The Laws are designed to define correct procedure and to provide an adequate remedy whenever a player accidentally, carelessly or inadvertently disturbs the proper course of the game, or gains an unintentional but nevertheless unfair advantage. An offending player should be ready to pay a prescribed penalty graciously.

These Laws do not deal with dishonorable practices; ostracism is the ultimate remedy.

The object of the Proprieties is to familiarize players with the customs and etiquette of the game, generally accepted over many years, and to enlighten those who might otherwise fail to appreciate when or how they are improperly conveying information to their partners, or are acting on the basis of improper information.

Most players will find the Laws and the Proprieties sufficient to their needs. Some, however, may wish to adopt procedures to reduce the risk that, unintentionally, extraneous information is given to partners, or proper information is withheld from opponents. Possible procedures, very similar to those successfully used in competitive bridge, are set out in appendices 1, 2 and 3. Note that these appendices are not part of the Laws or the Proprieties of Rubber Bridge.