivesApr-01
insufficient conventional callOct-98
kibitzer at club gameMar-02
kibitzersMar-02
late play - one pair wants to leaveFeb-02
lead out of turnSep-92Dec-89Mar-88Feb-86
lead out of turn followed by bid before penalty explainedMay-88
lead out of turn; thinking that leader had trumpedAug-95
leaving the tableNov-89
link between damage and misinformation denied because director not calledJan-01
logical alternative - hesitationOct-99
logical alternatives - after slow transfer to a minor with extrasOct-02
min off-shape T/O XSep-01
minor penalty cardDec-87
minor penalty card - accidental dropping of small trumpDec-95
misexplanationsSep-89
misinformationDec-93
misinformation - 1C P 1D 2C (meaning of 2C?)Sep-99
misinformation - failure to alertApr-96
misinformation - failure to alert (corrected in December column)Sep-00
misinformation - Flannery hand explained as weak-2Jun-01
misinformation - Law 21Aug-92
misinformation - opening 2D (flannery); alerted as weak; no convention cardsJun-01
misinformation - was there damage?Nov-96
misinformation and alerts quizDec-93
missing cardMar-92
mistaken bid (2H natural weak correctly alerted as Flannery; logical alternatives on next round)Jan-01
mistaken bid versus mistaken explanationDec-92
mistaken explanationJun-97
mistaken explanation - partner's responsibilitiesMar-98
misunderstandingsJul-94
no agreement - adjusted scoreAug-98
normal playJan-92
north announces dealer; vul; etc.May-99
notrump openingsOct-88
odd/even signaling and discardsJun-88
opening 1C with only 2 cards; no alertMar-99
opening 1D with 3-3 in minorsNov-02
opening 1NT with 14 with card marked as 15-17May-01
opening 1NT with a singleton (or void)Jun-00Sep-99Nov-87Aug-97
opening call of 2D (flannery) when intent is 1D (natural)Sep-98
opening flannery by mistake with 5611 patternAug-97
opening pass out of turnMay-96
opening with 8-9 hcpJun-01
opponent does not want to call director after infractionAug-01
options after one overhears results from another tableNov-01
out of turn callsApr-86
P P 2C (llimited) P 2H (not forcing; not alerted); opponents complainMar-02
partner looks at opponents convention card after 1N (no announcement of range)Mar-01
partnership understandingsMar-91
pass out of rotationMar-88
penalty cardsSep-86
penalty cards - correction of revoke before revoke establishedDec-95
penalty for revoke does not restore equityDec-96
played cardAug-88Aug-86
played cards and penalty cardsJan-93Oct-89
playing director overhears irregularity at another tableMay-99
pointing quitted tricksNov-97
prealertsOct-93
proprietiesMay-99
psychics - X with 4441 with 3 hcpFeb-02
pulling stop card when erroneously thinking that you are dealerApr-95
question about carding versus leadsFeb-99
question about leads from AK when asker had the AceJan-98
question about legality of conventional 2D and 2H over 1C by opponentsApr-96
rebid of 2D with 3532 pattern after 3rd hand and 4th hand passSep-97
response of 1N to 1CMar-95
responses to 1COct-88
returning bid cards to bid box - auction not overJul-98
reverse without extrasJan-98
revokeJan-97Feb-88Jun-86
revoke - 64B and 64CFeb-88
revoke - declarer at trick 11Jan-97
revoke - declarer revokes and then claimsSep-02
revoke - ruff and overruff; the first ruff a revoke; discovered before next trickDec-95
revoke by declarer - trick won by dummyFeb-88
revoke penalty does not restore equityDec-96
revokes by both defenders on same trickFeb-95
rights concerning appealsFeb-92
ruff with a non-trumpAug-01
rule of coincidenceJul-91Aug-89
run the diamonds from the topMar-95
slow playAug-89
slow X of 5M - club gameMar-99
spoken bidding issuesOct-96
stop card pulling by player not the dealer; by mistakeApr-95
stop card usage; no hesitation after card returned to boxJul-02
strong 2 bidsFeb-99
T/O X of 1S with 3442 patternJan-02
table responsibilities and conductMay-91
tempo - director chooses A+/A- instead of adjusted scoreApr-02
treatments not requiring an alertNov-00
UIFeb-97Jan-96
UI - 1D 3S 3H (insufficient); but auction reviewed by 1D opener as 1NT 3S 3HApr-99
UI - but no inferencesJan-96
UI - changing contract by acting on partner's hesitationOct-98
UI - failure to alert 1D 2H (intermediate)Oct-01
UI - hesitationDec-97
UI - opener corrects explanation of opening bidOct-96
UI - transfers on or off after interference?Oct-97
unapproved midchart convention at a sectionalMay-02
up the line (now superseded)Nov-91
verbal X not heard; bid boxes in useOct-96
very light openingsJun-01
weak 2-bidsOct-88
weak-2's rulesJun-02
which card to play from dummyMar-02

