Laws, Regulations & Codes
This event is governed by the Laws of Duplicate Bridge 2017 (as amended) and the various SABF Regulations and Codes which can be viewed on the SABF web site.
Always remain calm and courteous and adhere to the following rules:
- For your first session on day 1, be at the playing venue at least 30 minutes before the scheduled start of play to give plenty of time for setting up.
- Log in and be seated at least 10 minutes before the start of play each session.
- Greet opponents and pre-announce your basic system and carding at the start of each round.
- Play to time. You have been given seven (7) minutes a board. Call the Director to reserve your rights if you feel you are running out of time.
- Claim or concede whenever you can to save time but remember to state your line of play.
- Do not make your own rulings at the table - if you need assistance, call the Director.
- Do not refer to your own convention card or system notes during the bidding or the play of a hand.
- You may refer to your opponents’ convention cards which are available for download here:
- Alert and explain your own artificial/conventional bids. How?
-
- Step 1 - type explanation in box using plain English (e.g. 4-cd fit, 8-10 pts);
- Step 2 - click your bid.
-
- Ask for an explanation or clarification by clicking on an opponent's bid and await an answer. Do not ask or answer via table chat. Call the Director if you need assistance.
- Log off and on again as quickly as possible if you experience computer or system issues.
- If you think a player is experiencing connectivity/computer problems, wait a short while (but not too long) before summoning the Director.
A substitute will be allowed in cases of emergency, but Robots will not be permitted. No player or substitute may play for more than one pair. Substitutes may not be of a higher standard than the player being replaced and the Tournament Committee reserves the right to vet any proposed substitute. Once approved, a player may have a substitute for a maximum of two matches (24 boards) in the Qualifiers and one match (16 boards) in the Finals.
UNDOs Policy for Trials
During the bidding:
- You may request – and are expected to permit – an UNDO for a clear mis-click but not for a change of mind or a mistake in a conventional sequence.
- Do not write/chat to the table what you intended to do as this will constitute Unauthorised Information (UI) and may be subject to penalties.
- Also do not write the reason in the “Call Director” box as this is visible to everyone at the table and may again give rise to UI and penalties.
During the play:
- The Declarer (from their own hand or dummy) may request and be granted an UNDO provided that no card has yet been played by the opponent whose turn it is to play next.
- No defender shall be permitted an UNDO for any reason whatsoever.
If there is any doubt, call the Director whose decision will be final.
Monitoring
Players will play at designated regional venues or, in exceptional circumstances and where already agreed in writing, from home but with suitable camera technology installed.
There will be one or more Monitors at each venue throughout every session. The Monitors will actively patrol the playing area and maintain video links with those players playing from home.
The Monitors will enforce the following rules:
- Players are not permitted to consult with their own convention cards or system notes, but they may consult a printed copy of their opponents’ convention cards.
- Only Bridge Base Online (BBO) may be open on the player’s computer. No other apps (including but not limited to email programs, Whatsapp and other messaging software) are permitted to run at the same time, nor is any other browser window or tab allowed to be active.
- All forms of automatic notification must be switched off.
- Cell phones must be switched off and ideally handed to the Monitor on duty. The Monitor may permit a player to retain his or her cell phone if it is switched off and remains plainly visible on the tabletop.
- Smart watches must be switched off.
- While each session is active players are not permitted to communicate with other players in any way other than via the BBO interface itself.
- On the first day players must arrive at the centre at least thirty (30) minutes before the start of play.
- Players are expected to be present and set up ready for play at least ten (10) minutes prior to the start of each session.
- Late arrivals will be penalised as indicated below and can result in forfeiture of the match.
- Monitors will report all late arrivals and other infractions to the Tournament Director.
Monitors are not expected to assist with technical difficulties but will do so to the best of their ability.
The Tournament Director (TD) is responsible for the smooth running of the Trials and has absolute jurisdiction on all matters pertaining to the bidding and the play. Players must use the "Call Director" function within BBO to summon the TD to their table as required.
Penalties for Infractions
During the play the following IMPS penalties will apply:
- Boards which cannot be played due to slow play:
- Average + (being 3 IMPS) to the non-offending side
- Average - (being -3 IMPS) to the offending side
- Boards which cannot be played or completed due to Internet connectivity issues:
- Average + (being 3 IMPS) to the non-offending side
- Average to the offending side
Victory Point (VP) penalties will apply in the following situations:
- Late arrival at playing venue (or at home):
- Up to 5 minutes late - penalty of 1 VP
- More than 5 minutes and up to 10 minutes late - penalty of 2 VPs
- More than 10 minutes and up to 15 minutes late - penalty of 5 VPs
- More than 15 minutes late - forfeiture of match (i.e. lose match 12 : 0)
- Cellphone infractions when sessions are in progress:
- First offence (no warnings) - penalty of 1 VP
- Second offence - penalty of 2 VPs
- Third offence - penalty of 3 VPs
- Fourth offence - disqualification from event.
In the event of any and all possible infractions, the Director must be summoned and every effort will be made to restore equity in accordance with the Laws.
Bulletins
NB. If the Bulletins do not display correctly, press Ctrl+F5 to refresh the page or try again later.
Click on a bulletin to download it in a new browser tab or window: