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ACBL Duplicate Laws
Chapter 10, Laws 81-91
Tournament Director

A. Official Status

The Director is the official representative of the Tournament Organizer.
(Old 1997 Law)
The Director is the official representative of the sponsoring organization.
 

B. Restrictions and Responsibilities

1. Technical Management

The Director is responsible for the on-site technical management of the tournament. He has powers to remedy any omissions of the Tournament Organizer.
(Old 1997 Law)
The Director is responsible for the technical management of the tournament.

2. Observance of Laws and Regulations

The Director applies and is bound by these Laws and supplementary regulations announced under authority given in these Laws.
(Old 1997 Law)
The Director is bound by these Laws and by supplementary regulations announced by the sponsoring organization.
 

C. Director's Duties and Powers

The Director's duties and powers normally include the following:

he Director (not the players) has the responsibility for rectifying irregularities and redressing damage. The Director’s duties and powers normally include also the following:
1. to maintain discipline and to ensure the orderly progress of the game.
2. to administer and interpret these Laws and to advise the players of their rights and responsibilities thereunder.
3. to rectify an error or irregularity of which he becomes aware in any manner, within the correction period established in accordance with Law 79C.
4. to assess rectification when applicable and to exercise the powers given him in Laws 90 and 91.
5. to waive rectification for cause, in his discretion, upon the request of the non-offending side.
6. to adjust disputes.
7. to refer any matter to an appropriate committee.
8. to report results for the official record if the Tournament Organizer requires it and to deal with any other matters delegated to him by the Tournament Organizer.

(Old 1997 Law)
1. Assistants

to appoint assistants, as required, to perform his duties.

2. Entries

to accept and list entries.

3. Conditions of Play

to establish suitable conditions of play and to announce them to the contestants.

4. Discipline

to maintain discipline and to insure the orderly progress of the game.

5. Law

to administer and interpret these Laws and to advise the players of their rights and responsibilities thereunder.

6. Errors

to rectify an error or irregularity of which he becomes aware in any manner, within the correction period established in accordance with Law 79C.

7. Penalties

to assess penalties when applicable.

8.  Waiver of Penalties

to waive penalties for cause, at his discretion, upon the request of the non-offending side.

9. Disputes

to adjust disputes; to refer a matter to the appropriate committee.

10. Scores

to collect scores and tabulate results.

11. Reports

to report results to the sponsoring organization for official record.
 

D. Delegation of Duties

he Director may delegate any of his duties to assistants, but he is not thereby relieved of responsibility for their correct performance.
(Old 1997 Law)
The Director may delegate any of the duties listed in `C' to assistants, but he is not thereby relieved of responsibility for their correct performance.

See Duplicate Decisions

A. Director's Duty

It is the duty of the Director to rectify errors of procedure and to maintain the progress of the game in a manner that is not contrary to these Laws.
 

B. Rectification of Error

To rectify an error in procedure the Director may:

1. Award of Adjusted Score

award an adjusted score as permitted by these Laws.

2. Specify Time of Play

require or postpone the play of a board.

3. (New 2008 Law)

Exercise any other power given to him in these Laws.

 

C. Director's Error

If a ruling has been given that the Director subsequently determines to be incorrect, and if no rectification will allow the board to be scored normally, he shall award an adjusted score, treating both sides as non-offending for that purpose.
(Old 1997 Law)
If the Director has given a ruling that he or the Chief Director subsequently determines to be incorrect, and if no rectification will allow the board to be scored normally, he shall award an adjusted score, considering both sides as non-offending for that purpose.

See Duplicate Decisions

If the Director believes that a review of his decision on a point of fact or exercise of his discretionary power could well be in order, he shall advise a contestant of his right to appeal or may refer the matter to an appropriate committee.
(Old 1997 Law)
If the Director believes that a review of his decision on a point of fact or exercise of his discretionary power might be in order (as when he awards an adjusted score under Law 12), he shall advise a contestant of his right to appeal or may refer the matter to an appropriate committee.

See Duplicate Decisions

 

When the Director is called to rule on a point of Law or regulation in which the facts are agreed upon, he shall rule as follows:

A. No Rectification

If no rectification is prescribed by law, and there is no occasion for him to exercise his discretionary powers, he directs the players to proceed with the auction or play.
(Old 1997 Law)
If no penalty is prescribed by law, and there is no occasion for him to exercise his discretionary powers, he directs the players to proceed with the auction or play.
 

B. Law Provides Rectification

If the case is clearly covered by a law that prescribes the rectification for the irregularity, he determines that rectification and ensures that it is implemented.
(Old 1997 Law)
If a case is clearly covered by a Law that specifies a penalty for the irregularity, he assesses that penalty and sees that it is paid.
 

C. Player's Option

If a law gives a player a choice of rectification, the Director explains the options and sees that the choice is made and implemented.
(Old 1997 Law)
If a Law gives a player a choice among penalties, the Director explains the options and sees that a penalty is selected and paid.
 

D. Director's Option

The Director rules any doubtful point in favor of the non-offending side. He seeks to restore equity. If in his judgment it is probable that a non-offending side has been damaged by an irregularity for which these Laws provide no rectification, he adjusts the score (see Law 12).
(Old 1997 Law)
If the Law gives the Director a choice between a specified penalty and the award of an adjusted score, he attempts to restore equity, resolving any doubtful point in favor of the non-offending side.
 

E. (Old 1997 Law Removed)
    Discretionary Penalty

If an irregularity has occurred for which no penalty is provided by law, the Director awards an adjusted score if there is even a reasonable possibility that the non-offending side was damaged, notifying the offending side of its right to appeal (see Law 81C9).

See Duplicate Decisions

When the Director is called upon to rule on a point of law or regulation in which the facts are not agreed upon, he shall proceed as follows:

A. Director's Assessment

1. In determining the facts, the Director shall base his view on the balance of probabilities, which is to say in accordance with the weight of the evidence he is able to collect.
2. I f the Director is then satisfied that he has ascertained the facts, he rules as in Law 84.
(Old 1997 Law)
If the Director is satisfied that he has ascertained the facts, he rules as in Law 84.
 

B. Facts Not Determined

If the Director is unable to determine the facts to his satisfaction, he makes a ruling that will permit play to continue.
(Old 1997 Law)
If the Director is unable to determine the facts to his satisfaction, he shall make a ruling that will permit play to continue, and notify the players of their right to appeal.

See Duplicate Decisions

 

A. Average Score at IMP Play

When the Director chooses to award an artificial adjusted score of average plus or average minus in IMP play, that score is +3 IMPs or -3 IMPs respectively.
(New 2008 Law addendum)
Subject to approval by the Regulating Authority, this may be varied by the Tournament Organizer.
 

B. Non-balancing Adjustments, Knockout Play

When the Director awards non-balancing adjusted scores (see Law 12C) in knockout play, each contestant’s score on the board is calculated separately. The average of the two scores is then assigned to each contestant.
(Old 1997 Law)
When the Director assigns non-balancing adjusted scores (see Law 12C) in knockout play, each contestant's score on the board is calculated separately. The average of the two scores is then assigned to both contestants.
 

C. Substitute Board

The Director shall not exercise his Law 6 authority to order one board redealt when the final result of a match without that board could be known to a contestant. Instead, he awards an adjusted score.

C. Result Obtained at Other Table

In team play when the Director awards an adjusted score (excluding any award that ensues from application of Law 6D2), and a result has been obtained* between the same contestants at another table, the Director may assign an adjusted score in IMPs or total points (and should do so when that result appears favorable to the non-offending side).

* If commenced between the same two contestants at another table, the board may be completed.

See Duplicate Decisions

See Director Tech File

A. Definition

A board is considered to be “fouled” if the Director determines that a card (or more than one) was displaced in the board or if he determines that the dealer or vulnerability differed between copies of the same board, and the contestants who should have had a score comparison did not play the board in identical form for such reason.
(Old 199 Law)
A board is considered to be "fouled'' if the Director determines that one or more cards were misplaced in the board, in such manner that contestants who should have had a direct score comparison did not play the board in identical form.
 

