Claim early, claim often


If you've ever played in or kibitzed a high-level, expert event, you might have noticed that the declarers tend to claim as often and as early in the hand as possible. These claims are rarely contested, even when the declarer fails to state a full line of play. Declarer shows his hand, everyone gives it a quick look and then puts their cards back into the board. A typical exchange:

Declarer:  "Club finesse."
Defender:  "Loses."
Declarer:  "Making 4."

You may even hear:

Declarer:  "Double squeeze for the rest."
Defenders:  "Yup."

Ideally, this is how claims would be handled at our clubs and local tournaments. Unfortunately, some players are automatically suspicious when an opponent claims. They'll ask a dozen questions ("What about my ten of clubs?"), and it sometimes takes a visit from the director to convince them that declarer isn't trying to pull a fast one.

In other scenarios, a defender may have trouble understanding the claim and insist on seeing it played out card by card, even though this is not a legal option (see "Here are the basics" below).

The result is that a practice that was supposed to save time for everyone does just the opposite. Capricious challenges also discourage players from attempting future claims, which can slow down the entire game.

Claiming is actually a courtesy to your opponents, and most players are happy for you to put a quick end to a hand where they have no further decisions to make. A little knowledge about the process can help you take advantage of more of these opportunities and make claims that are more readily accepted by your opponents.

Here are the basics:

Resolving disputes

If you question a claim, call the director immediately. The director will ask the claimer to repeat his statement and then ask everyone to put their remaining cards face-up on the table. He'll then hear your objections.

If the claimer has not yet stated a complete line of play, he's allowed to do so when the director arrives. He cannot make any changes to a previous statement, but he can add to it if you interrupted his original explanation.

One of the most common reasons for contesting a claim is an outstanding trump that wasn't mentioned by the claimer. The director will award the defenders a trick if he's convinced that the claimer wasn't aware of the trump at the time of his first statement and if he could have lost a trick to it by a normal line of play.

A "normal" line of play is defined as one that could be imperfect or careless for a player of the claimer's skill level, but not irrational. Leading low from A2 of trumps would be irrational. Failing to lead the suit might be deemed careless.

The bridge laws specify that in ruling on a contested claim, the director should adjust the result as equitably as possible for both sides, but that "any doubtful points should be resolved against the claimer". In practice, especially at local club games, directors will bend this a bit. Directors want to encourage claiming (and just about anything else that speeds up the play), so they will tend to accept any reasonable claim, even if it doesn't conform to the absolute letter of the law.

Canceling a claim or concession

There are some situations where a claim or concession, even if accepted, is not final.

(1) You concede a trick you've already won. For example, you claim stating, "You get the heart ace", but you already took a trick with that card.

(2)  You make a claim for fewer tricks than you've already taken. For example, you've won ten tricks so far, but claim for taking only nine.

(3) You concede a trick, but then realize that it would have been impossible to lose it through your stated line or any normal play of the remaining cards. For example, you hold AK10 and claim, saying "I'll lose a club", but then see that an opponent holds QJ doubleton. Your "normal" line of play -- cashing the AK -- would have resulted in no club losers, so you're entitled to three club tricks.   

In any of these cases, it doesn't matter if the opponents have accepted your claim and scored the board. The director will cancel your concession and change the score.

The deadline for changing an incorrect trick score -- (1) and (2) above -- is usually 30 minutes after the session ends or scores are posted. The time limit for canceling a concession of an unplayed trick (3) is usually until the conceding side makes a call on the next board, or until the round ends. Sportsmanlike opponents, though, will usually agree to obvious changes like these after the time limit, and game directors may choose to extend the deadlines.

If you're a defender, you can also overrule your partner's concession. If partner concedes one or more of the remaining tricks and you disagree, speak up immediately and call the director. Play will stop, the concession will be cancelled and the director will determine the result. Note, though, that partner's concession is unauthorized information, so make sure you have a solid objection. Your defense cannot be based on any knowledge suggested by partner's statement.

Tips for claimers

Tips for accepters

    The official rules for claims and concessions are included in Laws 68-71 in ACBL's Laws of Duplicate Bridge.

    If you're a director, the Duplicate Decisions handbook is a good source of practical advice and examples of how to apply the laws.