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6/12/08 David Stevenson: Unauthorized Information--during the Play
Unauthorized information during the play may arise from hesitations, a question about a bid, or implications from a penalty card. Penalty card implications might be that partner wanted to lead that card, or that partner might have a sequence headed by that card.
The method of dealing with unauthorized information (UI) in the play is identical to the method during the bidding. First, you summon the Director to establish there was UI. Then, you recall the Director at the end of play to look at the hand. Make sure that players do NOT shuffle their cards! The Director needs to consider the play in making a ruling on the result of the UI.
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6/5/08 Unit 114 Website: Unauthorized Information--from the Alert System
The alert system is for the benefit of the opponents—it is unauthorized information for you & your partner. The lack of an alert is also unauthorized information. Whether your prior bid was alerted or not, your next call should be based on the cards in your hand, the opponents' bidding (at your own risk), partner's earlier bidding and the assumption that partner recognized the meaning of your prior bid. (Take the opponents' hesitations and discomfort into consideration at your own risk also.)
If you become the declaring side, you--whether dummy or declarer--now have the requirement to inform the opponents before the opening lead of any misexplanations or disagreements. The defenders may call the director if either (or both) feels their side has been damaged.
If you are defending, wait until play is over and then explain. If declarer feels damaged, he/she should call the director.
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6/3/08 Bob Gruber: Convention Card
The Convention Card is for the benefit of you and your partner before the game begins. During the auction and during the play of a hand, it is for the benefit of the opponents. It is forbidden fruit for you or your partner to "sneak a peek" during those times.
As long as it won't slow the game, it's fine for you to personally review and/or discuss your conventions briefly between hands and more extensively between rounds, but limit your reviews to those times. Additionally, at the table, the card should be turned to be easily read by an opponent, NOT by you.
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6/2/08 Dick Wagner: Stop Card
The Stop Card should be treated the same as an oral announcement of Stop: the next player waits the required time before bidding. It doesn’t matter when the card is put back in the box, the next player waits the required time before making a call.
That time is 10 seconds. Be aware that at the table 10 seconds of silent waiting seems interminable. Too long for most of us to endure, but make a stab at it; at least make a noticeable pause before bidding. After all, it's not like a yellow traffic light that so many drivers interpret as a signal to floorboard it and zip through the intersection no matter what.
Also, be aware that the Stop Card is the bidding box equivalent of the original, verbal “Skip bid, please wait” warning. The skip bid warning had a dual purpose: a) to reduce insufficient bids following a jump, and b) to prevent a fast pass from conveying a hand too weak to have anything at all to think about, especially in a competitive auction.
Finally, are you and your partner consistent in your use of the Stop Card? During a session, if either one of you uses it, even once, do you both use it each and every time it's applicable? You should! Either you always use it when you skip the bidding, or you never use it. You don't pick and choose and you don't use it randomly. Please, be consistent.
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