Rules

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TOURNAMENT FORMAT

The tournament will consist of eight rounds of 50 minutes or 500 points, whichever comes first. Tournament standings will be determined by wins/losses with total points scored used to break ties.

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TABLE ROTATION

Each team will draw a number before the start of the tournament. Teams drawing numbers with an "A" suffix will be assigned to the corresponding table and will not move for the duration of the tournament. Teams drawing numbers with a "B" suffix will be assigned to the corresponding table and will rotate to the next higher-numbered table after each round.

If there are an odd number of teams the team receiving the bye will receive the average of the score of the winning teams for that round.

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SCOREKEEPERS

One person from each team will keep score. The scorekeeper will verify that the correct players are at the table. Each scorekeeper will enter the round and team numbers and player names in the appropriate places on their score sheet. Each scorekeeper will record, add, and total scores on the score sheet. After each hand each team's score sheet will be compared and verbally verified for accuracy by the opponent's scorekeeper. At the end of the round one score sheet will be selected, signed by the scorekeeper and countersigned by one opponent. That score sheet will be submitted to the tournament recorder. Note that scorekeepers are solely responsible for the accuracy of the score sheet that is submitted to the tournament recorder. The tournament recorder is not responsible for any errors and will not make any corrections. No changes will be made to any score sheet once it has been submitted to the tournament recorder. As a courtesy, please do not ask the tournament recorder to inform you of your team's relative position in the tournament. Standings will only be announced upon tournament completion.

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EXCEPTIONS TO THE NEXT TWO RULES WILL BE GRANTED TO THOSE PLAYERS WHO ARE PHYSICALLY RESTRICTED FOR ANY REASON TO A DEGREE WHICH PREVENTS COMPLIANCE.

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SHUFFLE

At the beginning of each round, it is suggested that the cards be cut by all four players, and high card deals first. Any other method of determination of first dealer agreed to by all players at the table is acceptable. The cards are to be handled by the dealer who is required to shuffle them. They are to be shuffled a minimum of three times. The cards are to be offered to be cut to the player to the dealer’s right. If a player cuts, the cards are only cut once with no less than four cards involved on either side of the cut.

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DEALING AND CARD PLAY

Cards will be dealt four or five at a time. The deal will be rotated in a clockwise direction for each hand. There will be no misdeal after the deal is completed. It is the responsibility of each player to ensure he/she has 20 cards in hand before the play of the hand is initiated. If at the end of a hand a player is without cards, the remaining cards will go with the last book turned. When the first card of the next trick has been played, the book is closed. Tricks must be kept in order of occurrence by the player collecting the tricks. A player may not replace a card once it has been released from the player’s hand in order to prevent the opposing team from having a counter. A card laid is a card played with the exception of a renege (see below).

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BIDDING

Bidding begins to the dealer's left and continues clockwise. The lowest bid is 50 and continues in multiples of 1 until 60 and in multiples of 5 after 60. The ONLY allowable bids are PASS or a bid that includes all the numbers such as fifty-one, fifty-two, and so forth. A (by me) or (save) type bid constitutes a renege. All players must bid in turn. The last player to bid will name trump. There will be a 20 minimum rule for meld and tricks and the bidder must have a marriage to name trump. If the team with the bid had no marriage, their cards must be shown to the opponents, they are deemed board set and the hand is not played. If it is discovered that the team with the bid has a marriage the hand must be played. If the team with the bid cannot make board, their cards must be shown to the opponents, they are deemed board set, the opponents receive their meld (if 20 plus) and the hand is not played.

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MELDING

It is the responsibility and legal right of all players to see and count the meld of all players. Meld will not be returned to the hand until recorded on each score sheet. No one will meld prior to trump being declared. The first marriage laid on the table will constitute trump for that hand. No meld will be counted after the first card is played. Aces must be declared if the team cannot otherwise make board. When declaring aces all four aces must be placed on the table.

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RENEGES

A renege occurs when a player fails to follow suit, fails to beat the falling cards, fails to trump where possible when out of a suit, fails to declare aces, improperly bids (uses "by me" or "I'll save" type bids) or bids out of turn. STOP PLAY AND CALL THE TD TO THE TABLE IMMEDIATELY! The person/team calling the renege will inform the TD of the nature of the renege and identify at least 2 of the 4 cards in the trick where the cards are located that will prove that the renege took place. A player cannot be forced to renege. Therefore, in order to avoid a renege, the player has the privilege of correcting the play before the trick is closed. If during play a renege is called and not proven, the player calling the renege has committed a renege and the renege penalty is assessed to that team.

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PENALTIES

If a renege is committed, 100 points will be deducted from the score of the team committing the renege. Exception - if the bid is over 100, then the penalty for that renege shall be the amount of the bid. The opposing team will score their meld (if over 20) and 50 trick points.

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TABLE TALK AND KIBITZING

Table talk is considered cheating and will not be tolerated. This includes, but is not limited to facial gestures, table tapping, hand signaling, gaps in cards (i.e. to designate strong suits), raising particular cards higher than others, signaling of any kind and/or verbalization of any kind with reference to bidding, cards or playing strategy. Any person who kibitzes by advising play strategy to any player while the round is underway is considered cheating and will not be tolerated. This includes any person in the tournament room at any time during the active round. STOP PLAY AND CALL THE TD TO THE TABLE IMMEDIATELY! CHEATING OF ANY KIND WILL NOT BE TOLERATED AND WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE DISQUALIFICATION OF THE TEAM FROM THE REMAINDER OF THE TOURNAMENT AND NO ENTRY FEES WILL BE REFUNDED.

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BOSTONS

A Boston will consist of one team winning all 20 tricks in a hand and will be awarded an automatic win. A TD must be present to view the last trick of the hand so that the win can be verified.

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!! SET CUP – SATURDAY ONLY !!

The tournament recorder will have a plastic cup. If and when a team goes set, that hand is circled on the score sheet and the players from the set team will put 50 cents each in the cup.

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!! SPECIALS - SATURDAY ONLY !!

A special will consist of one player who is dealt a double run, double aces, double kings, double queens, double jacks and/or triple pinochle or better in one hand. Specials will also be awarded to both members of a team who pull a Boston. The scorekeeper will place that player’s name of the special or both players of a team in the event of a Boston in a container. A player can have more than one entry if a player receives more than one dealt special. At the end of the tournament one player’s name will be drawn and will receive 100% of the “set” money.

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!! 50/50 – SATURDAY ONLY !!

Tickets will be sold between each round for a 50/50 drawing. The price will be 3 for $1 or 20 for $5. The tickets will be placed into a container and one ticket drawn for 50% of the money paid. The balance of the money will be aggregated with the prize fund.