THE COLUMBUS WHIST
PLAYERS SOCIETY
CARD PLAYING RULES & PROCEDURES

A. GAME FORMAT:

  1. NO KITTY
  2. PROGRESSIVE BIDDING: EACH BID MUST BE , AT LEAST, ONE NUMBER HIGHER THAN THE PREVIOUS BID, EXCEPT FOR A NO-TRUMP.
  3. FIVE (5) POINTS NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE IS GAME.
  4. TWO (2) SETS IS A LOSS, REGARDLESS OF THE SCORE.
  5. IF OPPOSING TEAM MAKES SEVEN (7) BOOKS OR MORE ON YOUR BID, THE BIDDING TEAM LOSES.
  6. IF A RENEGE IS CALLED AND PROVEN, THE TEAM THAT RENEGES LOSES. IF NOT PROVEN, THE CHALLENGING TEAM LOSES THE GAME.

B. THE DEAL IS:

  1. THE DEALER WILL BE THE PERSON WHO IS DEALT THE FIRST JACK UP. ANY ONE OF THE PLAYERS MAY DEAL FOR THE FIRST JACK. THE OPPOSING TEAM HAS THE OPTION OF CUTTING THE DECK BEFORE DEALING FOR THE JACK.
  2. THE CUT IS PERFORMED WITH THE DECK REMAINING ON THE TABLE, USING ONE (1) HAND AND SEPARATING THE CARDS ONE TIME, WITH A MINIMUM OF FIVE (5) CARDS AND THE CARDS CANNOT BE COUNTED OFF THE DECK. IF THE CARDS ARE CUT IMPROPERLY TWO (2) TIMES, THE CUTTING TEAM WILL BE PENALIZED ONE (1) SET. IF THEY ALREADY HAVE A SET, THEN THE PENALTY WILL BE EQUAL TO TWO (2) SETS AND WILL LOSE THE GAME.
  3. THE INITIAL DEALER IS THE PERSON WHO RECEIVED THE FIRST JACK. THE DEAL PROCEEDS CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ONLY.
  4. IF A CARD ( ANY CARD) IS EXPOSED WHILE DEALING, THERE MUST BE A REDEAL BY THE SAME PERSON WHO WAS DEALING.
  5. IF ALL PLAYERS PASS, THE DEALER MUST BID A MINIMUM OF TWO (2), TWO SPECIAL, OR TWO NO-TRUMP VERBALLY. ANY BID OVER TWO MUST BE HONORED.

C. THE BID IS:

  1. ALL BIDDING MUST BE VERBAL.
  2. ALL PASSES MUST BE VERBAL.
  3. THE MINIMUM BID IS ONE (1), ONE SPECIAL OR ONE NO-TRUMP.
  4. IF ALL PLAYERS PASS, THE DEALER MUST BID A MINIMUM OF TWO (2), TWO (2) SPECIAL, OR TWO (2) NO-TRUMP. ANY BID OVER TWO (2) MUST BE HONORED.
  5. NO PLAYER MAY BID OUT OF TURN. NO PLAYER MAY MAKE A BID THAT IS NOT PROGRESSIVE OR THAT GIVES INAPPROPRIATE INFORMATION TO ONE’S PARTNER. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE OPPOSING TEAM HAS THE OPTION TO CONTINUE PLAY CORRECTLY, PASS, OR REQUEST A REDEAL.

