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ACBL Duplicate Laws
Chapter 4, Laws 9-16a
General Laws Governing Irregularities

A. Calling Attention to an Irregularity

1. During the Auction Period

Unless prohibited by Law, any player may call attention to an irregularity during the auction, whether or not it is his turn to call.

2. During the Play Period

Unless prohibited by law, declarer or either defender may draw attention to an irregularity that occurs during the play period. For incorrectly pointed card see Law 65B3.
(Old 1997 Law)
(a) Declarer or Either Defender

Unless prohibited by Law, declarer or either defender may call attention to an irregularity that occurs during the play period.

(b) Dummy (dummy's restricted rights are defined in Law 42 and Law 43)

(1) Dummy may not call attention to an irregularity during the play but may do so after play of the hand is concluded.

(2) Dummy may attempt to prevent declarer from committing an irregularity (Law 42B2).

3. (New 2008 Law) When an irregularity has occurred, dummy may not draw attention to it during the play period but may do so after play of the hand is concluded. Any player, however, including dummy, may attempt to prevent another player’s committing an irregularity (but for dummy subject to Laws 42 and 43).

4. (New 2008 Law) There is no obligation to draw attention to an infraction of law committed by one’s own side (but see Law 20F5 for correction of partner’s apparently mistaken explanation).

 

 

 

B. After Attention Is Called to an Irregularity

1. Summoning the Director

(a) When to Summon

The Director must be summoned at once when attention is drawn to an irregularity.

(b) Who May Summon

Any player, including dummy, may summon the Director after attention has been drawn to an irregularity.

(c) Retention of Rights

Summoning the Director does not cause a player to forfeit any rights to which he might otherwise be entitled.

(d) Opponents' Rights

The fact that a player draws attention to an irregularity committed by his side does not affect the rights of the opponents.

2. Further Bids or Plays

No player shall take any action until the Director has explained all matters in regard to rectification and to the assessment of a penalty.

 

C. Premature Correction of an Irregularity

Any premature correction of an irregularity by the offender may subject him to a further penalty (see the lead penalties of Law 26).

See Duplicate Decisions

A. Right to Determine Rectification

The Director alone has the right to determine rectifications when applicable. Players do not have the right to determine (or waive – see Law 81C5) rectifications on their own initiative.
(Old 1997 Law)
The Director alone has the right to assess penalties when applicable. Players do not have the right to assess (or waive) penalties on their own initiative.

 

B. Cancelation of Enforcement or Waiver of Rectification

The Director may allow or cancel any enforcement or waiver of a rectification made by the players without his instructions.
(Old 1997 Law)
The Director may allow or cancel any payment or waiver of penalties made by the players without his instructions.

 

C. Choice after Irregularity

1. Explanation of Options

When these Laws provide an option after an irregularity, the Director shall explain all the options available.

2. Choice among Options

If a player has an option after an irregularity, he must make his selection without consulting partner.

3. (New 2008 Law)

When these Laws provide the innocent side with an option after an irregularity committed by an opponent, it is appropriate to select the most advantageous action.

4. (New 2008 Law)

Subject to Law 16D2, after rectification of an infraction, it is appropriate for the offenders to make any call or play advantageous to their side, even though they thereby appear to profit through their own infraction (but see Laws 27 and 50).

 

See Duplicate Decisions

A. Action by Non-Offending Side

The right to rectification of an irregularity may be forfeited if either member of the non-offending side takes any action before summoning the Director. The Director does so rule, for example, when the non-offending side may have gained through subsequent action taken by an opponent in ignorance of the relevant provisions of the law.
(Old 1997 Law)
The right to penalize an irregularity may be forfeited if either member of the non-offending side takes any action before summoning the Director. The Director so rules when the non-offending side may have gained through subsequent action taken by an opponent in ignorance of the penalty.

 

B. Penalty after Forfeiture of the Right to Rectification

Even after the right to rectification has been forfeited under this law, the Director may assess a procedural penalty (see Law 90).

