bridgetalk.com forums :: Laws & Rulings

jones.j.d.

Rule of 19 ( 16:09:23 MonMay 5 2003 )

Country: wales

What is the background to this rule.
Can players choose to ignore it?
What action can one take if a player habitually ignores the rule

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Re: Rule of 19 ( 03:36:21 TueMay 6 2003 )

Not sure what you mean by "background". As I understand it, the rule of 19 (or 18, or whatever) was originally formulated as a hand evaluation guideline. It has since been adopted in regulations of some NCBOs, notably the EBU.

The regulation, for Level 2 contests in England and Wales is, from the Orange Book:

12.2.1
Minimum opening bids.
� The minimum agreement for opening 1-of-a-suit is Rule of 19, or 11 HCP; except
You may open a natural 1-of-a-suit that may be weaker than this by agreement, but only if you do not play any conventional calls thereafter.

You may not open conventional 1-of-a-suit that may be weaker than this by agreement.
The minimum agreement for suit length for 1

or 1

is four cards; except
You may open 1

or 1

on 3 cards by agreement but only if you do not play any conventional calls thereafter.

So, while you can't (in the EBU) ignore this regulation, you aren't necessarily required to limit your 1 openings to those that satisfy the Rule of 19.

If a player habitually ignores the regulation, let the TD know.

bluejak

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Re: Rule of 19 ( 01:43:46 WedMay 7 2003 )

Ed is correct. Note that what may be played in Wales is the same as in England {except that in Wales you may also play the Newport Club}.

What do we do if someone habitually ignores it? We treat him the same as any other breaker of rules: make sure he knows what he is doing is illegal, and then if he contuinues throw him out of the club. If it is in WBU events you would report him to the Laws & Ethics Committee.

As to your question whether a player can choose to ignore it the answer is that players may not ignore any of the rules of bridge, whether Laws or Regulations.

Note that while the EBU uses the term Rule of 19 I wish they would not: there are several different uses of this term. In Australia they would say "You have to have 19 Opening Points" which is an unambiguous term.

The last point is that this rule covers agreements: if a pair have a legal agreement then the fact that they deviate by one point on one occasion does not mean they have done anything wrong. But a player who regularly is weaker than this has an agreement with his partner {explicit or implicit} to play an illegal system.

---
David Stevenson <laws2@blakjak.com>
Liverpool, England, UK
http://blakjak.com/lws_menu.htm

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bluejak

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International Bridge Laws Forum

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International Bridge Laws Forum

If you need help with the Laws or rulings from any country in the world, this is the place!Hosted by David StevensonSenior Consultant DirectorEnglish Bridge Union

If you need help with the Laws or rulings from
any country in the world, this is the place!

Hosted by David Stevenson
Senior Consultant Director
English Bridge Union