B. Scoring the Fouled Board

In scoring a fouled board, the Director determines as closely as possible which scores were obtained on the board in its correct form and which in the changed form(s). He divides the scores on that basis into groups and rates each group separately as provided in the regulations for the tournament. (In the absence of a relevant regulation the Director selects and announces his method.)
(Old 1997 Law)
In scoring a fouled board the Director determines as closely as possible which scores were made on the board in its correct form, and which in the changed form. He divides the score on that basis into two groups, and rates each group separately as provided in the regulations of the sponsoring organization.

(Old 1997 Law Removed)
In some forms of team contests, the sponsoring organization may prescribe a redeal (see Law 6)

See Duplicate Decisions
 

See Law 12C2.

(Old 1997 Law Removed)
In a pair or individual event, when a non-offending contestant is required to take an artificial adjusted score through no fault or choice of his own, such contestant shall be awarded a minimum of 60% of the matchpoints available to him on that board, or the percentage of matchpoints he earned on boards actually played during the session if that percentage was greater than 60%.

See Duplicate Decisions

See Law 12C3.

(Old 1997 Law Removed)
In individual events, the Director shall enforce the penalty provisions of 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, in awarding adjusted scores, shall not assess procedural penalty points against the offender's partner, if, in the Director's opinion, he is in no way responsible for the violation.

See Duplicate Decisions

A. Director's Authority

Director’s Authority T he Director, in addition to implementing the rectifications in these Laws, may also assess procedural penalties for any offense that unduly delays or obstructs the game, inconveniences other contestants, violates correct procedure or requires the award of an adjusted score at another table.
(Old 1997 Law)
The Director, in addition to enforcing the penalty provisions of these Laws, may also assess penalties for any offense that unduly delays or obstructs the game, inconveniences other contestants, violates correct procedure, or requires the award of an adjusted score at another table.
 

B. Offenses Subject to Procedural Penalty

The following are examples of offenses subject to procedural penalty (but the offenses are not limited to these):
1. arrival of a contestant after the specified starting time.
2. unduly slow play by a contestant.
3. discussion of the bidding, play or result of a board which may be overheard at another table.
4. unauthorized comparison of scores with another contestant.
5. touching or handling of cards belonging to another player (see Law 7).
6. placing one or more cards in an incorrect pocket of the board.
7. errors in procedure (such as failure to count cards in one’s hand, playing the wrong board, etc.) that require an adjusted score for any contestant.
8. failure to comply promptly with tournament regulations or with instructions of the Director.

(Old 1997 Law)
Offenses subject to penalty include but are not limited to:

1. Tardiness

arrival of a contestant after the specified starting time.

2. Slow Play

unduly slow play by a contestant.

3. Loud Discussion

discussion of the bidding, play or result of a board, which may be overheard at another table.

4. Comparing Scores

unauthorized comparison of scores with another contestant.

5. Touching Another's Cards

touching or handling of cards belonging to another player (Law 7).

6. Misplacing Cards in Board

placing one or more cards in an incorrect pocket of the board.

7. Errors in Procedure

errors in procedure (such as failure to count cards in one's hand, playing the wrong board, etc.) that require an adjusted score for any contestant.

8. Failure to Comply

failure to comply promptly with tournament regulations or with any instruction of the Director.

See Duplicate Decisions

A. Director's Power

In performing his duty to maintain order and discipline, the Director is empowered to assess disciplinary penalties in points or to suspend a contestant for the current session or any part thereof. The Director’s decision under this clause is final and may not be overruled by an appeals committee (see Law 93B3).
(Old 1997 Law)
In performing his duty to maintain order and discipline, the Director is specifically empowered to assess disciplinary penalties in points or to suspend a contestant for the current session or any part thereof (the Director's decision under this clause is final).
 

B. Right to Disqualify

The Director is specifically empowered to disqualify a contestant for cause, subject to approval by the Tournament Committee or sponsoring organization.