     (Old 1997 Law)
     Irregularity Called by Spectator

1. Spectator Responsibility of Non-Offending Side

The right to penalize an irregularity may be forfeited if attention is first drawn to the irregularity by a spectator for whose presence at the table the non-offending side is responsible.

2. Spectator Responsibility of Offending Side

The right to correct an irregularity may be forfeited if attention is first drawn to the irregularity by a spectator for whose presence at the table the offending side is responsible.

 

C. (Old 1997 Law)
          Penalty after Forfeiture of the Right to Penalize

Even after the right to penalize has been forfeited under this law, the Director may assess a procedural penalty (see Law 90).

See Duplicate Decisions

A. Power to Award an Adjusted Score
On the application of a player within the period established under Law 92B or on his own initiative the Director may award an adjusted score when these Laws empower him to do so (in team play see Law 86). This includes:

1. The Director may award an adjusted score when he judges that these Laws do not provide indemnity to a non-offending contestant for the particular type of violation committed by an opponent.

2. The Director awards an artificial adjusted score if no rectification can be made that will permit normal play of the board (see C2 below).

3. The Director may award an adjusted score if there has been an incorrect rectification of an irregularity.

(Old 1997 Law)
The Director may award an adjusted score (or scores), either on his own initiative or on the application of any player, but only when these Laws empower him to do so, or:

1. Laws Provide No Indemnity

The Director may award an assigned adjusted score when he judges that these Laws do not provide indemnity to the non-offending contestant for the particular type of violation of law committed by an opponent.

2. Normal Play of the Board is Impossible

The Director may award an artificial adjusted score if no rectification can be made that will permit normal play of the board (see Law 88).

3. Incorrect Penalty Has Been Paid

The Director may award an adjusted score if an incorrect penalty has been paid.

 

B. Objectives of Score Adjustment

1. The objective of a score adjustment is to redress damage to a non-offending side and to take away any advantage gained by an offending side through its infraction. Damage exists when, because of an infraction, an innocent side obtains a table result less favorable than would have been the expectation had the infraction not occurred – but see C1(b) below.
2. T he Director may not award an adjusted score on the ground that the rectification provided in these Laws is either unduly severe or advantageous to either side.
(Old 1997 Law)
The Director may not award an adjusted score on the ground that the penalty provided in these Laws is either unduly severe or advantageous to either side.

 

C. Awarding an Adjusted Score

1. Artificial Score
1. (a) When after an irregularity the Director is empowered by these Laws to adjust a score and is able to award an assigned adjusted score, he does so. Such a score replaces the score obtained in play.
(b) If, subsequent to the irregularity, the non-offending side has contributed to its own damage by a serious error (unrelated to the 17 Chapter IV – Irregularities infraction) or by a wild or gambling action, it does not receive relief in the adjustment for such part of the damage as is self-inflicted. The offending side should be awarded the score that it would have been allotted as the consequence of its infraction only.
(c) I n order to do equity, and unless the Regulating Authority forbids it, an assigned adjusted score may be weighted to reflect the probabilities of a number of potential results.*
(d) If the possibilities are numerous or not obvious, the Director may award an artificial adjusted score.
(e) In its discretion the Regulating Authority may apply all or part of the following procedure in place of (c)*:
(i) The score assigned in place of the actual score for a non-offending side is the most favorable result that was likely had the irregularity not occurred.
(ii) For an offending side the score assigned is the most unfavorable result that was at all probable had the irregularity not occurred.
(f) The scores awarded to the two sides need not balance.

 

* For ACBL sanctioned events, 12C1(c) does not apply and 12C1(e) does apply (see Elections 1, p. 136).

