a If the cards be not dealt into four packets, one at a time, and in regular rotation, beginning at the dealer's left.
b If, during a deal, or during the play of a hand, the pack be proven incorrect or imperfect.
c If any card be faced in the pack.
d If any player have dealt to him a greater number of cards than thirteen.
e If the dealer deal two cards at once and then deal a third before correcting the error.
f If the dealer omit to have the pack cut and the adversaries call attention to the fact prior to the conclusion of the deal and before looking at their cards.
g If the last card do not come in its regular order to the dealer.
39. There may be a new deal-
a If the dealer or his partner expose a card. The eldest hand may claim a new deal.
b If either adversary expose a card. The dealer or his partner may claim a new deal.
c If, before fifty-one cards are dealt, the dealer should look at any card. His adversaries have the right to see it, and the eldest hand may exact a new deal.
d If, in dealing, one of the last cards be exposed by the dealer or his partner, and the deal is completed before there is reasonable time for the eldest hand to decide as to a new deal. But in all other cases such penalties must be claimed prior to the completion of the deal.
40. The claim for a new deal by reason of a card exposed during the deal may not be made by a player who has looked at any of his cards. If a new deal does not take place, the card exposed during the deal cannot be called.
41. Should three players have their right number of cards, and should the fourth, not being dummy, have less than thirteen and not discover such deficiency until he has played any of his cards, the deal stands good; should he have played, he is answerable for any revoke he may have made as if the missing card or cards had been in his hand. The other pack may be searched for the missing card or cards.
42. If during the play of a deal a pack be proven incorrect or imperfect, such proof renders only the current deal void, and does not affect any prior score. The dealer must deal again (Law 38 b).
43. Any one dealing with the adversaries' cards must be corrected before the play of the first card, otherwise the deal stands good. If any one deals when it is the turn of an adversary, such error must be corrected before the cards are dealt for the following deal.
44. A player can neither shuffle, cut nor deal for his partner without the permission of his adversaries.
DECLARING TRUMPS
Table of Contents 45. The trump is declared. No card is turned.
a The dealer may either make the trump or pass the declaration to his partner.
b If the declaration be passed to partner, he must make the trump.
46. Should the dealer's partner make the trump without receiving permission from the dealer, the eldest hand may demand,
1st. That the trump shall stand, or
2d. That there shall be a new deal.
But if any declaration as to doubling, or not doubling, shall have been made, or if a new deal be not claimed, the declaration wrongly made shall stand. The eldest hand is the player on the left of the dealer.
47. Should the dealer's partner pass the declaration to the dealer it shall be the right of the eldest hand to claim a new deal or to compel the offending player to declare the trump; provided, that no declaration as to doubling has been made.
48. If either of the dealer's adversaries make or pass the declaration, the dealer may, after looking at his hand, either claim a new deal or proceed as if no declaration had been made.
49. A declaration once made cannot be altered.
DOUBLING, REDOUBLING, ETC.
Table of Contents 50. The effect of doubling, re-doubling, and so on, is that the value of each trick above six is doubled, quadrupled, and so on.
51. After the trump declaration has been made by the dealer or his partner, their adversaries have the right to double. The eldest hand has the first right. If he does not wish to double, he may ask his partner, "May I lead?" His partner shall answer, "Yes" or "I double."
52. If either of their adversaries elect to double, the dealer and his partner have the right to redouble. The player who has declared the trump shall have the first right. He may say, "I redouble" or "Satisfied." Should he say the latter, his partner may redouble.
53. If the dealer or his partner elect to redouble, their adversaries shall have the right to again double. The original doubler has the first right.
54. If the right-hand adversary of the dealer double before his partner has asked "May I lead?" the declarer of the trump shall have the right to say whether or not the double shall stand. If he decide that the double shall stand, the process of re-doubling may continue as described in paragraphs 52, 53, 55.
55. The process of re-doubling may be continued indefinitely.[1] The first right to continue the re-doubling on behalf of a partnership belongs to that player who has last redoubled. Should he, however, express himself satisfied, the right to continue the re-doubling passes to his partner. Should any player redouble out of turn, the adversary who last doubled shall decide whether or not such double shall stand. If it is decided that the redouble shall stand, the process of re-doubling may continue as described in this and foregoing laws (52 and 53). If any double or redouble out of turn be not accepted there shall be no further doubling in that hand. Any consultation between partners as to doubling or re-doubling will entitle the maker of the trump or the eldest hand, without consultation, to a new deal.
56. If the eldest hand lead before the doubling be completed, his partner may redouble only with the consent of the adversary who last doubled; but such lead shall not affect the right of either adversary to double.
57. When the question, "May I lead?" has been answered in the affirmative or when the player who has the last right to continue the doubling, expresses himself satisfied, the play shall begin.
58. Should the eldest hand lead without asking permission, his partner may double, but only if the maker of the trump consent.
59. Should the right-hand adversary of the dealer ask permission to lead, the eldest hand does not thereby lose his right to double. Should the right-hand adversary of the dealer double before his partner has asked "May I lead?" the maker of the trump shall have the right to say whether or not the double shall stand. If he decide that the double shall stand, the process of re-doubling may continue as described in Laws 52, 53, 55.
60. If the right-hand adversary of the dealer lead out of turn, the maker of the trump may call a suit from the eldest hand, who may only double if the maker of the trump consent.
A declaration as to doubling or re-doubling once made cannot be altered.
[1] In some clubs, doubling ceases whenever the value of the odd trick exceeds one hundred points; in other clubs the limit is placed at two hundred points.
DUMMY
Table of Contents 61. As soon as the eldest hand has led, the dealer's partner shall place his cards face upward on the table, and the duty of playing the cards from that hand shall devolve upon the dealer, unassisted by his partner.
62. Before exposing his cards, the dealer's partner has all the rights of a player, but after his cards have been shown the dealer's partner takes no part whatever in the play, except that he has the right-
a To ask the dealer whether he has none of the suit in which he may have renounced.
b To ask the dealer when called upon to play his highest or lowest card whether he has conformed to the penalty.
c To call the dealer's attention to the fact that a trick has not been completed.
d To correct the claim of either adversary to a penalty to which the latter is not entitled.
e To call attention to the fact that a trick has been erroneously taken by either side.
f To participate in the discussion of any disputed question of fact which may arise between the dealer and either adversary.
g To correct an erroneous score.
63. Should the dealer's partner call attention to any other incident of the play, in consequence of which any penalty might be exacted, the fact of his so doing precludes the dealer exacting such penalty.
64. If the dealer's partner, by touching a card or otherwise, suggest the play of a card from dummy, either of the adversaries may, but without consultation, call upon the dealer to play or not to play the card suggested.
65. Dummy is not liable to the penalty for a revoke; and if he should revoke and the error be not discovered until the trick is turned and quitted, the trick stands good.
66. A card from the dealer's hand is not played until actually quitted; but should the dealer name or touch a card from the dummy hand, such card is considered as played, unless the dealer in touching the card or cards says, "I arrange," or words to that effect.
CARDS EXPOSED BEFORE PLAY
Table of Contents 67. If, after the deal has been completed and before the trump declaration has been made, either the dealer or his partner expose a card from his hand, the eldest hand may, without consulting...
