Here is a little list of pointers I devised (mostly for novices) which you might wish
to add to your list of whatevers--or just destroy along with other unwanted  junk 
mail.

                                   SUGGESTIONS

1. Count your cards before bidding. Winding up with, say 10 or 15 cards late in the
 hand will not be fun for anyone -- although you can get much better acquainted 
with the Director that way.

When counting your cards, do so with the cards Face Down. If you don't and 
therefter find that you have too many cards which you have seen, not only will you 
not be allowed to play that hand, but you will get a dreaded Average Minus 
[Actually, there are a lot of times I would have been delighted with such a score.]

3. Another common way to see a lot of the Director is to bid out of turn. Although 
you may have such a good (or bad) hand that you may wish to announce it 
quickly, you should first check the Board to see if in fact you are the Dealer before 
making the first bid.

In sum, bidding and leading out of turn will result in a lot of noise and delay which 
other players will not appreciate no matter how good a person you are.

4. After the bidding concludes, you may wish to leave the bidding cards on the 
table for a moment so that you or others can refresh their memory about the 
bidding without later having to ask orally about it before the opening lead.

5. Similarly, after a play of the cards, any player who wishes to think more 
carefully about which cards were played (and why) may require the cards to 
remain on the table simply by leaving her card Face Up. If others have put theirs 
away too soon, you then legitimately may require them to turn their cards face up 
again.

However, if your card has been placed face down, other players are not Required 
to accede even to a tearful request to see what previously was played.

6. At the end of the play of a hand, do not toss your cards all over the table -- 
even if they are losers. In other words, always keep all your cards in your very 
own pile.

7 At the conclusion of play of the hand, IMMEDIATELY replace your cards (and 
yours alone) in the proper slot of the Board.

Never, never, never should there be more than one set of cards outside its 
respective slot after play is concluded. (Please read this again.)

8. Being experienced players, you know that North scores the result on the line 
bearing North's number (this may vary depending whether Mitchell or Howell is 
played).

9. So, at the end of play, let North, the designated scorer, be the first one to 
remove, look at and score the Traveler before determining what lesser players did 
previously. I.e., please don't ask the scorer how others did while she is trying to 
do her job. Also, North's first responsibility is to insert the score of the hand on the 
traveler; she can do her personal score later, should she keep one.

10. After play of the hand, there should be no oral discussion of any score ecause:

     a.) Oral discussion creates noise and distracts players who still are playing 
          after your more efficient conclusion of the hand.
     b.) Oral discussion of scores may give keen, alert ears at other tables vastly 
           superior knowledge as to what they should bid, thus harming one set of 
           players at your table, as well as elsewhere
     c.) Oral discussion slows the round.
     d.) Recriminations should be left until after the round (or the entire game) is 
          over -- no matter how badly your partner bid or played the hand. A virulent 
          email to him later on is even better, and rather fun to send.
 
11. After scoring, North should pass the Traveler around so others, if they wish, 
may see the previous results -- but without oral discussion. However, a "hmmm" 
or a"humph" should be sufficient to let your partner know what you truly think of 
his bidding or play.

If you absolutely, desperately Must talk about the score, PLEASE WHISPER.

12. After conclusion of your round, please do not chat or chatter (except, perhaps, 
in the faintest of whispers) -- no matter how interesting your latest cruise or 
shopping expedition was. Other less efficient folks may still be trying to 
concentrate on how to find a way to beat your score.

Of course, if there is but only One table holding up everyone else, then everyone 
should TALK LIKE CRAZY. Maybe, just maybe, the dawdlers will get the point that 
they should speed matters up because everyone else has concluded.  

13. Above all else, please remember to SNAP your bidding and playing cards 
Vigorously and Smartly.  (Ed: Just a joke!!)

Yours for better bridge,


Bruce Bevan