Fair Play Rule Considerations in 42 Competition

The following are categories of 42 players and how the new rules might affect some playing practices. In my view, there are three categories of 42 player partnerships:

     1. Those who play their hands without resorting to signaling tactics with their partners. This category is no problem in 42 competition.

      2. Those who signal their partners via privately agreed methods (collusion). This category is unethical (cheating).

      3. Those longtime partnerships that use culturally learned signalling tactics as part of the game (no collusion). This category oftentimes seems innocent, but opponents not familiar with their indicating methods are at a disadvantage.

So, how do you address these different styles to "level the playing field" in 42 competition?

The first category needs no addressing (complies with traditional written rules).

The second category was addressed by adding the following definition to existing tournament rules (approved for inclusion in the N42PA rules on 27 Sep 2019):

The third category can be addressed by defining acceptable indicating practices, e.g., sluffing a double might indicate the next highest unplayed domino in that suit is held by the player, or the high end of a sluffed domino might indicate the double in that suit is held by the player. If a team's indicating methods are not defined as acceptable, then it will have to comply or face possible challenge.

All other indicating methods are unacceptable unless defined as acceptable in the rules. Bridge has a similar rule: "The gravest possible offense is for a partnership to exchange information through prearranged methods of communication other than those sanctioned by these Laws." ("Prearranged" and "culturally learned" methods yield the same results in competition, except the latter is not contrived.)

Generic helping hand bids are acceptable provided they do not indicate specific information about the bidder's hand, and they meet the criteria of the second category rule above ('talking across the table').

When social players contact Texas42.net regarding questionable playing practices, I usually cite the N42PA tournament rules. Other than the straight 42 format, however, the N42PA club rules are not standard to all sanctioned tournaments. Sometimes the issues are not addressed in the N42PA rules, and I have to advise the inquirers to agree on their own rules, e.g., acceptable practices for indicating doubles.

One can readily see how adequate universal standardized fair play rules are needed in sanctioned competition. Social and tournament players will, in time, follow fair play guidelines enhanced by the leadership in the 42 community. My question: If not the N42PA, who is the leadership in the 42 community?

Paul Proft, email
www.texas42.net
26 May 2019

Postscript: Fair play rules are important in all 42 competition, social and tournament. A very wise player once stated that the game of 42 is not about tournaments, but, instead, tournaments are about 42. (Very profound if you think about it.)