Leicestershire Contract Bridge Association
Leicestershire Contract Bridge Association
A few more Orange Book changes came into force on 1 August 2010.
There are two useful additions which are primarily guidance for Directors -
Section 6D How to score a Fielded Psyche, Misbid or Deviation [OB p 32]
Section 10A10 What to do if a Pair play an Illegal Agreement [OB p 44]
and a reminder to Players -
Section 7A3 It is an offence to remove one's own cards from the board unless either an opponent or the Director is present.
Most players might presume that the introduction of a new Level 5 now permitted in a range of major EBU competitions will not affect them – but this was in part a response to concerns that too many artificial bids only wanted by a tiny minority at Level 4 were being ‘inflicted’ on the majority. So now (see 11C 14-17) whilst you may still at Level 4 open an artificial 1 of a minor to show 4+ cards in another specified suit but perhaps not in the bid suit, it is now a requirement that a 1 of a major opening must show at least 4 cards in the bid suit, whether forcing or not.
7222 hands: Whilst some still find it hard to accept that a 6322 hand is semi-balanced [unarguable – it is by definition] and therefore can by agreement be opened by a natural 1NT, since 1 August 2010 one may also agree to include 7222 hands – with a 7 card minor - in a natural 1NTopener or a natural 1NT overcall, from level 2 upwards (see 11F2,3,8)
Defending after 1 of suit opener;
(1) The regulations (11N3) – Level 2 upwards - state: Doubles: These may now be played as either take-out or penalty. This includes the practice of doubling on balanced hands with (near) opening values or with 3+ cards in any unbid major(s) without any other distributional constraints. [Sounds to me a bit like raising the speed limit because so many drivers ignored the old one!]
(2) Doubles as suit transfers - Level 3 upwards - It is now permitted to double to show length in any one specified suit provided that the quality of the suit, and, as a minimum, its strength conform to the standards generally played for a natural call at the level that would result from the completion of the transfer.
 Robert Northage |