Did ye know?

That you should call the director whenever something goes amiss at the bridge table. However this doesn't mean when your partner takes the wrong view in a slam contract !!

• The director should be called whenever:
• a bid is made out of sequence
• a bid is not sufficient
• a bid is made that is not appropriate e.g. after partner's hesitation
• a card is led from the wrong hand
• a card accidentally appears when it shouldn't
• somebody revokes during the play of the hand

Even if you think you know the rules, or the scenario appears the same as the previous time - call a director . You may be damaging your rights to total compensation if it was found that you should have called the director to rule in the first instance.

Whilst most club nights will involve a playing director, it is the director who knows the rules or at least will know how to use the rules to seek maximum benefit to the non-offending side.

The most often abused situations are claims by declarer which are disputed and insufficient bids where one side tells the other what to do. Both situations should be arbited by a director to ensure that the full range of options are explained to the non-offending side.

Finally the director is there to ensure proper behaviour at all times. If an argument ensues or someone's behaviour is offensive, call for the director rather than get involved and upset your game for the remainder of the evening.