Laws of Duplicate Bridge 17

Law 86
Team Play
A. Substitute Board
The Director shall not exercise his/her Law 6 authority to order one board re-dealt when the final result of a match without that board could be known to a contestant. Instead he/she awards an adjusted score.
B. Result Obtained at Other Table
1. Single Result Obtained
In team play when the Director awards an adjusted score and the result at the other table between the same contestants is clearly favourable to one side, the Director shall award an assigned adjusted score [see Law 12C1(c), but for multiple adjusted scores see B2 following].
2. Multiple Results Obtained at One or More Tables
In team play when two or more non-comparable results have been obtained between the same contestants or when these laws otherwise require the Director to award more than one adjusted score:
a). If no contestant was at fault, the Director shall cancel the board(s) and award one or more artificial adjusted scores [see Law 12C2] or, if time permits, play one or more substitute boards (but see A above).
b). If only one contestant was at fault, the Director shall award to the non-offending side, for each board in question, either an artificial adjusted score of average plus [see Law 12C2(b)] or an assigned adjusted score , whichever is more favourable. The offending side shall receive the complement of the score awarded to to their opponents.
c). If both contestants were at fault, the Director shall cancel the board(s) and award one or more artificial adjusted scores [see Law 12C2].
3. The Regulating Authority may provide differently for circumstances where boards have been played at only one table between the same or multiple contestants. The score awarded for each such board may be varied by regulation from that prescribed in B2, however in the absence of a relevant regulation the Director, proceeds as above.
Law 87
Fouled Board
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/she 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.
B. Pairs and Individual Scoring
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 seperately as provided in the regulations for the tournament. (In the absence of a relevant regulation the Director selects and announces his/her method).
C. Teams Scoring
See Law 86B2.
Law 88
Award of Indemnity Points
See Law 12C2.
Law 89
Rectification in Individual Events
See Law 12C3.
Law 90
Procedural Penalties
A. Director’s Authority
The Director, in addition to implementing the rectifications in these laws, may also assess procedural penalties for any offence that unduly delays or obstructs the game, inconveniences other contestants, violates correct procedure, or requires the award of an adjusted score.
B. Offence Subject to Procedural Penalty
The following are examples of offences subject to procedural penaly (but the offences are not limited to these):
1. Arrival of a contestant after the specified 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. Unauthorised 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.
Law 91
Penalise or Suspend
A. Director’s Powers
In performing his/her duty to maintain order and discipline, the Director is empowered to assess disciplinary penalties in points or to suspend a player or contestant for the current season or any part thereof. The Director’s decision under this clause is final (see Law 93B3).
B. Right to Disqualify
The Director is empowered to disqualify a player or contestant for cause, subject to the approval of the Tournament Organiser.