D. THE PLAY IS:

  1. NO PLAYER CAN PLAY OUT OF TURN. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE OPPOSING TEAM HAS THE OPTION TO CONTINUE PLAY CORRECTLY, PASS, OR REDEAL. IF THE TEAM WITH THE OPTION DOES NOT AGREE WITH EACH OTHER, THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR WILL DECIDE.
  2. THE PERSON AWARDED THE BID MUST NAME A TRUMP OR THE FIRST CARD PLAYED IS AUTOMATICALLY TRUMP. IF THE BID IS A NO-TRUMP, THE DIRECTION ( EITHER UP OR DOWN ) MUST BE STATED BEFORE THE FIRST CARD IS PLAYED, IF NOT STATED, THE OPPOSING TEAM HAS THE OPTION TO PLAY, PASS, OR REDEAL.
  3. THE PERSON AWARDED THE BID STARTS PLAY IN CLOCKWISE
    ( LEFT TO RIGHT ) ORDER.
  4. TRUMPS AUTOMATICALLY BOARD THEMSELVES, EXCEPT WHEN IT MAY CAUSE A RENEGE.
  5. EACH PLAYER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HAVING THIRTEEN ( 13 ) CARDS IN THEIR HAND BEFORE START OF PLAY. IF NOT, THERE MUST BE A REDEAL BY THE ORIGINAL DEALER.
  6. EVERY PLAYER HAS THE RIGHT TO SEE ALL THE CARDS PLAYED IN EACH BOOK. THE TEAM COLLECTING THE BOOK MUST ALLOW ALL FOUR CARDS TO BE SEEN BEFORE TURNING THE BOOK OVER ( APPROXIMATELY 5 – 10 SECONDS ). TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR MAY BE CALLED FOR RULING.
  7. ONCE ALL PLAYERS HAVE SEEN THE BOOK AND IT IS TURNED, IT MAY NOT BE REOPENED DURING PLAY UNLESS REQUESTED BY A TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR. IF THE BOOK IS REOPENED, THE OPPOSING TEAM WILL BE AWARDED THE GAME.
  8. EACH BOOK MUST BE CLOSED BEFORE THE CORRECT PLAYER LEADS THE NEXT CARD.
  9. ALL BOOKS MUST BE KEPT IN ORDER BY ONE MEMBER OF EACH TEAM. ORDER IS: ONE (1) STRAIGHT LINE, NEATLY STACKED. IF NOT, THE VIOLATING TEAM WILL BE PENALIZED ONE (1) SET. IF THEY ALREADY HAVE A SET, THE PENALTY WILL BE EQUAL TO TWO (2) SETS AND WILL LOSE THE GAME.
  10. NO ONE CAN EXPOSE THEIR CARDS UNLESS ALL FOUR (4) PLAYERS AGREE THE GAME IS OVER. IF EXPOSED AND NOT AGREED UPON, THE PLAY SHALL BE CONTINUED. ( ALL HANDS MUST BE PLAYED OUT ).
  11. ONCE PLAY STARTS, IF THE BIDDING TEAM DEALT AND IS SHORT OF CARDS, THE BIDDING TEAM MISSES THE BID.
  12. ONCE PLAY STARTS, IF THE BIDDING TEAM DID NOT DEAL AND IS SHORT OF CARDS, THE OPPOSING TEAM HAS THE OPTION TO ACCEPT THE HAND OR REDEAL.
  13. ONCE PLAY STARTS, IF THE BIDDING TEAM DEALT AND THE OPPOSING TEAM IS SHORT OF CARDS, THE BIDDING TEAM HAS THE OPTION TO ACCEPT THE HAND OR REDEAL.
  14. ONCE PLAY STARTS, IF THE BIDDING TEAM DID NOT DEAL AND THE OPPOSING TEAM IS SHORT OF CARDS, THE BIDDING TEAM HAS THE OPTION TO ACCEPT THE HAND OR REDEAL.
  15. IF YOUR PARTNER PLAYS OUT OF TURN, AND IT IS YOUR TURN TO PLAY, YOU CAN NOT LEAD THAT SAME SUIT BACK. IF THIS HAPPENS THE OPPOSING TEAM HAS THE OPTION TO CONTINUE PLAY OR REDEAL.

E. RENEGE IS: GAME !!!

  1. IF THE RENEGE IS PROVEN, THE GAME IS AWARDED TO THE CHALLENGING TEAM.
  2. IF THE RENEGE CANNOT BE PROVEN, THE GAME IS AWARDED TO THE ACCUSED TEAM.
  3. A TEAM CALLING A RENEGE MAY GO THROUGH ALL THE BOOKS WITH THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR PRESENT.
  4. A TEAM CALLING A RENEGE MUST DO SO BEFORE 10 SECONDS HAVE ELAPSED AFTER THE LAST BOOK IS TURNED OVER.
  5. ONCE A BOOK IS CLOSED, A RENEGE CAN NOT BE CORRECTED BY THE TEAM THAT RENEGED.
  6. A PERSON CAN NOT BE FORCED TO RENEGE ! IF THEY DISCOVER THE ERROR BEFORE THE BOOK IS CLOSED, THEY CAN PICK UP THEIR CARD AND PLAY CORRECTLY AND EVERYONE BEHIND THEM MAY CHOOSE TO PICK UP THEIR CARD AND PLAY CORRECTLY.

*** TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR ***

  1. ONCE A TOURNAMENT IS UNDERWAY, ANY PERSON THAT LEAVES THE TOURNAMENT AND A SUBSTITUTE IS NOT DESIGNATED BY THAT PERSON OR THEIR PARTNER, THAT PERSON WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM TOURNAMENT PLAY FOR ONE (1) MONTH.

  2. ONCE THE TOURNAMENT ROUND BEGINS, ALL PLAYERS ARE EXPECTED TO BE SEATED. IF NOT SEATED WITHIN THREE (3) MINUTES ONCE PLAY IS UNDERWAY, THE PENALTY IS FORFEITURE OF THAT GAME.
  3. THERE WILL BE NO TALKING ACROSS THE BOARD DURING PLAY. NO SIGNALING, INCLUDING SLAMMING CARDS OF ANY KIND. PLAYERS MAY TALK ABOUT THE HAND AFTER IT IS PLAYED AND BEFORE THE NEXT HAND IS DEALT. ANY INFRACTIONS OR SUSPECTED CHEATING SHOULD BE REPORTED TO A TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR IMMEDIATELY. THIS COULD RESULT IN REMOVAL FROM TOURNAMENT WITH NO $$$$ MONEY REFUNDED.
  4. THE ONLY QUESTIONS THAT CAN BE ASKED, BY THE PLAYING TEAMS,  DURING TOURNAMENT PLAY ARE:
  1. WHAT IS THE BID ?
  2. WHO DEALT?
  3. WHAT SUIT WAS LEAD ?
  4. WHAT IS TRUMP ?
  5. WHAT IS THE SCORE ?

THERE WILL BE NO SIDELINE DISCUSSION OR GESTURES BY ANY TOURNAMENT PARTICIPANT(S) WHILE GAMES ARE IN PROGRESS.
VIOLATORS WILL BE SUBJECT TO FORFEITURE OF A GAME FOR EACH OCCURRENCE.

**** NOTE **** IF A PLAYER WALKS OUT OR QUITS AND A SUBSTITUTE IS NOT AVAILABLE, THE PARTNER CANNOT CONTINUE TO PLAY;
NO $$$$ MONEY $$$$ WILL BE REFUNDED.

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