SE Carolina Online Rules and Etiquette

Convention Chart:  The ACBL Open Convention Chart is used in all SE North America Games.

Cheating will result in ejection from the game and being blocked from playing in future games

Game Setup:  When fully operational, SE North America may host the following game types at the designated times.  Check the two-week schedule listed on the website's homepage.  Times are Eastern Standard/Daylight Time.

Game Times                                   Game Type

Early Morning       9:30 am                  499   Limit game     7 min/board

Late Morning       11:30 am                 799   Limit game     7 min/board

Early Afternoon     1:00 pm              3000  Limit game     6.5 min/board

Late Afternoon      3:30 pm              Open  with stacked tables from limit games  6 min/board

Physical Challenges

If you have a physical challenge, please let the director know before the game.

Also, let your opponents know at the start of each round.

Zero Tolerance

Don't be overly sensitive

Report abuses immediately so that they can be properly investigated.

Deceptive Play

Intentional slow play of a singleton is an example of illegal deceptive play and will be treated as cheating.

Pychs, deceptive signals, etc. are part of the game that you need to learn to be aware of and to handle.

Director Ruling Appeals:

Do call the director if you think we made a mistake.  Yes, the director is fallible.

Do not argue with the Director about his/her ruling.

Call 910-457-6674 during the game or after the game ends.  We will review and discuss the hand with you and make adjustments as needed.

Alerts:  Click on the Alert stick, then explain your partner's bid per your partnership agreement in terms of cards in suit(s) and points.  Do not use convention names. 

No Alert:  Assume the bid is a natural Standard American bid.  Please alert/announce all the following:

• All artificial bids

• Range of 1 NT Open

• All Ace asking or Key card asking bids and their responses

• 3rd/4th seat overcall/X if they can be very weak.

• 3rd Seat Weak 2 Open if it can have 12-14 high card points

• 2+ C if 1C open can be bid with 4432 shape

• Cue bid that is a natural suit bid.  Example:1C-C2   Natural C bid and not Michaels.

Forgot to self-alert or realize you gave an incorrect or incomplete explanation

During the Auction: Inform the opponents.

After the Auction:

Declarer Inform Defenders as early as possible after the end of the auction

Defender Inform Declarers after the end of the play

Opponent Asks for a Bid Explanation

Describe your partnership agreement in cards in suit(s) and points.  Do not use the convention name.

If no agreement, say “No agreement”.  Common response if a sub or pickup partner.

If Natural 4+ suit bid, enter “Natural”

Call the Director if the opponent fails to provide an explanation or an inadequate explanation.  Note: if you are asked for more information than the opponent is entitled to, call the director.  Remember, you are describing your agreement, not what you have.

If the Opponent is asking for more information than they deserve, call the Director.

Planning Declarer Play and Defense

Declarer Play - doing the following will not be considered a break in tempo

Initial Plan - best done after the opening lead and then updated at the end of trick 1.

Updates - do after completion of a trick.

Defense - doing the following will not be considered a break in tempo

Initial Plan - best done at the end of the end of Trick 1.  Doing in the middle of a trick can be viewed as deceptive play or communicating unauthorized information.

Updates - do after completion of a trick.

Hesitations and Unauthorized Information

Try and maintain an even tempo in your bidding.  Avoid fast PASSes and hesitations.

Timed bidding: slow versus fast Opens to communicate information is cheating.

Uncontested Auction - yes there can be unauthorized information!

A slow PASS can say "I have something and want to bid but am just not strong enough."

A slow BID can say "I have a borderline hand, be careful."

Can  Partner bid after this occurs?

YES, if 75% of the field would make the bid ignoring the hesitation. 

NO, otherwise.  If a bid is made, call the director and request the hand be adjusted if it results in a better score. 

Example:  1H (6 losers) - P -  3C Alert (4 H's, 7-9 pts) with hesitation - P  :  4H   Contract will be adjusted to 3H 

Contested Auction:  Same rules as for Uncontested Auction

Clock and Slow Play - our goal is for everyone to finish the round within the allotted time

Keep one eye on the clock

Tempo

Try to maintain an even tempo each time you bid.

Try to maintain an even tempo each time you play a card.

Be patient.

Some players have health issues (e.g., stroke victims), and it takes them a little more time.

Some hands are hard.  It is not slow play when someone takes a little time to think.

There may be a problem: Internet drop.  Call the director if no response.

Persistent slow play will result in an AVG Minus score

Intentional slow play will result in the pair being ejected from the game! 

Claim or Concession

If a claim is made, only the opponents see the hands, not the person making the claim.

If the claim is not obvious, define the line of play.

Partial Claim:  Only use the partial claim with a defined line of play.  Be careful when you claim or accept a claim for less than all the remaining tricks.  It can be very confusing and is easy to miss.

Outstanding Trumps:  If there are outstanding trumps, there MUST be a defined line of play unless the Claimer is in the process of drawing trump, Call the Director.  Do not continue to play.

Reject Claim: 

If you do not understand the line of play, reject the claim.  Continue playing until the line of play becomes obvious.

If there is no defined line and you have a trick, call the Director.  Do not continue to play.

Rectifying an Invalid Claim:  Call the director.  He/she will review the hand and adjust the score if needed.  You may request a claim be reviewed after the game is complete.  If you cannot reach the director, call Al at 910-457-6674, and he will review the hand if he is available. 

Misclicks (To err is human!)  To minimize misclicks, set the Confirm Bid and Confirm Play settings to ON.

If the misclick is mechanical, the misclick may be corrected before the next player bids.  Do the best you can.

Do not tell the table or opponents.  You must play the hand as if you meant to make the bid.  If you have an opportunity per your CC to make an escape bid, do so.

If it appears that information was communicated in any way, the contract will be adjusted

Example: 1NT-P 2H (S's misclick for 2D)-P : 2S-P-3H (forcing)-P : P-P   Contract will be set to 4S

After the hand is completed, send a table chat explaining the mistake. It helps head off controversy. 

Convention Card (CC)

Post a complete convention card, including signals.  Keep it up to date!

If Opponents have no CC or missing information, assume they are using Standard American bids and standard signals, or ask them.

Call the Director after the hand if you think you were damaged.

Missing Player  Causes: lost internet, bio break, went to sleep, etc.

Call the Director.

 Director Call After the Game Ends

After the game ends, call the director to your table.  If the Director is gone, call Al at 910-457-6674.  The director generally is there until about 10 minutes after the game.  An adjustment can generally be made.