Chapter 14
It also provides: "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."
It is evident that the Declarer is given the option of either scoring 150 points or taking three tricks, should he prefer to make good his declaration rather than receive the bonus.
In the case cited, three tricks could not fulfill the contract, but should a thoughtless or generous Declarer elect to take a penalty which would not benefit him, in preference to 150, he would be acting within his rights.
The rule clearly decides this case. The adversaries "cannot score except for honors or chicane," and the Declarer can "add 150 to his score in the honor column" if he elect so to do.
Acknowledgment is made of the courtesy of The Whist Club of New York in permitting the publication of its code of laws and of the decisions of its Card Committee.
SUMMARIZED PENALTIES
For the benefit of those who wish to hastily ascertain the penalty for an offense or to refer to the law upon the subject, the following table of summarized penalties has been prepared. It does not include every possible penalty, but merely those of most frequent occurrence.
OFFENSE PENALTY LAW
Revoke by Declarer 150 points 84 _a_ Revoke by Adversary 150 points or 3 tricks 84 _b_ Revoke by Dummy None 63 Second revoke in same hand 100 points 84 _c_
Lead out of turn by Declarer None 77
{ Exposed card Lead out of turn by Adversary { or 76 { Called lead
Card exposed during deal New deal 37 _c_
{ Partner cannot bid nor Card exposed after deal and { lead suit of card and card 65 before end of bidding { may be called
{ May be called and if exposed Card exposed after end of { by Third Hand that suit 66 bidding and before lead { not be led
Card exposed { Declarer None 72 during { play by { Adversary May be called { 67 { 72
Two or more cards played at All may be called 70 once by adversary
Not playing to trick New deal 81 Playing 2 cards to trick Liable for revoke 82 Playing with less than 13 cards Liable for revoke 38 Holding 14 cards New deal 37 _d_
Misdeal New deal { 36 { 37
Dealing out of turn or with May be corrected before 40 wrong cards last card is dealt
Declaration out of turn New deal 49 Double out of turn New deal 57 Pass out of turn None 49
Insufficient declaration Made sufficient and partner 50 debarred from bidding
Impossible declaration Made 7 tricks and partner 50 debarred from bidding; or new deal; or previous declaration may be made final
Dummy's calling attention to Penalty for offense 61 eliminated any offense
Dummy's suggesting a play It may be required or 62 prohibited
Declarer's naming or touching May have to play it 64 card in Dummy
Adversary's calling attention Partner may be required to 92 to trick play highest or lowest card or win or lose trick
Giving information about Called lead 51 bidding after final bid
Fourth Hand playing before Second Hand may be required 80 Second to play highest or lowest card or win or lose trick
Cutting more than one card Must take highest 16
APPENDIX
QUERIES AND ANSWERS
The introduction of the count now in use has produced so radical a change in the game of Auction that of necessity innumerable differences of opinion have arisen among individual players.
Many questions have been submitted to arbitrators for decision. In some cases the author of AUCTION OF TO-DAY has been complimented by being called upon for his opinion, and a few queries that seem to be upon points of general interest, with the answers given, follow.
QUERY
What is the correct original bid of the Dealer in the following cases?
1. Seven Diamonds, headed by Knave, Ten; Ace of Spades; Ace of Hearts; Ace and three small Clubs.
2. The same hand, except that the Clubs are Ace, King, and two small.
3. The same two hands, with the Diamonds headed by Queen, Knave, Ten.
ANSWER
These hands are evidently conceived for the purpose of proving vulnerable the rule that a suit should not be called without the Ace or King. They doubtless never did and probably never will occur in actual play, but most aptly illustrate a point of declaration, and are, therefore, worthy of consideration.
It must be remembered that in the extraordinary case any convention of declaration may be varied to suit the hand. Undoubtedly, the last rule to permit exception is that above mentioned. For the purpose of emphasis it may properly be said to be without exception, and yet, if any such holding actually happen, it may become necessary for the Declarer to take a little leeway. It cannot affect the confidence of the partner if a player, only under such extraordinary circumstances, departs from the conventional, and the remarkable character of the hand guarantees that harm will not result in the particular instance.
All of the above hands contain three Aces, yet a No-trump should not be bid, as it would probably be left in, and with two singleton Aces they are dangerous No-trumpers, but strong Diamonds.
The hands are much too strong to call one Spade, as that also might not be overbid. Two Spades followed by Diamonds would be quite satisfactory, would avoid breaking the rule, but would not include the effort to eliminate adverse bidding which, with a hand of this character, might be desirable.
Two Diamonds is not permissible, as that is the conventional call for a solid Diamond suit.
There is no reason, however, that three or more Diamonds or Clubs should not indicate a long weak Trump suit with such additional strength that one Spade is an unsafe call. Such a bid would suggest that a game is probable in the suit named. It is not a recognized bid and would rarely be used, but an intelligent partner would at once grasp its meaning.
The answer to the above, therefore, is
1. Three Diamonds.
2. Three, or even Four, Diamonds. (The bid of one Club might be left in.)
3. Three or 4 Diamonds in first; 4 in second.
QUERY
Would it not improve the game of Auction and increase the amount of skill required in the declaration if the value of Royal Spades be altered from 9 to 5?
ANSWER
The basic theory of the present count is to equalize, as nearly as possible, the value of the five declarations, in order to produce the maximum amount of competition in bidding. This has proved most popular with the mass of players, and has been universally adopted not only in this country, but also in England, France, and Russia. To decrease the value of the Royal Spade from 9 to 5, would be a distinct step backward. In that case it would take 4, instead of 3, Royal Spades to overbid two No-trumps; and 6, instead of 4, to overbid three No-trumps. It is not likely that any change, which diminishes the ability of the holder of Spades (or of any suit) to compete with a No-trump, will ever appeal to Auction devotees. The greater the possibility for competitive bidding, the greater the opportunity for displaying skill in that branch of the game.
