Duplicate Boards (figure 1 on the left) enable each of the four hands to be transported from table to table. They are rectangular shaped (metal or plastic) trays with slots or pockets which can hold each of the four hands. After dealing and play it is important that the hands go back into the proper slots. This is accomplished by assigning compass points (or direction) to the players and the slots.
Every Board has an arrow running lengthwise that points to the pocket marked North. The pocket at the bottom of the arrow is South; the left is West; and the right is East. And the players facing these pockets are respectively considered North, South, East and West. So after the hand is played, North puts her cards into the North slot; South puts her cards into the South slot; and so on. Failure to do so would considerably upset the Director of the game who might inflict a penalty, fine or corporeal punishment.
Every Board is numbered; the Dealer is indicated; and vulnerability is displayed (the slot is colored red).
To make sure the Boards are always facing the same way, there are Place Mats or Guide Cards (figure 2 on the left) on every table. These, like the Duplicate Boards, have an arrow with compass headings.
The numbers on the Place Mats or Guide Cards indicates the Table Number. More about that later. The Place Mats or Guide Cards stay in the center of the table with the Boards on top. Do not move them to the side. There is plenty of room.
The arrow on the Place Mat points to the edge marked North. Then the arrow on the Duplicate Board that points North, must point in the same direction at the arrow on the Place Mat. Thus, throughout the game North will be North and South will be South. And East is East and West is West and never the twain shall get mixed up.