Whether you are North-South or East-West, the opponents must be treated as if they were special guests who have been invited to your home. After a short exchange of hellos and confirming pair numbers, no further discussion is appropriate. Partner should also be treated as if a special guest in your home. No discussion of the result of the hand or possible lines of play, defense, or other contracts is ever appropriate. Discussion may be done with partner away from the table when time permits, or after the session.
When it is your turn to bid, and only when it is your turn to bid, you may ask for an explanation of the entire auction or you may ask about the meaning of a specific bid, including partnership style. You may also ask about alternative action(s). Remember if you are asked a permissible question, full disclosure is required. It is best to go out of your way to see that the question, in its broadest sense, is completely answered. Remember that asking a question creates Unauthorized Information.
Before leading you may ask for a review or for an explanation of the auction or a specific bid, including partnership style. After you lead face down but before your card is faced, and only then, partner may ask for a review or ask for the meaning of a specific bid, including partnership style. Once again, full disclosure is paramount. Remember that asking a question creates Unauthorized Information. IF THE AUCTION HAS ALERTS THE OPENING LEADER MAY SAY, “PLEASE EXPLAIN THE AUCTION” WITHOUT CREATING UNAUTHORIZED INFORMATION, BUT ONLY THEN.
During the play, only when it is your turn to play, you may not ask for a review, but you may ask for explanation. Once again, asking a question creates Unauthorized Information.
IT IS NEVER PERMISSIBLE TO ASK A QUESTION TO SUGGEST ANYTHING TO PARTNER OR TO MAKE PARTNER AWARE OF ANYTHING. As noted, repeatedly, above, a question always creates Unauthorized Information. If partner asks a question, YOU MUST NOT TAKE ANY ACTION EXCEPT THAT WHICH IS CLEAR CUT. You must go out of your way to avoid doing anything that might be suggested by a question. You can see that asking a question puts partner in a perilous position and, therefore, a question should be asked only when there is a real need to know. Otherwise, partner is constrained from exercising normal bridge judgment that is not clear-cut. If there is no alert, YOU CANNOT ASK FOR THE MEANING OF NORMAL AND FAMILIAR BIDS. You are protected by the alert procedure and you should call the director after the hand if you feel your side was damaged by a failure to alert.