Are You Guilty?

The Crime:Walking away from the bridge site with a pencil behind your ear, or unintentionally wrapped in your convention card or dropped in your pocket or purse.

The Punishment: One year hard labor at the bridge table with lousy cards or one year of being dummy every hand. (Choice is at the discretion of the penal committee.)

Enforcer: Pencil Policewoman - The Irascible and Much Feared Millie Dabbs is back in town.

In ACBL competition, both members of a partnership must use the same system.  They must have two identical convention cards made out for the use of the opponents.  Players must not refer to their own convention card or any aid to their memory.

A PS from Mary Ann:  When I was a novice player just starting to play tournaments, a tournament director imposed a procedural penalty (an 1/8 of a board) because my partner and I did not have identical convention cards.  It can cost you, so be careful!

After a long illness, Tyll Vanzler passed away late Monday. Mary Ellen would appreciate sympathy cards. Her address is 7542 Dinsmore St., Spring Hill, FL 34609.

A memorial service will be held at the Brookridge clubhouse, Sunday, October 9 at noon.  Lunch to follow.

(Brookridge is the development across Cortez from the north end of Barclay Avenue.  It's a gated community, but the guard will let you through and direct you, if you mention the Vanzler service.) 

Bridge Luncheon – Nature Coast Bridge Club will host its annual community wide free bridge luncheon Thursday, October 6^th at 11:00AM.  Come for lunch and stay to play your favorite type of bridge.  This event is open to all bridge players in Hernando, Pasco, and Citrus Counties who did not play in an NCBC game prior to October 1^st, 2010, as well as social or party bridge players, and people who have never played bridge but would like to give it a try.  Join us for an afternoon of fun, friendship and friendly competition.  For information or to RSVP, call Beverly Tillberry. 352-556-3892 or Annabelle Hills, 352-597-5221.

This week's tip comes directly from the Laws of Duplicate Bridge:

'Until a card is led to the next trick, declarer or either defender may inspect, but not expose, his own last card played.

Thereafter, until play ceases, the cards of quitted tricks may not be inspected (except at the Director's specific instruction).'

A member recently asked what she should do if she can't see all the dummy's cards.  She feared that pointing out the problem would draw attention to the suit and make her vulnerable to a lead penalty.

Our tip:  If you can't see all the cards, just make a generic statement -- somthing like 'I can't see all the cards' or 'one of dummy's card is hidden.'  If that tends to draw attention to a particular suit, so be it.  You're entitled to the information and there is never a  penalty when you ask for it.