Rules & Conventions . Navigate Game Page/Floor
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RULES
The online-56 game offers two sets of rules in addition to the Open option, selectable by Chair 1, as agreed to by the players at a given Table. The two sets of rules are based on the rules of 56 tournaments in Kerala and North America and referred to here as Kerala Tournament Rules/Convention (KTC) and International Tournament Rules/Convention (ITC) respectively. An Open option is also included to accomodate significanti variantions.
All players will see them seated at the bottom chair on the screen with the other players seated relative to you. The chairs are identified 1 through 6 counterclockwise, with the 2 teams color coded Red and Blue.
The cards are dealt by the computer. The chair to lead the bidding is identified by L with subsequent bids moving counterclockwise. Bids are first entered into a ‘parking lot’. Clicking the BID button displays the bid against the bidder. A bid can be corrected using the CLEAR button before the BID button is clicked. Your turn to bid will be announced by a bell which will come in again after 10sec, to be repeated every 5 sec thereafter. A timer will also start against the player. PLEASE BID WITHOUT DELAY to make the game enjoyable for all. Click the Think button if you need extra time (more than 5 sec). Click the Hold Button if you need to handle an interruption.
Rules & Restrictions are programmed in to prevent violations.
The bid buttons are cleared from the table when a bid is final. The final bid is entered in the Score Board to the right of the table. The player to lead the 1st trick retains the L marker to lead the 1st trick. The winner of the trick clicks the FOLD button at the center of the table.
SETTINGS
The players can opt to display the running total points on the Score Board. Only Chair:1 has operational capability to operate the Settings button, while all players can see the settings.
The setting include selection of: Rules/Convention between Kerala, International or Open, starting bases (scores), chair to start Lead after resetting the Match Score at the end of a match, after Kunuks are awarded on the losing team, to retain continuity of lead even after a match, penalty multipliers for doubling (X) and redoubling (XX) bids, Play all tricks even after a game is determined won/lost. The current game can be deleted as well as a player removed. A crown is clicked to install kunuks. The number of live kunuks are also clicked and displayed on the chairs.
The online-56 game offers two sets of rules in addition to the Open option, selectable by Chair 1, as agreed to by the players at a given Table. The two sets of rules are based on the rules of 56 tournaments in Kerala and North America and referred to here as Kerala Tournament Rules/Convention (KTC) and International Tournament Rules/Convention (ITC) respectively. An Open option is also included to accomodate significanti variantions.
All players will see them seated at the bottom chair on the screen with the other players seated relative to you. The chairs are identified 1 through 6 counterclockwise, with the 2 teams color coded Red and Blue.
The cards are dealt by the computer. The chair to lead the bidding is identified by L with subsequent bids moving counterclockwise. Bids are first entered into a ‘parking lot’. Clicking the BID button displays the bid against the bidder. A bid can be corrected using the CLEAR button before the BID button is clicked. Your turn to bid will be announced by a bell which will come in again after 10sec, to be repeated every 5 sec thereafter. A timer will also start against the player. PLEASE BID WITHOUT DELAY to make the game enjoyable for all. Click the Think button if you need extra time (more than 5 sec). Click the Hold Button if you need to handle an interruption.
Rules & Restrictions are programmed in to prevent violations.
The bid buttons are cleared from the table when a bid is final. The final bid is entered in the Score Board to the right of the table. The player to lead the 1st trick retains the L marker to lead the 1st trick. The winner of the trick clicks the FOLD button at the center of the table.
SETTINGS
The players can opt to display the running total points on the Score Board. Only Chair:1 has operational capability to operate the Settings button, while all players can see the settings.
The setting include selection of: Rules/Convention between Kerala, International or Open, starting bases (scores), chair to start Lead after resetting the Match Score at the end of a match, after Kunuks are awarded on the losing team, to retain continuity of lead even after a match, penalty multipliers for doubling (X) and redoubling (XX) bids, Play all tricks even after a game is determined won/lost. The current game can be deleted as well as a player removed. A crown is clicked to install kunuks. The number of live kunuks are also clicked and displayed on the chairs.
