When to call the Director?

Bridge Club, North Sydney, Gordon, Killara, Chatswood, Roseville, Mosman, Willoughby, Lindfield, Castle Cove

When is it right to call the Director? 

The short answer is "all the time", it is a misnomer that a Director is called only when someone has done something wrong.  Just like in all sports, there is a referee or an umpire, this is what part of the Directors' function is.  Apart from managing the session, they are there to:

  1. Assist with the rules should clarification be required
  2. Help when an infringement may or may not have happened and the next steps
  3. Facilitate an environment for a friendly game of Bridge

Below is a note from Sue Crompton

I have been directing for a long time now and see lots of interesting bids at the table.  When we first learned bridge there were so many rules and you can’t learn everything at once.  

Here are some helpful reminders.

  • Firstly, calling the director is just part of the game of bridge and the director is there to help if anything goes wrong.  Please never feel that you are in trouble or too embarrassed to ask The Director anything - that is what we are here for.
  • Don’t forget to alert all bids that are not natural.  Plus announce your 1NT opening strength.  The only exception is Stayman over 1NT.  Bids over 3NT do not need to be alerted. 
  • If you are unsure what to do, if something unusual has happened - and let's face it - it often can.  Call the Director, you can ask them and they will clarify and all will end well!
  • If you are unsure of what a bid means when it is your turn you can ask the opponent's partner what the bid means.
  • When you are bidding, it does take time but when you take longer than normal to make a bid and then pass, the rules are very strict.  Your partner is allowed to bid but it makes things more complicated, when this happens the director should be called, and they can make a ruling and explain what the issues are. This is for everyone's benefit, because as I said it is complicated!
  • Please don’t be upset if the Director gets called to the table.  We are here to help, you are not in trouble - clarification is required by one of the players and the safest way to do this without breaking a rule is to ask the Director.
  • 98.5% of the people at the table are very friendly and make the game of bridge fun.  However, sometimes I see people being rude to their partner or the opposition, this is uncalled for and not a pleasant situation for anyone.  Please make sure you call the director for any behavior that makes you feel uncomfortable.  We want you to have a pleasant game, if the Director doesn't know about it, they cannot help.

Hope to see you soon.

Sue