CHAPTER VI
The Play 

PART III
IRREGULAR LEADS AND PLAYS

SECTION TWO
OTHER IRREGULAR LEADS AND PLAYS

LAW 57 - PREMATURE LEAD OR PLAY BY DEFENDER 

A. Premature Play, or Lead to Next Trick

When a defender leads to the next trick before his partner has played to the current trick, or plays out of turn before his partner has played, (penalty) the card so led or played becomes a penalty card, and declarer selects one of the following options. He may:

1. Highest Card

require offender's partner to play the highest card he holds of the suit led, or

2. Lowest Card

require offender's partner to play the lowest card he holds of the suit led, or

3. Card of Another Suit

forbid offender's partner to play a card of another suit specified by declarer.

B. Offender's Partner Cannot Comply with Penalty

When offender's partner is unable to comply with the penalty selected by declarer, he may play any card, as provided in Law 59.

C. Declarer Has Played from Both Hands before Irregularity

A defender is not subject to penalty for playing before his partner if declarer has played from both hands, or if dummy has played a card or has illegally suggested that it be played. A singleton in dummy, or one of cards adjacent in rank of the same suit, is not considered to be automatically played.