CONVENTIONS
Rules lead to different conventions/treatments. The word ‘convention’ refers to the meaning of certain bids that are not so obvious under each set of rules, communicating support in a manner understood by all at the Table. Treatments constitute variations within the broad conventions. It is critial that all players at a Table understand the meaning of bids as understood by the partners of an opposing bidder. So it is perfectly fair to ask one of the partners of the bidder for all possible meanings of the bid.
Kerala Tournament Rules-Conventions (KTC) require the first part of a bid to be a number from 28 to 56. The second part is selected from one of the 4 Suits (as Trumps) or ‘Nos’, short for No-Trumps, played without a trup suit, where the highest card wins. ‘Nos’ is also code for absence of a suit and carries also other meanings. Bidding is compulsory for the 3rd partner of the team slated to open the bidding, with 4 prior Pass bids.
For International Tournament Rules-Conventions (ITC), bidding is compulsory for the 1st partner. ITC permits reverse bids, i.e., a suit followed by the bid count. In addition to ‘Nos’ to mean voids in suits, ITC permits ‘NT’ (also short for No Trumps) specifically to mean ability to win tricks with the highest cards in suits. ITC also permits Plus bids, either straight or reverse. A double (X) or redouble (XX) is a bet for additional scoring points. ITC does not permit the original bidder to bid again after an X, except to XX or raise his bid number to 40, 48 or 56. That is, all bids, including X, are final if 5 consecutive passes follow it, except as noted above. Also in ITC, a XX bid instantly becomes final.
Rules lead to different conventions/treatments. The word ‘convention’ refers to the meaning of certain bids that are not so obvious under each set of rules, communicating support in a manner understood by all at the Table. Treatments constitute variations within the broad conventions. It is critial that all players at a Table understand the meaning of bids as understood by the partners of an opposing bidder. So it is perfectly fair to ask one of the partners of the bidder for all possible meanings of the bid.
Kerala Tournament Rules-Conventions (KTC) require the first part of a bid to be a number from 28 to 56. The second part is selected from one of the 4 Suits (as Trumps) or ‘Nos’, short for No-Trumps, played without a trup suit, where the highest card wins. ‘Nos’ is also code for absence of a suit and carries also other meanings. Bidding is compulsory for the 3rd partner of the team slated to open the bidding, with 4 prior Pass bids.
For International Tournament Rules-Conventions (ITC), bidding is compulsory for the 1st partner. ITC permits reverse bids, i.e., a suit followed by the bid count. In addition to ‘Nos’ to mean voids in suits, ITC permits ‘NT’ (also short for No Trumps) specifically to mean ability to win tricks with the highest cards in suits. ITC also permits Plus bids, either straight or reverse. A double (X) or redouble (XX) is a bet for additional scoring points. ITC does not permit the original bidder to bid again after an X, except to XX or raise his bid number to 40, 48 or 56. That is, all bids, including X, are final if 5 consecutive passes follow it, except as noted above. Also in ITC, a XX bid instantly becomes final.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
KERALA "TOURNAMENT" RULES (KTR) & BIDDING CONVENTIONS
Bidding communicates strength of your hand from many factors: Length and strength of a suite; Number of Jacks for its potential to winning Tricks; Ability to trump if void in suit/s all determine potential ability to win Tricks. Remember, a Trick of 6 cards on an average has a potential 7 points.
The intent is for the team to come up with their best bid. Supporting bids is considered a priority to be able to arrive at the best bid possible. The 56 Card game is also called: Support. Since priority is given to supporting a bid over communicating your strength of suit,it is customery that the uspporting bidderis given a chance in the next round to make his own bid.
The key skillsets needed are to remember the bids and estimate all 6 hands, all the way thru the end of the game; remember progression of points made or lost and trumps remaining.
Ø All bids must start with a number 28 thru 56, unless you pass (P, Ps) your turn.
Ø Typically, you open a suit if you have 4 cards in the suit with a J. Let us say you bid 28/H, with J A K Q.
Ø If your partner 1 OR 2 has a J in H s/he should support you first, almost irrespective of another suit he might be strong in. You bid 29/H. It is customary that you are given a chance to bid again.
