Did ye know?

The Stop card dictates that the next person to bid SHOULD wait 10 seconds before bidding?

Have you ever looked at the reverse of the Stop card? Take it out of the bidding box and read it - it should state exactly this.

The Stop card should be used when the bidder intends to skip one or more levels in the bidding scheme and should be placed in the middle of the table prior to making his/her bid. It is used to notify both partner and the opposition.

After 10 seconds the Stop card should then be removed. The next person to bid SHOULD NOT bid until the Stop card has been removed.

This helps to avoid the unauthorised passing of information between partners by a longer than normal pause.