2. (a) When owing to an irregularity no result can be obtained (and see C1(d) above), the Director awards an artificial adjusted score according to responsibility for the irregularity: average minus (at most 40% of the available matchpoints in pairs) to a contestant directly at fault, average (50% in pairs) to a contestant only partly at fault, and average plus (at least 60% in pairs) to a contestant in no way at fault.
(b) When the Director awards an artificial adjusted score of average plus or minus at international matchpoints, that score is normally plus or minus 3 IMPs, but this may be varied as Law 86A allows.
(c) The foregoing is modified for a non-offending contestant who obtains a session score exceeding 60% of the available matchpoints or for an offending contestant who obtains a session score that is less than 40% of the available matchpoints (or the equivalent in IMPs). Such contestants are awarded the percentage obtained (or the equivalent in IMPs) on the other boards of that session.*
3. In individual events the Director enforces the rectifications in these Laws and the provisions requiring the award of adjusted scores equally against both members of the offending side, even though only one of them may be responsible for the irregularity. But the Director shall not award a procedural penalty against the offender’s partner if of the opinion that offender’s partner is in no way to blame.

* In ACBL sanctioned events, when there is a non-offending and an offending contestant, the non-offending contestant receives the score specified by 12C2(c) above. Their opponents shall receive the difference between that score and 100%, regardless of their score on the other boards of that session. For example, if the non-offending contestant receives 64% on the adjusted deal, the offending contestant receives 36%.
 

4. When the Director awards non-balancing adjusted scores in knockout play, each contestant’s score on the board is calculated separately and the average of them is assigned to each.
(Old 1997 Law)

When, owing to an irregularity, no result can be obtained, the Director awards an artificial adjusted score according to responsibility for the irregularity: average minus (at most 40% of the available matchpoints in pairs) to a contestant directly at fault; average (50% in pairs) to a contestant only partially at fault; average plus (at least 60% in pairs) to a contestant in no way at fault (see Law 86 for team play or Law 88 for pairs play). The scores awarded to the two sides need not balance.

2. Assigned Score

When the Director awards an assigned adjusted score in place of a result actually obtained after an irregularity, the score is, for a non-offending side, the most favorable result that was likely had the irregularity not occurred or, for an offending side, the most unfavorable result that was at all probable. The scores awarded to the two sides need not balance and may be assigned either in matchpoints or by altering the total-point score prior to matchpointing.

3. Powers of Appeals Committee

Unless Zonal Organizations specify otherwise, an appeals committee may vary an assigned adjusted score in order to do equity.

See Duplicate Decisions

See Director Tech File, More

(Old 1997 Law)
When the Director determines that one or more pockets of the board contained an incorrect number of cards,  and a player with an incorrect hand has made a call, then when the Director deems that the deal can be corrected and played normally with no change of call, the deal may be so played with the concurrence of all four players. Otherwise, the Director shall award an artificial adjusted score and may penalize an offender. If no such call has been made, then:

A. Director Deems Normal Play

When the Director determines that one or more hands of the board contained an incorrect number of cards (but see Law 14) and a player with an incorrect hand has made a call, then when the Director deems that the deal can be corrected and played, the deal may be so played with no change of call. At the end of play the Director may award an adjusted score.

B. Adjusted Score and Possible Penalty

Adjusted Score and Possible Penalty
Otherwise when a call has been made, the Director shall award an adjusted score and may penalize an offender.

C. Play Completed

When it is determined after play ends that a player’s hand originally contained more than 13 cards with another player holding fewer (but see Law 13F), the result must be canceled and an adjusted score awarded (Law 86D may apply). An offending contestant is liable to a procedural penalty.

D. No Call Made

If a player is found to have an incorrect number of cards and no call has been made on his hand:
1. The Director shall correct the discrepancy and if no player will then have seen another’s card shall require that the board be played normally.
2. When the Director determines that one or more pockets of the board contained an incorrect number of cards and a player has seen one or more cards of another player’s hand, if the Director deems:
(a) that the unauthorized information is unlikely to interfere with normal bidding or play, the Director allows the board to be played and scored. If he then considers the information has affected the outcome of the board, the Director shall adjust the score and may penalize an offender.
(b) that the unauthorized information gained thereby is of sufficient importance to interfere with normal bidding or play, the Director shall award an artificial adjusted score and may penalize an offender.