Ø If you have J-9 in H, you support with a bid jumping by 1 to 30/H. With J-9-9 you bid 31H and so on. If your 3rd partner has H Ace, she may bid 32/H, as the cards in sequence before it have been bid.
Ø You can bid a suit with J, without length early on in the rounds generally by skipping a round. Opening of a suit in the advanced stages only means a weak suit, with or without Jack. (Without Jack, sometimes to know if your partner is trumping it. Beware this can confuse your partners.)
Ø If you are void in a suit bid by either your partner or opponent, you can communicate it by bidding Nos (Ns) to it. In the above opening bid of 28/H, you can bid 29/Ns if you are void in H. If the opposing player bids 29/S, you have to jump bid to 31/Ns, jumping by the number of suits bid in between.
Ø If you have exactly J, J-J or 9, 9-9, etc. when you bid, you come back in the next round to bid Nos to it.
Ø You may also support a bid in J with a singleton card by bidding Nos on it, as you can trump it in the 2nd round. (Note: Trumping in the 2nd round may need a strong trump card, and usually more than 1 trump.)
Ø P1 bid 28/H, and P2 is strong in H but no J, P2 may bid 29/N and then bid H at the next opportunity*.
Ø If you have a hand to support the suits of both you partners’ bids, you support in the bid order.
Ø There are times when you need to disclose the length of your suit. Then you bid that suit again jumping the bid by the number of length you have not already clearly communicated.
Ø You may double (X) a bid by the opponent if you feel good about beating that bid. In turn the bidding team may redouble (XX) you too, tripling (?) the award. You double and triple (?) the rewards/penalty.
Nos (N, or Ns) bid also communicates a no-trump bid as detailed below. (The highest card in any suit always wins.)
Ø When partner 1 or 2 opens 28/N, 29/N, 30/N, etc., it means the bidder has 3, 4 or 5 Jacks respectively. Partners are expected to expose their jacks by bidding ‘Nos’, adding by the number of Jacks you have. (But you may disclose the suit if have at least 4 in length, instead of bidding the count of Jacks.)
Ø This applies to a singleton Jack also. Your problem with single jack is only when your partners do not have its Jack pair with them. All partners attempt to disclose the suits of jacks in the next rounds, unless it is a singleton where you do not have a chance to get the lead.
Ø If it is your lead and partner 3 has bid 28N and you have a single D-J and a 4 carder S without J, you’re your bid is advised to be 29/S. The 28/N here is a forced bid. If partner #3 has 3 Jacks and forced to bid, he must bid 29/N and 30/N with 3 and 4 Jacks respectively.
Ø Supporting a trump suit, normally should be given priority, if you have an appropriate hand instead of supporting with a count of Jacks. (If you have a length in the suit without J, you bid Ns to the suit*. This can mislead if P1 opened a suit, 28H, P2 bid 31Ns to communicate 3 Jacks and P3 has a length in H, w/o J.)
NOTE: The International Tournament Bidding Convention differs in that:
- Bid may not have to begin with 28-56, as long as it includes it. This is called a reverse bid. Ex: C/28.
- NT, specifically to mean a no-trump bid and Ns to mean void in a suit as in Kerala.
- Plus (+) bids. Ex: +2/ Ns/ 34, adds 2 to the previous bid of 32, or +2/C/34, etc.
- Compulsory bid is with the 1st Partner. Reward/penalty for Redouble is different.
INTERNATIONAL "TOURNAMENT" RULES (ITR) & BIDDING CONVENTIONS
Note: Penalty scores awarded on finalized Doubled or Redoubled bids are currently programmed as a selectable multiplyer in Playsoft for now. In some quarters, as cuttently with the International Tournament, extra points are added to the scores for Doubled bids.
Bidding communicates strength of your hand from many factors: Length and strength of a suite; Number of Jacks for its potential to winning Tricks; Ability to trump if void in suit/s all determine potential ability to win Tricks. Remember, a Trick of 6 cards on an average has a potential 7 points.
