REGULAR Tournament Rules (i.e Not Online)
OFFICIAL WIZARD TOURNAMENT RULES Revised October 1, 2011.
Any deviations to these rules must be sanctioned by Wizard Cards International Inc.
(For online tournaments a separate set of rules apply)
PRELIMINARIES
1. All tournaments wishing to be sanctioned shall abide by the rules set forth herein. The director of any such tournament shall be approved by U.S.
Games Systems or Wizard Cards International Inc. The results of approved tournaments shall be recorded on the prescribed form titled Tournament
Summary and copies provided to Wizard Cards International Inc.
2. A tournament will not be considered official unless:
a. A minimum of 12 players participate.
b. A minimum of three rounds of play are completed.
c. To win a tournament a player must have completed a minimum of 3 games.
d. Each game must consist of at least 10 hands of play.
3. Prior to play the cards should be counted to assure there are 60 cards in the deck.
4. In the event of eliminations the director will announce the number of players to advance from each table prior to the start of play.
5. If Matrix scores are used the point system will be explained prior to start of play.
6. All players should check the scoresheet prior to it being delivered to the Tournament Director. Once the scoresheet is submitted to the Director it
acknowledges acceptance as beiing correct by the players.
REGISTRATION
1. All players upon registration are given a number that shall identify them to the tournament director thereafter. The final score of each player's
games shall be recorded on the score sheets provided by the director and verified by the table scorekeeper. To advance to the next round and/or be
assigned a new game table a player and his/her score must be acknowledged and verified by a tournament director.
2. Tournament directors shall produce a suitable table assignment for the first round. Tables may consist of 3, 4, 5 or 6 players.
3. It is recommended that ranked players be evenly distributed among available tables and that players who cohabit or are otherwise familiar with the
style of play of another player be separated in the first round.
GETTING STARTED
Lowest ID number selects seat and other players sit numerically to his/her left.
Cards are cut to determine a dealer. High card deals and keeps score. If that person is unwilling or of uncertain ability the other players may agree
to have score kept by any other player. If more than 1 game is being played at the table with the same players the director will decide on selection
of seats for additional games. i.e. Whether they can be changed or not.
In some tournaments the director may decide to employ a "Rainbow Rotation" system to move players to different tables to start another game.
Late Arrivals
There may be situations in which a registered player is unavoidably delayed and not present to begin a round of play. At the Director's discretion, a
substitute player may be appointed to take his/her place. If the substitute player completes the entire game his/her score will automatically be
determined to be 10 points less than the next lowest score. (Regardless of what the score indicated on the scorecard may be.) Should the tardy player
arrive during play he may replace the substitute player as soon as deemed appropriate by the director. When the tardy player begins play his score
automatically becomes 10 points less than the lowest score at the table regardless of the score indicated on the scorecard. (Unless all the other
players agree that he/she may continue with the current score.
RULES OF PLAY
1. The Official Wizard Rules are in force for tournament play.
2. The Canadian Rule will be in force for all games unless otherwise announced by the Tournament Director.(Dealer can bid zero at all times.)
3. Any modifications to the above must be sanctioned by the Tournament Directors.
4. No mechanical aids of any kind permitted unless authorized.
5. Wizard Bidding Coins are permitted and at the Director's discretion may be made mandatory.
6. Cards must be counted before play begins. Players should wait until all of the cards have been dealt before picking up their cards.
7. The TD will announce all details specific to the particular tournament prior to the start of play. i.e. Number of games, number of hands,
elimination process if applicable, time restrictions, etc.
TIE SCORES
Note: Tie scores need only be broken if the tie affects advancement or is in the "Final" round.
If there is a tie after the scores have been calculated following the final game of a round the players who are tied will play a tie-breaker as
described below.
Tie Break
Tied players cut cards to determine the dealer. High card deals.
After the cards are dealt a card is turned up to determine the Trump suit. If either a Wizard or a Jester is turned up it is ignored and another card
is turned over as the trump must be one of the 4 suits and must be determined by the card turned up.
The delayed reveal bidding system will be used.
Cards will be dealt to the players who will then write their bid on a paper, initial it and hand it to the tournament director.
The tied players will play a game consisting of 3 hands.
The hands will consist of 6, 8 and 10 cards consecutively.
If a tie remains hands of 10 cards will continue to be played until a winner is determined.
ADVANCEMENT
Prior to the beginning of each round of play the director will announce the number of people that will advance to the next round and how that number
will be established.
Advancement if Wild Cards are Used.
E.g. With 4 tables of 5 players the director may declare that the winner at each table will advance to the Final Six and there will be 2 Wild Cards to
complete the Final Six table. The basis for identifying the Wild Card payers is:
First: The 2 players who were closest in score to the winner at the table.
Second: If the above does not settle the issue due to a tie then the tied player with the higher score will advance.
Third: If a tie remains the player with fewest Breaks will advance.
MISPLAYS, DISRUPTIONS & DISPUTES
1. If a dealer flips up only 1 card during the deal, there is no penalty. If a second card is flipped up, the dealer redeals the same hand
immediately. When an incorrect number of cards are dealt, the hand is thrown in and the same person redeals, regardless of when the mistake is
discovered. There is no penalty. (To avoid misdeals each player must ensure that he/she has been dealt the correct number of cards.)
2. If a mistake in scoring is discovered at any time during the course of play, the players may agree among themselves to change the scoring to
reflect an accurate total. Any contention about scoring should be referred to the tournament director if a disagreement remains.