E. Placement or Movement of Card

When under this law the Director requires play to continue, knowledge of the placement or movement of a card by the Director is unauthorized information for the partner of a player whose hand contained an incorrect number of cards.

F. Surplus Card

Any surplus card not part of the deal is removed if found. The auction and play continue unaffected. If such a card is found to have been played to a quitted trick, an adjusted score may be awarded.
 

(Old 1997 Law)
 A. No Player Has Seen Another's Card

The Director shall correct the discrepancy as follows and, if no player will then have seen another's card, shall require that the board be played normally.

1. Hand Records

When hand records are available, the Director shall distribute the cards in accordance with the records.

2. Consult Previous Players

If hand records are not available, the Director shall correct the board by consulting with players who have previously played it.

3. Require a Redeal

If the board was incorrectly dealt, the Director shall require a redeal (Law 6).

 

B. A Player Has Seen Another Player's Card(s)

When the Director determines that one or more pockets of the board contained an incorrect number of cards and after restoration of the board to its original condition a player has seen one or more cards of another player's hand, if the Director deems:

1. The Information Gained Is Inconsequential

that such information will not interfere with normal bidding or play, the Director, with the concurrence of all four players, may allow the board to be played and scored normally.

2. The Information Will Interfere with Normal Play

that the information gained thereby is of sufficient importance to interfere with normal bidding or play, or if any player objects to playing the board, the Director shall award an artificial adjusted score and may penalize an offender.

 

C. Play Completed

When it is determined after play ends that a player's hand originally contained more than 13 cards with another player holding correspondingly fewer, the result must be canceled (for procedural penalty, see Law 90).

See Duplicate Decisions

Where three hands are correct and one hand is deficient, Law 14, and not this Law, applies.

A. Hand Found Deficient before Play Commences

When one or more hand(s) is/are found to contain fewer than 13 cards, with no hand having more than 13, before the opening lead is faced, the Director makes a search for any missing card, and:
1. if the card is found, it is restored to the deficient hand.
2. if the card cannot be found, the Director reconstructs the deal by substituting another pack.
3. the auction and play continue normally without alteration of any of the calls made, the restored hand being deemed to have contained all of its cards continuously throughout.

       (Old 1997 Law)
      Hand Found Deficient before Play Commences

When three hands are correct and the fourth is found to be deficient before the play period begins, the Director makes a search for any missing card, and:

1. Card Is Found

If a card is found, it is restored to the deficient hand.

2. Card Cannot Be Found

If a card cannot be found, the Director reconstructs the deal, as near to its original form as he can determine, by substituting another pack.
 

B. Hand Found Deficient after Play Commences

      Hand Found Deficient Afterwards

When one or more hand(s) is/are found to contain fewer than 13 cards, with no hand having more than 13, at any time after the opening lead is faced (until the end of the correction period), the Director makes a search for any missing card, and:
1. if the card is found among the played cards, Law 67 applies.
2. if the card is found elsewhere, it is restored to the deficient hand. Rectification and/or penalties may apply (see B4 below).
3. if the card cannot be found, the deal is reconstructed using another pack. Rectification and/or penalties may apply (see B4 below).
4. a card restored to a hand under the provisions of Section B of this law is deemed to have belonged continuously to the deficient hand. It may become a penalty card (Law 50), and failure to have played it may constitute a revoke.

      (Old 1997 Law)
      Hand Found Deficient Afterwards

When three hands are correct and the fourth is found to be deficient after the play period begins, the Director makes a search for any missing card, and:

1. Card Is Found

(a) If a card is found among the played cards, Law 67 applies.

(b) If a card is found elsewhere, it is restored to the deficient hand, and penalties may apply (see 3., following).