The intent is for the team to come up with their best bid. Supporting bids is considered a priority to be able to arrive at the best bid possible. The 56 Card game is also called: Support. Since priority is given to supporting a bid over communicating your strength of suit,it is customery that the uspporting bidderis given a chance in the next round to make his own bid.
The key skillset needed is to remember the bids and estimate all the hands, all the way thru the end of the game; remember progression of points made or lost and trumps remaining. (The name of the game is also Support.)
Ø Opening bid is compulsory for the 1st player next to the card dealer.
Ø All bids must include a number 28 thru 56 and a Suit/No-trump*, either before or after the number, depending on the situations described below, unless you pass (P, Ps) your turn.
Ø Typically, you open a suit if you have 4 cards with a J. Let us say you bid 28/H, with J A K Q.
Ø Your partner with a J in H should support you first, almost irrespective of another suit he might be strong in. (It is customary that you are given a chance to bid again.)
Ø If you have a supporting hand H J-Q, you bid 29/H. With J-9-Q in H, you support with a bid jumping by 1 to 30/H, as you hold the 2nd card in the sequence also. With just J-9-9-Q you bid 31/H and so on. If your 3rd partner has H A-K, she may bid 32/H, as the cards in sequence before it have been bid.
Ø If you just have the next card in sequence without a card out of sequence, say, H J, you bid +/H/29. If you just have H J-9, you bid +1/H/30, jumping by 1 and so on.
Ø You can bid a suit without a minimum length of 4 with a bid initiated by +. Ex: You have H J-9-Q, you may open a bid with +/H/28. (It is not clear if you have 2 or 3 H).
Ø You can open/support a bid without the highest un-bid card in the suit, assuming you have length typically with the next lower level of card in the suit by using a Reverse bid. Here you list your suit first rather than the number. Say, you have H 9-A-A-K, you can bid H-28.
Ø If you are void in a suit bid by either your partner or opponent, you can communicate it by bidding Nos (N, Ns) to it. In the above opening bid of 28/H, you can bid 29/Ns if you are void in H. If the opposing player bids 29/S, you have to jump bid to 31/Ns, jumping by the number of suits bid in between, to bid void in H.
Ø You may also (rarely**) support a bid in J with a singleton card by bidding Nos on it, as you can trump it in the 2nd round. (Note: **Trumping in the 2nd round may need a strong trump card, and usually more than 1 trump.)
Ø If you have a hand to support the suits of both you partners’ bids, you support typically in the bid order.
Ø There are times when you need to disclose the length of your suit. Then you bid that suit again jumping the bid by the number of length you have not already clearly communicated.
Ø You may double (X) a bid by the opponent if you feel good about beating that bid. (40/H/X). In turn the bidding team may redouble (XX) it too. You double or triple the rewards/penalty.
No-trump*(NT) bid is detailed below. (The highest card in any suit always wins.)
Ø A 28/Ps (pass) in an opening compulsory bid by the 1st caller means she has little to open/bid.
Ø A 28/NT means at least 3 Jacks, with or without length in any suit. (Consider adapting the Kerala Convention of 29/NT with 4 Jacks, 30/NT with 5J, including support with NT of the Partner’s Jack/s.)
Ø Subsequent NT bids mean a desire to settle on a NT bid. Ex: 40/NT
NOTE: The Kerala Tournament Bidding Convention differs in that:
- Bids must start with a number from 28-56. No Reverse or + bids are allowed.
- No separate NT bid allowed. Nos bid means many things including NT and void//sin a suit/s.
- Compulsory bid is with the 3rd Partner. Reward/penalty for Redouble is different.
(THIS PAGE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION)
KERALA "TOURNAMENT" RULES (KTR) & BIDDING CONVENTIONS
Bidding communicates strength of your hand from many factors: Length and strength of a suite; Number of Jacks for its potential to winning Tricks; Ability to trump if void in suit/s all determine potential ability to win Tricks. Remember, a Trick of 6 cards on an average has a potential 7 points.
The intent is for the team to come up with their best bid. Supporting bids is considered a priority to be able to arrive at the best bid possible. The 56 Card game is also called: Support. Since priority is given to supporting a bid over communicating your strength of suit,it is customery that the uspporting bidderis given a chance in the next round to make his own bid.
