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Read Ebook: Bridge; its Principles and Rules of Play with Illustrative Hands and the Club Code of Bridge Laws by Elwell J B Joseph Bowne
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Ebook has 769 lines and 47103 words, and 16 pages
BRIDGE
"Soon as she spreads her hand, the aerial guard Descend and sit on each important card."
BRIDGE
ITS PRINCIPLES AND RULES OF PLAY
BY J. B. ELWELL
WITH ILLUSTRATIVE HANDS AND THE CLUB CODE OF BRIDGE LAWS
NEW YORK CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS 1906
J. B. ELWELL
TROW DIRECTORY PRINTING AND BOOKBINDING COMPANY NEW YORK
PREFACE The main purpose which I have had in view in writing this book has been to provide my pupils with a SIMPLE and ELEMENTARY work on Bridge. I have endeavoured to abstain from assuming a knowledge of Whist or Whist terms on the part of the reader, and have merely attempted to write a text-book which shall combine clear and concise statements of my rules, with a reason for and explanation of each one. These rules have stood the test of practical experiment by myself and others for the last five years, so that this statement of them will, I trust, be of benefit both to the beginner and to the advanced player.
J. B. E.
BRIDGE
PLAYERS
Bridge is usually played by four persons. If there are more than four candidates, the prior right to play is decided by cutting the cards.
CUTTING
DEALING
Before being dealt, the cards must be shuffled by the dealer and then cut by the player at his right. It is customary to play with two packs of cards, the dealer's partner shuffling, or making up, for his right-hand adversary. The cards are dealt one at a time, from left to right, until all are exhausted, each player having thirteen cards. The last card should not be turned face up. There is no penalty for a misdeal.
THE OBJECT OF THE GAME
There are two separate scores to be played for--trick and honour scores. The trick score is credited to the side that wins more than six tricks; the honour score to the side that holds the majority of the trump honours. The object of the game is to score more points than your adversaries, tricks and honours included. This is best done by winning a rubber.
THE GAME
The game consists of thirty or more trick points. All points in excess of thirty are counted by the side winning them; but only one game can be won in a deal. Honours are a separate score and do not count toward winning the game.
THE RUBBER
The rubber is the best of three games. If the first two games are won by the same partners the third is not played. One hundred points are added to the total score of the side winning the rubber.
DECLARING THE TRUMP
The hand may be played either without a trump, or a trump suit may be selected.
The dealer has the option of making a declaration or of passing that privilege to his partner. If the dealer passes the make, his partner must announce the trump. A trump once made cannot be changed at any time during the deal.
TABLE OF TRICK VALUES
DOUBLING
After the trump has been declared each adversary, in turn, may increase the value of the tricks by doubling.
The leader--the player at the left of the dealer--has the first right to double. If the leader does not wish to double his partner may then do so.
REDOUBLING
If either the leader or his partner has doubled the trump, the dealer or his partner may re-double, the player who has made the trump having the first right. This process may continue indefinitely. Doubling or redoubling does not affect the value of the honours.
THE DUMMY
When the value of each trick has been determined, and after a card has been led, the dealer's partner places his hand face upward on the table--the trump suit at his right--and the dealer plays both hands. The dealer's partner--the dummy--is not allowed to suggest, to touch or to play a card except at the dealer's bidding. It is the dummy's right, should the dealer refuse to follow in any suit, to endeavour to prevent a revoke.
THE PLAY
In the play of the cards the ace is high and deuce low. You must follow suit, but if you have no card of the suit led, you may either trump or discard. At no-trump the best card of the suit led wins the trick.
THE CONVERSATION OF THE GAME
The conversation is indicated in the following diagram.
"Spades," or "I make it Spades."
When the trump has been doubled the maker says, "I redouble," or "I am satisfied." If the maker is satisfied his partner says, "I redouble," or "I am satisfied." In many clubs the conversation is somewhat changed and abbreviated. "Pass." "Hearts." "I double." "I go over." "I redouble" or "I go back." "Enough," or a rap on the table to signify satisfaction.
TO PREVENT A REVOKE
If your partner refuses to follow suit, always ask, "Have you no , Partner?" An error may then be rectified, but only before the trick has been turned and quitted or before another card has been led.
SCORING
The score consists of two separate counts: trick score and honour score. The trick score is made by the side winning more than six tricks in a hand. The honour score, by the partners who hold the majority of the trump honours. With a declared trump the honours are A K Q J and 10. At no-trump only the Aces count as honours. Doubling does not increase the honour score.
TABLE SHOWING VALUE OF HONOURS
A LITTLE SLAM, winning twelve of the thirteen tricks, adds 20 points to the honour score.
A GRAND SLAM, winning all thirteen tricks, adds 40 points to the honour score.
CHICANE, a hand which is without a trump, adds the value of three honours to the honour score.
DOUBLE CHICANE, a player and partner having no trumps, adds the value of four honours to the honour score.
THE METHOD OF SCORING
After the rubber has been won the honour score and the trick score of each side are added, and the leaser total deducted from the greater.
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