
Vuoden 2017 kilpailubridgen laki
PREFACE TO THE 2017 LAWS OF DUPLICATE BRIDGE
∗
In contrast to other Mindsports like Chess and Go, Bridge is a comparatively new
game and as such is continually evolving. The first Laws of Duplicate Bridge were
published in 1928 and there have been successive revisions in 1933, 1935, 1943, 1949,
1963, 1975, 1987, 1997, and 2007. Through the 1930’s the Laws were promulgated
by the Portland Club of London and the Whist Club of New York. From the 1940’s
onwards the American Contract Bridge League Laws Commission replaced the Whist
Club, while the British Bridge League and the European Bridge League supplemented
the Portland Club’s work.
Now responsibility for regular revisions has been adopted by the World Bridge Fede-
ration whose Laws Committee is charged with the task of reviewing the Laws at least
once every decade. It is fair to state that this latest review is the most extensive to da-
te. Many, many submissions were received from individuals, Tournament Directors,
NBO’s and Zones and all were considered at length by the Committee. After mee-
ting at a number of Championships and after exchanging some thousands of emails
consensus was eventually achieved. The thanks of the whole Bridge world are surely
owed to the hard-working Committee members whose names appear below. In particu-
lar Ton Kooijman called on his vast experience to act as Chairman and guide the task
to a successful conclusion. But no praise is too high for the Secretary, Laurie Kelso,
who did all the collating and clerical work, most of the drafting, and devoted countless
hours of his time. Without him the job would never have been finished.
The trends begun in the 2007 Revision have been continued - the increased discretion
given to Tournament Directors, the attempts to rectify a situation rather than to pena-
lise, and maintaining the position of Regulating Authorities. It is not expected that the
Code herein will last indefinitely (indeed right up to the time of publication there were
still ongoing discussions on certain laws) but the framework is there, tried and tested,
for future editions. The Committee acknowledges with gratitude the substantial help it
has received from many individuals. It was all greatly appreciated.
∗. Lain muutoksia valmistelleen WBF:n lakitoimikunnan alkusanat ovat alkuperäisessä englanninkie-
lisessä muodossaan. Ne eivät kuulu lakiin, eikä niiden kääntämiseen nähdä tarvetta.
Suomen Bridgeliitto — Finlands Bridgeförbund ry. 8