[gwnn]

Is it considered rude to bring a (non bridge) book or newspaper or etc to the bridge table? I tried it this w/e and not sure if it was benefical or not. I would only open it whilst dummy or maybe during bidding when I preempted or something (although I agree this part is probably disrespectful/illegal). Many opps thought I was funny but some of their jokes sounded like "could you please put your stupid book in some other place, out of sight. tyo."

[Jlall]

This is not that uncommon and I don't think it's rude. I often read the daily bulletin at nationals while playing.

[Vilgan]

I see people reading but usually its between rounds. Reading while being dummy could result in playing a card a bit slower which would be annoying. If you were able to play dummy as quickly as normal while reading it wouldn't be an issue, but most probably are not able to do that.

[blackshoe]

I know a few - very few - people who are capable of splitting their attention amongst multiple endeavors, and not losing anything in any of them. I would have no problem if those people chose to read (or do sudoku, or crossword puzzles, or whatever) at the bridge table (though others who didn't know them might think it rude). But 99% of people don't fit in that category, and for them, doing something else at the table is IMO paying insufficient attention to the game, which is a breach of law subject to procedural penalty.

[TimG]

Generally, I think this is rude. If, the first time you are dummy, you take a look at the Daily Bulletin for yesterday's results or some such, I don't think this is so bad. But, I think it rude when someone brings their book or puzzle to the table and gets it out at every opportunity.

[kenrexford]

I like to hand the book Bridge for Dummies to my partner on occasion. Does that count?

[helene_t]

During the Scheveningen Butler a couple of years ago, I was playing with a beginner but miracolously we managed to get +50 IMPs over the first section (first place in the weakest seed group) so we had to play the second section against all kind of wellknown players, which was a great experience.

But one pair (former Dutch pairs champions) found it necessary to demonstrate their non-interest in playing against two balookas, so they would chat all the time and read newspapers, whether they were playing or being dummy.

I found it very disturbing.

[manudude03]

kenrexford, on Nov 16 2009, 05:55 PM, said:

I like to hand the book Bridge for Dummies to my partner on occasion. Does that count?

Given that "Bridge for dummies" is a book that teaches you how to play bridge, does that count as using outside aid ?

I don't have a problem with people bringing books in as long as they pay reasonable attention to whats going on. If in doubt, say you need to go to the toilet and read it there .

Hope you're not dummy too often.

[aguahombre]

Some people can multitask at the table and not seem rude or inattentive whatsoever.
Examples: Jill with her word scrambles while dummy....Becky with her knitting.

This is relaxing to them and should not be a problem for the opponents. Others are downright annoying, and that makes this very difficult to address in a general way.

[Phil]

It isn't OK for dummy to do this during a hand, unless the table is notoriously slow and each hand is taking 12 minutes. Otherwise, I think dummy has a responsible to try to follow play and be alert for irregularities.

[jdonn]

I think it's a bit rude, but not too bad and I can live with it.

[neilkaz]

I've always felt this was rude, and frankly I don't feel that it should be allowed.

[gwnn]

OK didn't know that many people think this way. I was open to the possibility but now I know. No more books then. Thanks.

[JanM]

Some of us find it important not to waste energy when partner is playing the dummy - doing something non-bridge related helps with that. I'd rather have my husband read a book when I'm playing the dummy than raise his eyebrows at something I do, or even try to hurry me up . And I find that I play better if I relax when I'm not supposed to be concentrating (between rounds, when partner is playing the hand). I used to do needlepoint, but my eyes are no longer good enough for that, so I do crossword puzzles or read. I certainly don't intend to be rude, only to improve my chances of playing well when I'm supposed to be involved.

[MFA]

Rude if no screens. Acceptable with screens, provided that dummy doesn't slow down the play in any way. Even the first time declarer is required to call for a card twice, it's annoying.

[mrdct]

It is both rude and a breach of Law 74B1:

LAW 74 - CONDUCT AND ETIQUETTE
B. Etiquette
As a matter of courtesy a player should refrain from:
1. paying insufficient attention to the game.

[jeffford76]

mrdct, on Nov 16 2009, 05:07 PM, said:

It is both rude and a breach of Law 74B1:

LAW 74 - CONDUCT AND ETIQUETTE
B. Etiquette
As a matter of courtesy a player should refrain from:
1. paying insufficient attention to the game.

I think it is not rude, and it is certainly not a breach of law. If you are dummy, and you play each card declarer calls for in a timely manner, that is all the attention you need to give. It's quite surprising to me, actually, how many people are bothered by this.

Now if you can't actually read / puzzle / knit and keep up with the cards too, then sure, it's rude. But presumably you can tell whether that's the case.

[nige1]

John Maclaren used to read the newpaper when dummy. A few regarded it as rude but nobody did anything about it.

Norman Hunter sometimes beat me at Chess (without sight of the board) while he was playing Rubber Bridge.

[aguahombre]

mrdct, on Nov 16 2009, 05:07 PM, said:

It is both rude and a breach of Law 74B1:

LAW 74 - CONDUCT AND ETIQUETTE
B. Etiquette
As a matter of courtesy a player should refrain from:
1. paying insufficient attention to the game.

jumping to conclusion, skipping the part about evidence of inattention. Should post in water cooler. Oh, you do.

[peachy]

Not rude at all, IMO, and certainly not against the laws. But if an opponent (a silly one) is bothered by it, I might as well put the book or paper away and keep peace.

Several years ago when bidding boxes were not so common although already implemented for ACBL tournaments, I met an opponent who required verbal bidding because her insufficient hand function prevented her from using the bidding box. She did hold cards in her hand, not a holder. However, when she was dummy, she had enough hand function to hold a cross-word magazine in her one hand and do crosswords, with a pencil in the other hand... Now this is what I call rude