Before Starting to Play

A Timely Start. Near starting time, a director will bring one or two sets of boards to your table.

These are boards you will make for others to play -- you won't play them. When they come, sort the cards in each board into suits and arrange the cards from Ace to Deuce. Put them back in the board.

North Only, Please. Only North handles the boards at a duplicate bridge table. This is to avoid confusion and conflict. If you're North, take the responsibility; if you're not, let North do it.

No Deal. The director will then bring to your table a set of ACBL printed forms which will tell you how to arrange the hands in the boards. Be careful to put them in the right board numbers and to get the N/S/E/W hands in the right pockets in the board. Each of the four people at the table should take one sorted suit from a single board and pass out the right cards to players sitting in the right direction.

Making Boards. When you get your cards, compare them to the forms to be sure they are right, count them, and place them face down in the appropriate pocket in the board in front of you.

When the boards are made, the director will come and pick up the hand arrangement forms. Sit quietly and wait for directions from the tournament director. He will announce on a loud speaker the number of tables in each section and the directions for moving the boards you just made in order to start play.