2. Card Cannot Be Found

If a card cannot be found, the deal is reconstructed as nearly as can be determined in its original form by substituting another pack, and penalties may apply (see 3., following).

3. Possible Penalties

A card restored to a hand under the provisions of Section B of this Law is deemed to have belonged continuously to the deficient hand. It may become a penalty card (Law 50), and failure to have played it may constitute a revoke.
 

C. Information from Replacement of a Card (New 2008 Law)

      Hand Found Deficient Afterwards

Knowledge of the replacement of a card is unauthorized for the partner of a player whose hand contained an incorrect number of cards.

 

See Duplicate Decisions

A. Players Have Not Previously Played Board

If players play a board not designated for them to play in the current round:

1. The Director normally allows the score to stand if none of the four players has previously played the board.
2. The Director may require both pairs to play the correct board against one another later.

(Old 1997 Law)
If players play a board not designated for them to play in the current round:

1. Score Board as Played

The Director normally allows the score to stand if none of the four players have previously played the board.

2. Designate a Late Play

The Director may require both pairs to play the correct board against one another later.

 

B. One or More Players Have Previously Played Board

If any player plays a board he has previously played, with the correct opponents or otherwise, his second score on the board is canceled both for his side and his opponents, and the Director shall award an artificial adjusted score to the contestants deprived of the opportunity to earn a valid score.

 

C. Discovered during Auction

If, during the auction period, the Director discovers that a contestant is playing a board not designated for him to play in the current round, he shall cancel the auction, ensure that the correct contestants are seated and that they are informed of their rights both now and at future rounds. A second auction begins. Players must repeat calls they made previously. If any call differs in any way from the corresponding call in the first auction, the Director shall cancel the board. Otherwise, play continues normally. 
(New 2008 Law)  The Director may award a procedural penalty (and an adjusted score) if of the opinion that there has been a purposeful attempt by either side to preclude normal play of the board.

See Duplicate Decisions

A. Players’ Use of Information

1. A player may use information in the auction or play if:
(a) it derives from the legal calls and plays of the current board (including illegal calls and plays that are accepted) and is unaffected by unauthorized information from another source; or
(b) it is authorized information from a withdrawn action (see D below); or
(c) it is information specified in any law or regulation to be authorized or, when not otherwise specified, arising from the legal procedures authorized in these Laws and in regulations (but see B1 below); or
(d) it is information that the player possessed before he took his hand from the board (Law 7B) and the Laws do not preclude his use of this information.

2. Players may also take account of their estimate of their own score, of the traits of their opponents and any requirement of the tournament regulations.

3. No player may base a call or play on other information (such information being designated extraneous).

4. I f there is a violation of this law causing damage, the Director adjusts the score in accordance with Law 12C.

B.  Extraneous Information from Partner

1. (a) After a player makes available to his partner extraneous information that may suggest a call or play, as for example by a remark, a question, a reply to a question, an unexpected* alert or failure to alert, or by unmistakable hesitation, unwonted speed, special emphasis, tone, gesture, movement or mannerism, the partner may not choose from among logical alternatives one that could demonstrably have been suggested over another by the extraneous information.
(b) A logical alternative action is one that, among the class of players in question and using the methods of the partnership, would be given serious consideration by a significant proportion of such players, of whom it is judged some might select it.

2. When a player considers that an opponent has made such information available and that damage could well result, he may announce, unless prohibited by the Regulating Authority (which may require that the Director be called), that he reserves the right to summon the Director later. The opponents should summon the Director immediately if they dispute the fact that unauthorized information might have been conveyed.

3. When a player has substantial reason to believe that an opponent who had a logical alternative has chosen an action that could have been suggested by such information, he should summon the Director when play ends*. The Director shall assign an adjusted score (see Law 12C) if he considers that an infraction of law has resulted in an advantage for the offender.

