[blml] Executive Summary of changes between 1997 Laws and 2007 Laws - Part One

[Adam Beneschan]

Brian wrote:

> > C. Returning Cards to Board
> > After play has finished, each player _should shuffle his
> > original thirteen cards_, after which he restores them
> > to the pocket corresponding to his compass position.
> > Thereafter no hand shall be removed from the board
> > unless a member of each side, or the Director, is
> > present.
> >=20
> 
> I can only assume that none of the drafting committee has any
> experience in assisting disabled players. This law needs to be amended,
> allowing a player to SORT the played hand into suits, rather than
> shuffle it, if doing so helps the player at the next table overcome
> physical limitations - make it subject to the TD's approval if you
> like.

Good point.  On the other hand, (1) the Law says "should", which has
less force than "shall" or "must"; and (2) normally, from what I've
seen, the Director is the one who requests of a player that he sort
his hand after each board (to accommodate the next player's
limitations), and although there are plenty of nasty characters in
bridge, I have not yet seen anyone so insensitive as to refuse the
Director's request to do so.  I suspect that if any player were to
refuse such a request by the Director saying something like "I can't
do that because Law 7C says I'm supposed to shuffle the cards", the
result would likely be that player getting whacked with duplicate
boards by the other three players at the table.  Well, I'd do that if
I were one of the other players.  So I think you're right in theory,
but in practice everything's going to be fine.  

                                -- Adam