QUERY
Should the Dealer bid one Club, holding Ace and King of Clubs, four small Spades, four small Hearts, Ace, Queen, and one small Diamond?
ANSWER
No. One Club deceives the partner. It indicates length in Clubs, and may induce him to advance that suit too far. In the event of an adverse No-trump, it will probably result in the lead of the partner's highest Club, which is apt to prove extremely disastrous. One No-trump is far safer than one Club, and might be defended on the ground that with four cards in each of the two weak suits the danger of a long adverse run is reduced.
One Spade, however, places the Dealer in a splendid position to advance any call his partner may make, and is doubtless the sound bid.
QUERY
Is it not an objection to the count now in use that the Spade suit is given two values, and would it not be wise to make Spades 9, and allow the Dealer to pass the original declaration?
ANSWER
The advisability of this plan was thoroughly considered before the present count was suggested. It would make a pass by the Dealer equal to the present declaration of one Spade, and in the event of the four players all passing, presumably would necessitate a new deal. It would eliminate two, three, and four Spade bids by the Dealer and Second Hand, and the double of one Spade by the latter.
It would relieve the Third Hand from determining whether to take his partner out of one Spade, and take from the Fourth Hand the decision of whether to play for a penalty of 100 or try for game. It is evident, therefore, that it would take a great deal out of the bidding of every one of the four players, and it is hard to believe that any scheme tending to decrease the variety of, and amount of skill required for, the declaration, is to the advantage of the game.
The objection to having two Spade values is purely theoretical, as players are not in the least embarrassed thereby, nor is the number of declarations at present a part of the game cumbersome or confusing. The argument, that if there be two Spade values there might equally well be two values for each of the other suits, almost answers itself. Having more than one Royal declaration would of necessity result in complications, and, of course, only one defensive call is needed. With the advantages of the Spade bid so numerous and evident, and with no real disadvantage apparent, there does not seem to be any sound reason for abandoning it.
QUERY
Dealer bids one Royal. Second Hand holds Ace, King, Queen, Knave, and Ten of Clubs; Ace, King, and two small Diamonds; Ace and two small Hearts; one small Spade. What should he bid?
ANSWER
Three Clubs. The holding thoroughly justifies a No-trump, as the hand contains eight sure tricks. If, however, the partner cannot stop the Spades, the adversaries will save the game at once, while eleven Club tricks is not an impossibility. Furthermore, the partner may have the Spades stopped if _led up to_ him, but not if led _through_ him.
The Declaration of _three_ Clubs (one more than necessary) tells the partner the situation, and accomplishes two purposes:--if the partner have not the Spades stopped, the game is still possible; if the partner have the Spades stopped, if led up to him, it instructs him to call two No-trumps, whereas a No-trump bid by the Second Hand, with the same cards, might fail to produce game, because the position of the opening lead would then be reversed.
QUERY
Dealer bids one No-trump; Second Hand, two Hearts. Third Hand holds
Spades Knave, Ten, and three small Hearts One small Diamonds Two small Clubs Ace, Queen, Knave, and two small
What should be bid?
ANSWER
Two Royals. This hand, especially with an adverse Heart call, is much more apt to go game at Royals than at No-trump. Two Royals asks to be let alone; three Clubs practically commands the partner to bid two No-trumps if he have the Hearts stopped.
This is but an expansion of the principle that the original call of one Club or one Diamond suggests a No-trump, while one Heart or one Royal indicates a desire to try for game in the suit named.
QUERY
Is it fair for partners to agree that the bid of one Spade shall mean weakness; one Club, general strength; and two Clubs, strength in Clubs?
ANSWER
It is perfectly fair for players to use the above-described, or any other convention, provided their adversaries understand its meaning. Conventions are an essential part of Auction. The lead of a King to show the Ace is a convention--so is every informatory play or declaration. When plays or bids are generally understood, it is unnecessary for players to explain their significance, but the adversaries should have all the information upon the subject possessed by the partner, and nothing approaching a private understanding should exist.
QUERY
The Dealer bids one No-trump, holding
Spades Ace, Queen, Ten, and three small Hearts Ace, Queen Diamonds Ace, and one small Clubs Ace, and two small
Second and Third Hands pass; Fourth Hand, two Diamonds.
What should the Dealer declare on the second round?
ANSWER
Two Royals. The hand is far too strong to pass, while to bid two No-trumps is foolish, as, unless the partner hold the King of Spades, it is almost certain that the contract cannot be fulfilled.
Two Royals is safe and presents a good chance of game. A game in Royals is far more valuable than 100 for Aces, which may be reduced, if not wiped out, by penalties for under-tricks.
QUERY
Score, Love. Dealer bids one Spade; Second Hand, one Diamond; Third Hand, one Royal; Fourth Hand, two Clubs.
Second round, Dealer bids two Royals; Second Hand, three Clubs; Third Hand, three Royals; Fourth Hand, four Diamonds.
Dealer holds
Spades Knave, 10, 7 Hearts King, Knave, 8 Diamonds 7, 4, 3 Clubs King, 7, 6, 3
Should he double the four Diamond declaration?
ANSWER
A bid of four Diamonds should never be doubled at a love score unless the Doubler be reasonably sure of defeating the declaration. In this case he may expect to win one Club, and possibly one Heart, although that is not sure. Either the Declarer or the Dummy may be without Spades. The double does not seem reasonably safe and may keep the partner from a successful bid of four Royals. The Dealer, therefore, should pass.