* i.e., unexpected in relation to the basis of his action

C. Extraneous Information from Other Sources

1. When a player accidentally receives unauthorized information about a board he is playing or has yet to play, as by looking at the wrong hand; by overhearing calls, results or remarks; by seeing cards at another table; or by seeing a card belonging to another player at his own table before the auction begins, the Director should be notified forthwith, preferably by the recipient of the information.

2. If the Director considers that the information could interfere with normal play, he may, before any call has been made:
(a) adjust the players’ positions at the table, if the type of contest and scoring permit, so that the player with information about one hand will hold that hand; or
(b) if the form of competition allows of it, order the board redealt for those contestants; or
(c) allow completion of the play of the board, standing ready to award an adjusted score if he judges that unauthorized information may have affected the result; or
(d) award an artificial adjusted score.

* It is not an infraction to call the Director earlier or later.

3. I f such unauthorized information is received after the first call in the auction has been made and before completion of the play of the board, the Director proceeds as in 2(c) above.

D. Information from Withdrawn Calls and Plays (New 2008 Law)

When a call or play has been withdrawn as these Laws provide:
1. For a non-offending side, all information arising from a withdrawn action is authorized, whether the action be its own or its opponents’.
2. For an offending side, information arising from its own withdrawn action and from withdrawn actions of the non-offending side is unauthorized. A player of an offending side may not choose from among logical alternative actions one that could demonstrably have been suggested over another by the unauthorized information.

(Old 1997 Law)

Players are authorized to base their calls and plays on information from legal calls and plays and from mannerisms of opponents. To base a call or play on other extraneous information may be an infraction of law.

A. Extraneous Information from Partner

After a player makes available to his partner extraneous information that may suggest a call or play, as by means of a remark, a question, a reply to a question, or by unmistakable hesitation, unwonted speed, special emphasis, tone, gesture, movement, mannerism or the like, the partner may not choose from among logical alternative actions one that could demonstrably have been suggested over another by the extraneous information.

1. When Such Information Is Given

When a player considers that an opponent has made such information available and that damage could well result, he may, unless the regulations of the sponsoring organization prohibit, immediately announce that he reserves the right to summon the Director later (the opponents should summon the Director immediately if they dispute the fact that unauthorized information might have been conveyed).

2. When Illegal Alternative Is Chosen

When a player has substantial reason to believe  that an opponent who had a logical alternative has chosen an action that could have been suggested by such information, he should summon the Director forthwith. The Director shall require the auction and play to continue, standing ready to assign an adjusted score if he considers that an infraction of law has resulted in damage.

 

 

B. Extraneous Information from Other Sources

When a player accidentally receives unauthorized information about a board he is playing or has yet to play, as by looking at the wrong hand; by overhearing calls, results or remarks; by seeing cards at another table; or by seeing a card belonging to another player at his own table before the auction begins, the Director should be notified forthwith, preferably by the recipient of the information. If the Director considers that the information could interfere with normal play, he may:

1. Adjust Positions

if the type of contest and scoring permit, adjust the players' positions at the table, so that the player with information about one hand will hold that hand; or,

2. Appoint Substitute

with the concurrence of all four players, appoint a temporary substitute to replace the player who received the unauthorized information; or,

3. Award an Adjusted Score

forthwith award an artificial adjusted score.

 

 

C. Information from Withdrawn Calls and Plays

A call or play may be withdrawn, and another substituted, either by a non-offending side after an opponent's infraction or by an offending side to rectify an infraction.

1. Non-offending Side

For the non-offending side, all information arising from a withdrawn action is authorized, whether the action be its own or its opponents'.

2. Offending Side

For the offending side, information arising from its own withdrawn action and from withdrawn actions of the non-offending side is unauthorized. A player of the offending side may not choose from among logical alternative actions one that could demonstrably have been suggested over another by the unauthorized information.

When play ends; or, as to dummy's hand, when dummy is exposed.

See Director Tech File, More, More