How much do you need to know?

The short answer: surprisingly little.

Essentially, players need to know two things: what correct procedure is, and to call the director when a problem arises.

"Correct procedure" goes a little farther than just remembering to follow suit. The following three areas in particular are worth mentioning:

Be polite and pleasant to your partner and opponents:

It is good manners anyway -- but did you know that "maintaining a courteous attitude at all times" and "carefully avoiding any remark or action that might cause annoyance or embarrassment to another player" is actually one of the rules of the game?

It is, for instance, improper for the dummy or a kibitzer to comment on the play in mid-hand or, worse yet, to tell declarer he should claim. This is not only rude, but also can convey unauthorized information if the spectator's comment is based on something he's seen which the rest of the players haven't yet.

The bridge table is not the place for "poker tactics" such as deliberately pausing a long time before playing a singleton to fool your opponents into believing you had a problem deciding which card to play. It is supposed to be what you bid and play that matters, not how you do it.

For more details on proper bridge etiquette, read Law 73 and Law 74 -- and, most important, use courtesy and common sense.

There is no keeping secrets from opponents:

Your opponents are entitled to know as much about your agreements on how to bid and play as your partner is. If your opponents ask about your system or carding, you are expected to answer, promptly and completely.

In most games, there are some additional mechanisms to help ensure full disclosure. These include filling out convention cards, announcing your system at the start of each round, and alerting conventional or unusual calls during the auction. Using the "private message to opponents" feature available at most online sites makes it even easier to volunteer information about your basic system at the start of each round and to explain unusual bids before the opponents even have to ask. The exact requirements vary from site to site.

You are not, however, expected to actually tell your opponents what cards you hold -- if you accidentally misbid (or deliberately psych!) you only have to tell your opponents what your bid shows, not what you actually have. And it is especially important not to tell your partner when you have done this - he has to work it out on his own!

For more details, read the sections on systems, misinformation, and unauthorized information on this page.

Be careful with claims:

It's perfectly normal to claim when you know how all the rest of the tricks are going to go, rather than wasting everyone's time playing it out. But when you claim, make sure to tell everyone how you plan to play if there's the slightest room for variation in how the play might have gone had you not claimed.

If you don't tell your opponents how you plan to play, or if you accidentally make an incorrect claim, then you probably need to call the director. It's his job to make sure your opponents are treated as fairly after the claim as they would have been under any of the situations that could have arisen had you played on. See the section on claims on this page for details.

One final reminder:

And remember ... if you think there is anything amiss anytime you are playing a tournament, don't hesitate to call the director. Summoning the director is not "calling the cops" and is not insulting to the opponents in any way. It's the way to make sure everyone is treated fairly. The sooner a problem is noticed, the easier it is to fix, and the less likely it is that tempers will flare at the table.