3. There is no penalty for a bid out of turn, but such a bid must stand. The turn to bid reverts to the rightful player. A player may change his bid
without penalty before the player on his left bids.
4. There are times when a person unwittingly reneges.(i.e. plays a card not legally playable) If the misplay is discovered before another card is
played there is no penalty. If the trick is completed and the mistake is then discovered before a new card is led, the offender must replace the
mistaken card with a valid one. The misplayed card is exposed and must be played at the earliest legal opportunity. (See 6)
5. If the renege is discovered during the play of a subsequent trick the offender has 20 points subtracted from his/her score. Any player who had
already made overtricks before the renege occurred remains set (down). All other players are awarded their current bids, the hand is thrown in and the
deal passes to the left. (See 6)
6. Regardless of rules 4 and 5 concerning ‘reneges’ if the entire table unanimously agrees to other solutions then rules 4 & 5 can be circumvented.
For example all players may agree to simply redeal the hand, make new bids and continue without penalties of any kind.
7. Players are permitted to suspend game play for calls of nature or unavoidable emergencies for a time period decided upon by the tournament
director.
8. No player shall during the course of play have another person play in his or her stead. If such an event occurs the player is disqualified from
advancement but may finish the round he or she is currently in. In special situations the Director may allow a substitute player to complete the
tournament for another player who is unable to continue.
Also see the rule above regarding LATE ARRIVALS.
9. No player shall seek advice on bidding or playing.
10. A player is allowed to change a played card if the next player has not yet played a card and the card has not been tabled. The card will be
considered tabled once the player has released his/her hand from the card.
11. A player may change his bid without penalty before the player on his left bids.
12. A lead or play out of turn must be retracted at the demand of any player, and the card played in error must be left face up on the table and
played at the first legal opportunity. A card exposed in any way but by legal play in turn becomes exposed and is treated in the same way.
13. If any of the rules regarding misplays are not followed during the play of the game it is not possible to lodge a complaint retroactively.
Misplays must be identified during play and in time for the appropriate rule to be applied.
14. All disputes or questions involving any aspect of the tournament or play shall be referred to the tournament director. The director shall abide by
these rules in determining the outcome of any disagreement and where the rules cannot resolve a conflict the director's decision is final.
15. The Directors decision is final and must be made at the venue of the tournament. The Director cannot reverse a decision after the tournament has
been completed and participants have left the premises.
16. No electronic devises are permitted during games. Cell phones and other such devices must be turned off during play. No ear-connected devices are
permitted other than for medical reasons. Listening to music or recordings during play is not allowed.
17. No books, magazines. pictures or other distractions or activities are permitted during the play of a game.
18. Players are not allowed to review tricks that have been taken and placed face down.
IRREGULARITIES and PENALTIES
The Tournament Director must be called in the event of a possible rules/procedure violation.
1. Bid Out Of Turn
(If wheels for hidden bids are used, this does not apply.)
If a bid is made out of turn, the bidding reverts to the proper position and the premature bid is repeated (cannot be changed).
2. Lead Out of Turn
If a card is led out of turn it must remain on the table and played at the first opportunity.
(See exposed card rule below.)
3. Prematurely Exposed Card
Exposure of a Wizard, before or during the round of bidding is an automatic 10 -point penalty.
All other prematurely exposed cards must be played at the first opportunity. The TD will also determine if an improperly exposed card affects bidding
or play.
4. Violation of CR (Canadian Rule)
If the dealer violates the CR by making an 'even bid' by bidding a number other than zero it is allowed to stand if none of the other players point
out the irregularity before the completion of the first round of play. If the irregularity is pointed out during or before the first round of play the
dealer must change his bid.
Note: Situations may arise which call for the Director to make a decision which may run counter to one or more of the established rules. The
Director's decision is final.
Addenda
* Audience members are not permitted to stand or sit in close proximity to a table of active players. Any active player may request that the Director
move a spectator further away or to a different position.
*Any player who finds another player's language or conduct offensive should report the matter to the director who will decide on appropriate
action.
* At the conclusion of the "Final Round" it is recommended that each particpant be required to initial the back of the scorecard. This acknowledges
that he/she accepts the results as indicated. It is up to each player to check the scorecard at that time to ensure that no mistakes have been
made.
The "Andrews Fair Play Rule"
Fair Play Rule: All players agree to play to the best of their ability and to make honest bids throughout the entire tournament.
i.e. Not to play simply to sabotage others.
* Players should be made aware of this rule prior to the start of every live tournament.
If players at a table feel that a player is not abiding by this rule further play should cease and the Director should be summoned immediately. If the
objection is sustained by the Director the player may be ejected from the tournament and a substitute put in his/her place in order to finish the
game(s).
Master Points
The winner of the tournament receives Master Points equal to the number of players in the tournament.
The second place player will receive 50% of the total number of players, the third place player 25%. (Similarly with Final Five, Final Four and Final
3)
Master Points may be increased for Invitational Tournaments. (See Master Points)
TRIAD
In 2003 the TRIAD was added to the official tournament rules. The TRIAD is optional and all of the top 3 finishers in a tournament must agree to
participate. The top 3 finishers (The TRIAD) will play 1 complete 3-handed game with additional master points of 3-2-1 based on placement in the
3-handed game.
The TRIAD must use the same bidding system as that used in the tournament unless all three players agree otherwise.
Live Tournaments...2023 forward
7.10.2023.....Kemptville, Ontario.....13 Players
1st.....Debi
2nd....Paul
7.10.2023.....Toronto. Ontario.....18 players
1st......mactonight
2nd.....mumm01
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