THE RULES

                                                   


                                                        GREAT LAKES OPEN TOURNAMENT
                                                                    OFFICIAL GAME RULES

The participating Tournament Director or Tournament Representatives agree upon all rules used.
1.    PROGRESSIVE SCORING ESTABLISHED

2.    BIDDER:  Must have a Royal Marriage to name trump. (First marriage on the board is trump).  If the bid is left on the player, who declares they do not have a marriage nor can they name trump, they must show their hand.  If a marriage is found, then that becomes trump and the other team gets their meld and the bid.  Further if the bidder could play the hand but chooses not to, the penalty is same as a renege.

3.    BID OR PASS:  in sequence

4.    BIDDING OUT OF TURN
PENALTY:  Guilty team’s bid is frozen at their last legal bid and the opposing team has the right to continue bidding.  If there has not been a legal bid made and the same occurs, the opposing teams has the option of taking the bid for a minimum of (50), or have the redealt.

BIDDING OUT OF TURN:
Bidder must correct the bid to the next legal bid.  (Example:  if the last legal bid was (60) and the next bidder bids (52), they must correct the bid to at least (65).  PENALTY:  The partner of offending bidder is frozen.

ILLEGAL/IMPROPER BIDDING: After the bidding sequence has reached sixty (60) or above and the bidder announces a bid of (61) or (62), etc.  The team’s bid is frozen at their last legal bid.

5.    BIDS MUST BE STANDARD:
Such as (50-51) through (59).  Bids after (60) must be in increments of (5) or more to (100).  Bids above (100) must be in increments of (10) or more.

6.    NO MATHEMATICAL WAY OF PROCESSING CONTRACT BID:  PENALTY: 
A bidder that over bids shall void the hand if there is no mathematical way of processing the contract bid.  The opposition shall receive the bid and their meld.

7.    DECLARING MELD
All players must show to be declared.  All meld not declared before the first legal card has been played is void.  The first card played is not until all cards have been picked up from the table.  Triple meld will count as three times doubles.  Example:  triple kings = 3 x 80 = 240.  The count for any quadruple meld is 500

8.    DECLARING ACES:
Aces around must be declared.  PENALTY:  constitutes a renege.

9.    RENEGES OR REVOKES:
Established after book has been turned or the next legal card has been played.  How long can a book sat on the table? (10 seconds).  You cannot force a renege…Only the person collecting the books can turn the book.  There can be no discussion or touching cards indicating a proper play.  (The book must be turned after 10 seconds).  PENALTY:  Opposing team shall receive the bid, plus their meld, and the deck (50 points).  A renege is called when the word renege is uttered and the play is stopped.  CALLER of RENEGE must name at least two cards played in the book in question and the person who reneged.  PENALTY:  Fake or false accusation same as renege.

10.    DOUBLE RUN: Must be declared on the FIRST bid.  PENALTY:  If not declared on the first bid, the double run will count as (30) meld.  If the dealer has a double run and the bid is dropped on same, the dealer will get the bid for the minimum bid of 50 and meld shall count as 150 points.

11.    THE FIRST TEAM TO REACH 500 POINTS WINS THE GAME:
If both teams reach or go over 500, the bidding team wins.
   
12.    AUTOMATIC WINS OR PINOCHLE:
The taking of forty-eight (48) points and the board while playing any one hand, or the saving or the saving of grand pinochle, both constitute winning the game.  (500 points added to the team’s existing score).

13.    DEALING THE CARDS:
No player may deal less then 4 or more than 5 cards at one time.

14.    COLLECTING TURNED BOOKS:
One person from each team collects and stacks all books.

15.    MIS-DEALS:
Every player must count his or her cards.  If an error is discovered before the bidding begins, the player with too few cards shall pull from the entire hand of the player with too many.

16.    CARD SHORTAGE:
When all players but one have the correct amount of cards in hand, the player with too few cards will be penalized.  PENALTY:  Same as a renege.

17.    BOARD NOT LOCKED:
All twenty cards must be played.  If any cards are shown or intentionally flashed, and if opposing team can win one trick, the opposing team takes all remaining tricks.

18.    ALL CARDS BOARD THEMSELVES UNLESS IT CONSTITUTES A RENEGE

19.    After the third book has been turned, no one can ask the question “What is Trump?”
PENALTY:  Same as renege.

20.    The Tournament Director of Tournament Representatives word shall be final in all disputes relating to the game.
21.    CHEATING WILL NOT BE TOLLERATED:
EXPULSION FROM THE TOURNAMENT:  Flagrant cheating, as determined by the Tournament Director or Tournament Representatives will result in the expulsion of the offending player from the tournament.  The player will not be allowed to participate in tournament play, for the balance of the weekend.


   


22.    ILLEGAL INFORMATION:
If a player during the bidding gives unauthorized information, such as naming a suit or saying that he has two long suits, the opponents may claim a misdeal.

NOTE:  When there is a dispute, time will be called and the Tournament Director will be summoned.  When time is called, all affected players must place their cards face down on the table until the dispute is resolved and play resumes.  Additional time will be added for the table.

A tournament consists of six rounds. At the end of the sixth, if there is not a clear winner (by number of games won), total points scored will determine the winner.  Each game will be timed for fifty minutes or 500 points, whichever comes first.  (NO EXCEPTIONS) The team in the lead when time expires is the winner.  If time is called, the deal must have been completed for the hand to be played to completion.

There will be a ten-minute break between rounds.  The hosting Tournament Director may at some point during the tournament call at least one break for a longer period.

Tournament will start at 9:00 a.m. sharp.  At any time during the tournament if BOTH TEAMS MEMBERS are not seated at the call for play to begin, the team will be penalized at the Tournament Director directs.  NO EXCEPTION!

ARTICLE VI

All members are to have in their possession a copy of the constitution and by-laws of the Great Lakes Pinochle Club.  All members are required to conduct themselves with dispatch and decorum to commensurate with the rules, regulations and by-laws contained herein.

Section 1:  Unruly conduct, use of vulgar language verbally abusing or acts perceived as such against a Great Lakes Pinochle Club member or Great lakes Pinochle Club guest at any and all Great Lakes Pinochle Club functions will be grounds for suspension.

Subject individual or individuals shall be suspended for the next club meeting pending dismissal.

Any suspended Great Lakes Pinochle Club member shall be notified in writing and may request a hearing with the governing body of the Great Lakes Pinochle Club.

Section 2:  There shall be an annual reading of the constitution and by-laws.