The key skillsets needed are to remember the bids and estimate all 6 hands, all the way thru the end of the game; remember progression of points made or lost and trumps remaining.
Ø All bids must start with a number 28 thru 56, unless you pass (P, Ps) your turn.
Ø Typically, you open a suit if you have 4 cards in the suit with a J. Let us say you bid 28/H, with J A K Q.
Ø If your partner 1 OR 2 has a J in H s/he should support you first, almost irrespective of another suit he might be strong in. You bid 29/H. It is customary that you are given a chance to bid again.
Ø If you have J-9 in H, you support with a bid jumping by 1 to 30/H. With J-9-9 you bid 31H and so on. If your 3rd partner has H Ace, she may bid 32/H, as the cards in sequence before it have been bid.
Ø You can bid a suit with J, without length early on in the rounds generally by skipping a round. Opening of a suit in the advanced stages only means a weak suit, with or without Jack. (Without Jack, sometimes to know if your partner is trumping it. Beware this can confuse your partners.)
Ø If you are void in a suit bid by either your partner or opponent, you can communicate it by bidding Nos (Ns) to it. In the above opening bid of 28/H, you can bid 29/Ns if you are void in H. If the opposing player bids 29/S, you have to jump bid to 31/Ns, jumping by the number of suits bid in between.
Ø If you have exactly J, J-J or 9, 9-9, etc. when you bid, you come back in the next round to bid Nos to it.
Ø You may also support a bid in J with a singleton card by bidding Nos on it, as you can trump it in the 2nd round. (Note: Trumping in the 2nd round may need a strong trump card, and usually more than 1 trump.)
Ø P1 bid 28/H, and P2 is strong in H but no J, P2 may bid 29/N and then bid H at the next opportunity*.
Ø If you have a hand to support the suits of both you partners’ bids, you support in the bid order.
Ø There are times when you need to disclose the length of your suit. Then you bid that suit again jumping the bid by the number of length you have not already clearly communicated.
Ø You may double (X) a bid by the opponent if you feel good about beating that bid. In turn the bidding team may redouble (XX) you too, tripling (?) the award. You double and triple (?) the rewards/penalty.
Nos (N, or Ns) bid also communicates a no-trump bid as detailed below. (The highest card in any suit always wins.)
Ø When partner 1 or 2 opens 28/N, 29/N, 30/N, etc., it means the bidder has 3, 4 or 5 Jacks respectively. Partners are expected to expose their jacks by bidding ‘Nos’, adding by the number of Jacks you have. (But you may disclose the suit if have at least 4 in length, instead of bidding the count of Jacks.)
Ø This applies to a singleton Jack also. Your problem with single jack is only when your partners do not have its Jack pair with them. All partners attempt to disclose the suits of jacks in the next rounds, unless it is a singleton where you do not have a chance to get the lead.
Ø If it is your lead and partner 3 has bid 28N and you have a single D-J and a 4 carder S without J, you’re your bid is advised to be 29/S. The 28/N here is a forced bid. If partner #3 has 3 Jacks and forced to bid, he must bid 29/N and 30/N with 3 and 4 Jacks respectively.
Ø Supporting a trump suit, normally should be given priority, if you have an appropriate hand instead of supporting with a count of Jacks. (If you have a length in the suit without J, you bid Ns to the suit*. This can mislead if P1 opened a suit, 28H, P2 bid 31Ns to communicate 3 Jacks and P3 has a length in H, w/o J.)
NOTE: The International Tournament Bidding Convention differs in that:
- Bid may not have to begin with 28-56, as long as it includes it. This is called a reverse bid. Ex: C/28.
- NT, specifically to mean a no-trump bid and Ns to mean void in a suit as in Kerala.
- Plus (+) bids. Ex: +2/ Ns/ 34, adds 2 to the previous bid of 32, or +2/C/34, etc.
- Compulsory bid is with the 1st Partner. Reward/penalty for Redouble is different.