Return to Rulings by situation

rulings
Reference to Law by Law NumberIssue or Issues
_7BApr-88
_7B1Feb-89
_7CFeb-89
_7DApr-88
_9B1(a)Jun-88May-88Jan-88
12A2May-99
12BAug-91
12C1Feb-96
12C1 - spoken bid not heardFeb-97
12C2Nov-92Jul-87
13_Feb-89
14_Feb-89
15_Feb-89
16_Feb-96Jul-89
16C2Apr-98
17D and 12Feb-01
18AOct-96
20EMay-88
20F1Feb-01
21_Jul-89
23_Dec-02
23AAug-96May-88Dec-87
24BMay-88
25_Sep-95
25BSep-01
25B - partner toys with several bids from bid boxDec-99
26_Aug-98Apr-92May-88Dec-87
26AAug-98Sep-87
26BSep-01Aug-98
27_Jun-87
27B2Nov-97Dec-96
29BDec-87
31_Jul-96
31AMay-96
31A2 vs 27B1b (by mistake)Dec-98
31BAug-96
34_; applies instead of 41AMar-88
35_Mar-88
35ADec-87
36_Dec-02
37_May-88
40_ - are cuebids legal?Nov-01
40CSep-96
40C - linking damage to failure to alertSep-96
40E - differing NT rangesNov-02
40E2 - looking at your convention cardMar-96
41AAug-00
41DAug-99
42_May-88
42A2Jun-87
42B2Aug-87
42B3Jun-87
43A1(b)May-88
43A2Aug-87
43B2Aug-87
45C.4.(b)Nov-95
45C2Oct-00Feb-00Jan-99Apr-98Sep-97
45C2May-95
45DOct-96May-96
46BAug-00
47E2 - opening leadOct-87
47FMay-96
50CJul-95
50E1_May-88
50E2_Dec-89Dec-87
53_Dec-89
53ADec-87
53CDec-87
54ADec-89
58_Aug-95
61B (changed in ACBL zone)Jul-87
61B - ACBL zoneMar-96
64A2Jan-98Mar-97
64CAug-99Sep-95Jun-86
65_Jun-87
68B; but 16-UI appliesFeb-96
68CJun-95May-89
68DMar-97Aug-95
70_May-89
70CDec-97Aug-95May-95
70DOct-95Jun-95
70ENov-95Jun-95May-89
71_May-98
71CMay-98
72A5Aug-91
73_ - use of stop cardFeb-00
73F2Apr-95Mar-95
74B - dropped cardMay-00
74B4Jul-95
74CJan-96
74C1Oct-96
75 - footnoteNov-99
75_Nov-96Sep-89Jul-89
75BNov-99Jun-95
75B - explanation of opening of 3NT as gambling; but more likely that no agreement existedNov-99
75B - unusual bidJun-95
75DJun-87
75D2Feb-01Jan-95
75D2 - adjusted scoreJan-99
75D2; erroneous explanation which happens to accurately describe handJan-95
81C4May-99
90AFeb-89
90B4Sep-96
92_Mar-89
93B1Mar-89
93B3Mar-89

Return to Rulings by situation