34.—Any one dealing out of turn, or with the
adversary's cards, may be stopped before the trump card is turned up, after which the game must proceed as if no mistake had been made.
35.—A player can neither shuffle, cut, nor deal for his partner, without the permission of his opponents.
36.—If the adversaries interrupt a dealer whilst dealing, either by questioning the score or asserting that it is not his deal, and fail to establish such claim, should a misdeal occur, he may deal again.
A Misdeal.
37.—It is a misdeal[[55]]—
I. Unless the cards are dealt into four packets, one at a time in regular rotation, beginning with the player to the dealer's left.
II. Should the dealer place the last (which is called the trump) card, face downwards, on his own or on any other packet.
III. Should the trump card not come in its regular order to the dealer; but he does not lose his deal if the pack be proved imperfect.
IV. Should a player have fourteen or more cards, and any of the other three less than thirteen;[[56]] unless the excess has arisen through the act of an adversary, in which case there must be a fresh deal.
V. Should the dealer touch, for the purpose of counting, the cards on the table or the remainder of the pack.
VI. Should the dealer deal two cards at once, or two cards to the same hand, and then deal a third; but if, prior to dealing that third card, the dealer can, by altering the position of one card only, rectify such error, he may do so, except as provided by the second paragraph of this Law.
VII. Should the dealer omit to have the pack cut to him, and his adversaries discover the error, prior to the trump card being turned up, and before looking at their cards, but not after having done so.
38.—Should a player take his partner's deal, and misdeal, the latter is liable to the usual penalty, and the adversary next in rotation to the player who ought to have dealt then deals.
39.—A misdeal loses the deal;[[57]] unless, during the dealing, either of the adversaries touch the cards prior to the dealer's partner having done so; but should the latter have first interfered with the cards, notwithstanding either or both of the adversaries have subsequently done the same, the deal is lost.
40.—Should three players have their right number of cards—the fourth have less than thirteen, and not discover such deficiency until the first trick has been turned and quitted, the pack shall be assumed to be complete, and the deal stands good; and he will be answerable for any revoke he may have made, in the same way as if the missing card or cards had been in his hand.