Tournament Regulations

These regulations will govern play for all tournaments sponsored by Atlanta Elite Bid Whist.

Disclaimer:

The tournament director shall have the authority to overturn any calls made, and to adjust regulations as needed.

Main Event Tournaments will consist of 3 Rounds, 4 hands, and a Double Elimination Playoff Round.

• Only the top 8 teams will advance to the playoffs

• Players who advance to the playoff round may buy back in once for a fee of $50 per team during Round 1 of Playoff. Teams that buy back in after round 1 will participate in the Buy Back Quarter Finals. Please see "Double Elimination Playoff Regulations" for specific details related to Main Event Playoff play.

Minor Tournaments will consist of a standard 5 rounds and 4 hands.

Standard Tournament Payoff Qualifications Hierarchy:

1. Total Number of Sheets Won

2. Highest Score

3. Number of Hands Won

4. Number of Bostons Won

A. Dealer Selection

1. The dealer is selected by the player who receives the first diamond after the first cut before play begins.

B. Deal Procedures

1. The first four cards and the last four cards of the deal CANNOT be placed in the kitty.

2. The dealer must receive the last card.

3. In the event of a misdeal, i.e. the dealer does not receive the last card, the cards must be redealt by the same dealer.

4. If a bidder bids out of turn, the opposing team may choose one of two options:

   • The bids continue in the right order (disregarding the out of turn bid) after the out-of-turn bid (OOT), and the OOT bidder is silenced when his/her turn comes around; or

   • The opposing team may opt to have the cards redealt.

C. Play

1. Bidding is progressive. Minimum Bids - No Kitty: 1, Kitty: 4.

2. Bidding Convention - All bids will be written on the score sheet by each individual player. To indicate an uptown bid, the number only should be written. If the bid is a downtown bid, the number and a down arrow should be written. If a bid is a "no" bid, then the number and the letter "N" should follow the number.

3. Cards shall be played in the order that cards were dealt.

4. All cards shall remain untouched in a player's hand until it is said player's time to play.

5. Any card that is pulled prematurely shall be played, unless the card is not of the suit that has been called.

   • If a pulled card is of a different suit than what is called, and said player has the called suit in his/her hand, he/she shall play the correct suit; however,

   • the prematurely pulled card shall remain face down on the table until its suit has been called.

   • At the very next opportunity that the face down card's suit is called, the face down card must be played, NO EXCEPTIONS. If a player refuses to play the face down card at the next play of the same suit, a renege shall be called and ruled.

6. All Rounds will be timed for 18 minutes.

   • All hands must be dealt by the 18th minute.

   • If all hands assigned to a round have not been completed by the end of the timed round, the score will remain as is and be considered final at the completion of the current hand.

C. Renege

1. If a card is played that does not match the suit initially played, and the player of the card has the called suit in his/her hand but either intentionally or unintentionally plays a different suit, the player has committed a renege.

2. If a player plays out of turn, regardless of whether the card is the right suit or not, a renege shall be called.

3. If a player realizes he/she has the called suit after playing the incorrect suit, and makes the adjustment while the book is still on the table (before the book is closed), a renege shall not be enforced.

4. If the opposing team does not catch the renege before all cards are played, all playing and scoring shall proceed as normal.

5. When a renege is called and verified, the opposing team receives the original bid points only. The renege must be called before all cards are played.

   • If the opposing team wishes to continue play in an attempt to collect odds, they have the option of continuing play; however, if the reneging team wins the hand, the won hand shall remain in force, regardless of the renege.

D. Odds

1. Odds shall be awarded on the seventh book and every book received thereafter by the defending team.

2. Only Single Odds are awarded on No Bids.

3. The team that receives the winning bid earns points for the bid made and any additional books won.

E. Ruling on Technical Infractions

1. The Tournament Director has the final say on all tech calls.

F. Tournament Prize Payouts

1. Because Atlanta Elite Bid Whist Tournaments are fundraising events, only the top 3 places in each tournament will receive payouts.

2. In the final rounds in playoff tournament play, the top 4 teams may at their discretion choose to split the prize money according to mutually agreed upon conventions.