ARLINGTON DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB:
THE RULES WE FOLLOW
Revised 6/17/2009

At Arlington Duplicate Bridge Club (ADBC), the members have agreed to establish and follow certain guidance and rules in an effort to enhance the enjoyment of the game for all concerned.

All who play at ADBC are expected to follow the established rules. Players are encouraged to work together to promote an enjoyable and ethical playing atmosphere. Game Directors are required to enforce the agreed upon rules. The Board of Directors is empowered to ensure that all game directors follow and enforce the rules during the games they direct.

1. Zero Tolerance.

ADBC has adopted the ACBL’s Zero Tolerance Policy to help promote a more enjoyable playing atmosphere. This policy is posted at the club. Please take the time to review the policy and follow the guidance it provides. Violations should be reported to the Game Director immediately.

2. Slow Play Policy.

BRIDGE IS A TIMED EVENT. Playing within the established timeframe displays courtesy for your partner, the game director, and your opponents.

The Game Director is expected to set a time standard for play of boards that is appropriate for the level of the players in a given game and to enforce that standard to avoid undue delays in play and movement.

The duration of rounds for games without masterpoint limitations should not exceed:
2 boards=15 minutes . . . 3 boards=20 minutes . . . 4 boards = 25-26 minutes

For games with masterpoint limitations, the director may make needed adjustments to allow new or less experienced players adequate time. The director of any game may choose to add time to the game clock and announce a "hospitality break" to allow a multitude of slower players to regain pace prior to the next round, but this should never become a routine practice.

If a game director determines that a pair is consistently slow during the game, the director may choose to give slow players a "late play", or may immediately choose to make an appropriate scoring adjustment. The director may give the slow playing pair an "average minus" and their non-offending opponents an "average plus" on the board in question, or the director may mark a board as "not played" if it is not clear which pair contributed to the slow play. No pair shall be allowed more than one late play per session. It is the policy of ADBC that the Director’s decisions regarding pace of play and adjustments for slow play are not subject to appeal.

3. Completed Convention Cards.

It is an ACBL regulation for each pair to have on hand two identical convention cards denoting partnership agreements. The completed convention card is for information and use by the opponents. It is considered discourteous to not bring a completed convention card to the table for the opponents to refer to. As a club rule at ADBC, every pair MUST have at least one copy of a correct convention card for the opponents’ use. If one is not available, the director may require the pair to play Standard American Yellow Card (copies available at the club).

4. Late arrivals.

It is considered discourteous to both partner and opponents to arrive late to a session. If something unplanned causes a late arrival, players are asked to try to contact either their partner or the club so other arrangements can be made in the interim.

5. Cell phones.

Following ACBL policy and guidance, cell phones are to be turned OFF during any playing session. If an important call is expected and cannot be avoided, inform the game director and leave your cell phone with the director for appropriate coordination. Note: It is expected that players will only keep cell phones on during a session for legitimately urgent matters (e.g. medical reasons). Directors are empowered to assess procedural penalties for violation of this policy.

Posted March 2007
Revision Posted June 2009