Device to permit silent bidding. It is a board placed in the centre of the table, subdivided into labelled regions, 1♣, 1♦, 1 ♥, 1♠, 1 NT, 2♣ etc. (up to 7NT), Dbl, Redbl, Alert, Stop and Pass.
A player makes his call by touching the appropriate region of the board with a pen or pencil, or moving a small counter placed on the dumb bidder. Bidding boxes have rendered silent bidders almost obsolete.