INTERNATIONAL "TOURNAMENT" RULES (ITR) & BIDDING CONVENTIONS
Note: Penalty scores awarded on finalized Doubled or Redoubled bids are currently programmed as a selectable multiplyer in Playsoft for now. In some quarters, as cuttently with the International Tournament, extra points are added to the scores for Doubled bids.
Bidding communicates strength of your hand from many factors: Length and strength of a suite; Number of Jacks for its potential to winning Tricks; Ability to trump if void in suit/s all determine potential ability to win Tricks. Remember, a Trick of 6 cards on an average has a potential 7 points.
The intent is for the team to come up with their best bid. Supporting bids is considered a priority to be able to arrive at the best bid possible. The 56 Card game is also called: Support. Since priority is given to supporting a bid over communicating your strength of suit,it is customery that the uspporting bidderis given a chance in the next round to make his own bid.
The key skillset needed is to remember the bids and estimate all the hands, all the way thru the end of the game; remember progression of points made or lost and trumps remaining. (The name of the game is also Support.)
Ø Opening bid is compulsory for the 1st player next to the card dealer.
Ø All bids must include a number 28 thru 56 and a Suit/No-trump*, either before or after the number, depending on the situations described below, unless you pass (P, Ps) your turn.
Ø Typically, you open a suit if you have 4 cards with a J. Let us say you bid 28/H, with J A K Q.
Ø Your partner with a J in H should support you first, almost irrespective of another suit he might be strong in. (It is customary that you are given a chance to bid again.)
Ø If you have a supporting hand H J-Q, you bid 29/H. With J-9-Q in H, you support with a bid jumping by 1 to 30/H, as you hold the 2nd card in the sequence also. With just J-9-9-Q you bid 31/H and so on. If your 3rd partner has H A-K, she may bid 32/H, as the cards in sequence before it have been bid.
Ø If you just have the next card in sequence without a card out of sequence, say, H J, you bid +/H/29. If you just have H J-9, you bid +1/H/30, jumping by 1 and so on.
Ø You can bid a suit without a minimum length of 4 with a bid initiated by +. Ex: You have H J-9-Q, you may open a bid with +/H/28. (It is not clear if you have 2 or 3 H).
Ø You can open/support a bid without the highest un-bid card in the suit, assuming you have length typically with the next lower level of card in the suit by using a Reverse bid. Here you list your suit first rather than the number. Say, you have H 9-A-A-K, you can bid H-28.
Ø If you are void in a suit bid by either your partner or opponent, you can communicate it by bidding Nos (N, Ns) to it. In the above opening bid of 28/H, you can bid 29/Ns if you are void in H. If the opposing player bids 29/S, you have to jump bid to 31/Ns, jumping by the number of suits bid in between, to bid void in H.
Ø You may also (rarely**) support a bid in J with a singleton card by bidding Nos on it, as you can trump it in the 2nd round. (Note: **Trumping in the 2nd round may need a strong trump card, and usually more than 1 trump.)
Ø If you have a hand to support the suits of both you partners’ bids, you support typically in the bid order.
Ø There are times when you need to disclose the length of your suit. Then you bid that suit again jumping the bid by the number of length you have not already clearly communicated.
Ø You may double (X) a bid by the opponent if you feel good about beating that bid. (40/H/X). In turn the bidding team may redouble (XX) it too. You double or triple the rewards/penalty.
No-trump*(NT) bid is detailed below. (The highest card in any suit always wins.)
Ø A 28/Ps (pass) in an opening compulsory bid by the 1st caller means she has little to open/bid.
Ø A 28/NT means at least 3 Jacks, with or without length in any suit. (Consider adapting the Kerala Convention of 29/NT with 4 Jacks, 30/NT with 5J, including support with NT of the Partner’s Jack/s.)
Ø Subsequent NT bids mean a desire to settle on a NT bid. Ex: 40/NT
NOTE: The Kerala Tournament Bidding Convention differs in that:
- Bids must start with a number from 28-56. No Reverse or + bids are allowed.
- No separate NT bid allowed. Nos bid means many things including NT and void//sin a suit/s.
- Compulsory bid is with the 3rd Partner. Reward/penalty for Redouble is different.
(THIS PAGE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION)