CHAPTER VI
The Play 

PART I
PROCEDURE

SECTION TWO
IRREGULARITIES IN PROCEDURE

LAW 47 - RETRACTION OF CARD PLAYED 

A. To Comply with Penalty

A card once played may be withdrawn to comply with a penalty (but a defender's withdrawn card may become a penalty card - see Law 49).

B. To Correct an Illegal Play

A played card may be withdrawn to correct an illegal or simultaneous play (see Law 58 for simultaneous play; and, for defenders, see Law 49, penalty card).

C. To Change an Inadvertent Designation

A played card may be withdrawn without penalty after a change of designation as permitted by Law 45C4(b).

D. Following Opponent's Change of Play

After an opponent's change of play, a played card may be withdrawn without penalty (but see Law 62C2) to substitute another card for the one played.

E. Change of Play Based on Misinformation

1. Lead out of Turn

A lead out of turn may be retracted without penalty if the leader was mistakenly informed by an opponent that it was his turn to lead (LHO should not accept the lead).

2.  Retraction of Play

(a) No One Has Subsequently Played

A player may retract the card he has played because of a mistaken explanation of an opponent's call or play and before a corrected explanation, but only if no card was subsequently played to that trick. An opening lead may not be retracted after dummy has faced any card.

(b) One or More Subsequent Plays Made

When it is too late to correct a play, under (a) preceding, Law 40C applies.

F. Illegal Retraction

Except as provided in A through E preceding, a card once played may not be withdrawn.